[CH] Spice for your Arthritis
Scott Peterson (scottp4@mindspring.com)
Mon, 18 Feb 2002 22:56:07 -0800
February 19, 2002
NUTRITION NEWS FOCUS
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Today's Topic: Spice for your Arthritis
Hot pepper juice relieves the pain of arthritis when rubbed over the
affected area. The active ingredient is capsaicin, and this is what
burns your tongue. Topical application of this seems to trick the
nerve endings to forget about the pain from joints. It has been
moderately effective in several small trials.
A recent study of about 250 patients with arthritis of the knee found
that swallowing ginger extract was superior to a placebo. Knee pain
was reduced on standing and after walking, and patients were able to
reduce pain medication after 6 weeks. Adverse gastrointestinal
effects were 3 times more common in those getting ginger, but the side
effects were mostly mild. This study appeared in the November 2001
issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.
HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: A number of foods have
been studied for reducing pain. Not only spices but omega-3 fatty
acids found in fish seem to help rheumatoid arthritis, probably by
slightly decreasing inflammation. An editorial that accompanied the
ginger study strongly recommended that ginger not be recommended
because of only limited efficacy, lack of clear effectiveness in a
previous trial, and absence of meaningful data on safety. While
ginger has been eaten in small to tongue-biting amounts for centuries,
we do not know what the long term effects of daily consumption of
these extracts might be.
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Scott Peterson
--
Why do overlook and oversee
mean opposite things?