A New Option for Natural Pain Relief for Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is one of the most common types of arthritis individuals suffer from in the United States. In fact, according to the Arthritis Foundation 27 million people are suffering with osteoarthritis today. Typical conventional treatment for osteoarthritis includes the use of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). However, there are also natural treatments for this condition. A new study indicates pine bark may be an effective way to naturally relieve the pain associated with osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis
In osteoarthritis, the cartilage, the tissue on the ends of bones that make joints easy to move, breaks down. Cartilage also cushions joints so when it breaks down, the bones rub against one another, which leads to pain, stiffness, and more difficulty moving.
The goals of conventional medical treatment for osteoarthritis include reducing pain, slowing the progression of the condition, and improving one’s ability to function in daily activities. Some of the types of treatments doctors might include in an individual’s treatment plan include medication, such as analgesics, NSAIDs, and Cox-2 inhibitors, physical therapy, exercise, and weight reduction and management.
However, some people prefer utilizing more natural treatment options for their conditions. Acupuncture and physical therapy are two natural treatment options for individuals suffering from the condition. Additionally, the results of a new study indicate pine bark may also be an effective source of natural symptom relief for osteoarthritis.
Pycnogenol for Osteoarthritis Symptoms
According to the researchers in the current study, two prior studies have shown the effectiveness of pycnogenol on osteoarthritis symptoms. The researchers of this study seemed to want to replicate the findings of the last two studies. They also wanted to examine what would happen to participants once therapy with pycnogenol stopped, something no other study has done. Pycnogenol is an extract of bark from the French maritine pine tree.
This study involved 100 participants who suffered from osteoarthritis who were randomly assigned to either the pycnogenol or placebo group. Participants in the pycnogenol group took 150mg of the substance one time each day while the placebo group took a placebo one time each day for the duration of three months.
Additionally, participants filled out the Western Ontario McMaster questionnaire in order to assess pain level, ability to participate in daily activities, and joint stiffness at the beginning of the study and every two weeks thereafter.
The researchers discovered pain, ability to participate in daily activities, and joint stiffness improved 20.9% in participants who took pycnogenol during the study. By the end of the study individuals who took pycnogenol had their pain levels reduced by 40.3 percent. Furthermore, two weeks after pycnogenol therapy ended, participants’ pain remained reduced from baseline by 36.1 percent, which suggests pycnogenol helps joints heal, according to the authors.
Finally, researchers found that 38% of participants in the pycnogenol group were able to reduce the amount of pain medications they took, including NSAIDs and analgesics.
This study in combination with the other two research studies conducted prior to the current one seem to provide some good evidence for utilizing pycnogenol for osteoarthritis pain, daily activities, and joint stiffness.
Sources:
Arthritis Foundation: Osteoarthritis: What is It?
Arthritis Foundation: Osteoarthritis: Treatment Options:
Mendindia.com: Alternative Medicine News: Pine Bark Lowers Knee Osteoarthritis Symptoms
The study is published in the August journal of Phytotherapy Research.
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