Turmeric Treats Arthritis Knee Pain Better Than Ibuprofen

The healing powers of turmeric are impressive. Many studies have already demonstrated how the spice can help fight fatty liver disease, weight loss and even cancer.

In many cases, turmeric can help heal diseases better than pharmaceutical drugs, such as prozac.

A report in the journal Health Services Research found that doctors and nurses are increasingly likely to try alternative or complementary medicines themselves.

“I use a lot of turmeric in my practice,” says Dr. Minerva Santos, director of integrative medicine at Northern Westchester Hospital in New York. “It’s an amazing spice.”

Ibuprofen Is Toxic To Your Heart

A published Lancet review showed that ibuprofen was found to be as toxic to the heart as the banned anti-inflammatory drug Vioxx.

As reported by Reuters,

“Long-term high-dose use of painkillers such as ibuprofen or diclofenac is ‘equally hazardous’ in terms of heart attack risk as use of the drug Vioxx, which was withdrawn due to its potential dangers, researchers said.”

Natural Alternative To Ibuprofen

Research shows that taking turmeric extracts, alone or in combination with other herbal ingredients, can reduce the pain caused by osteoarthritis, which is mainly caused by inflammation. In one study, turmeric worked about as well as ibuprofen for reducing osteoarthritis pain in the knee.

The study, published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, examined one-hundred and seven (107) patients with primary knee osteoarthritis. Half were given 2g of curcumin extracts per day for 6 weeks while the other half received 800 mg of ibuprofen per day. By the end of the study, the curcumin group had experience pain relief equal to that of the ibuprofen group.

Another study with a higher number of participants (367) showed similar results. In addition, researchers found that not a single patient in the turmeric group reported being unsatisfied unlike those in the ibuprofen group.

Ibuprofen Vs. Turmeric

Ibuprofen can have devastating effects on the liver as well as cause side effects including upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, headache, diarrhea, constipation, dizziness, or drowsiness (6). It can also lead to impaired vision, mood changes, easy bruising or bleeding and drug dependence.

In comparison, turmeric is generally safe to consume. Turmeric powder contains approximately 2-4% curcumin by weight. To enjoy its benefits, add turmeric to your meals or drink it as a tea. You can also choose to consume turmeric supplements.

Turmeric root is also easy to grow and should be consumed fresh for best results.