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Boswellia for osteoarthritis
I have osteoarthritis and read recently that a herb called Boswellia could help reduce pain and improve mobility. Do you know anything about this herb and is it one you would use for this problem?
Stiffness is a clear sign that cartilage is degrading in that joint and uric acid is the by-product of that deterioration. Many herbal remedies can help counter both this degradation and pain. The better known ones include Devils Claw, White Willow, Yucca, Celery and Feverfew and several of these are combined in the new Bastyr Formula A joint support supplement from Eclectic Institute (www.eclecticherb.com).
Bastyr University is America’s leading naturopathic college and so its endorsement or involvement in any formulation is worth noting but the clever little remedy that can help prevent stiffness is the new Cherry Fruit Extract from Enzymatic Therapy (from Victoria Health) which can not only reduce uric acid levels, but which provides a therapeutic dose of antioxidant flavonoids in each capsule to help prevent further degeneration of the joints.
The Indian herb, boswellia, is an excellent painkiller. Produced from the gum of the Boswellia serrata tree, the key active ingredient is anti-inflammatory boswellic acid. You can take it in supplement form, which is now widely on sale, or if you want a cream, check out the Drs A-Z Glucosamine & Boswellia cream from Victoria Health.