Herbal help for mild joint pain

Curcuminoids ease mild joint aches and pain

Turmeric is an ingredient you’ve probably got in your kitchen cupboard – especially if you like cooking curries and other dishes from Indian cuisine. In addition to being a popular culinary ingredient, it has a long history of therapeutic use in Ayurvedic medicine (a form of traditional medicine from India).

Turmeric contains biologically active compounds called curcuminoids, which are largely responsible for its therapeutic actions.

Curcuminoids have a range of therapeutic actions in the body, including:

• Easing mild joint aches and pains
• Relieving mild rheumatic pain, that is, mild pain around the joints that’s typically aggravated by motion, especially vigorous exercise¹
• Reducing inflammation

Curcumin is the most well-known of the curcuminoids, and is found alongside other curcuminoids, ginger and boswellia in Fusion Curcumin Advanced.

Fusion Curcumin Advanced also contains piperine (derived from black pepper) to improve the absorption of curcumin. Black pepper is often taken alongside ginger in Ayurvedic formulations.

Fusion Curcumin Advanced

Fusion Curcumin Advanced contains curcuminoids, including curcumin, which provide relief for inflammation, mild joint aches and pain, and mild rheumatic pain.

This product features a turmeric extract called Curcumin C3 Complex^®, which combines curcumin with other curcuminoids (demethoxycurcumin and bidemethoxycurcumin) that help stabilise curcumin and contribute to the antioxidant properties of the extract. Plus, a patented extract of piperine (called BioPerine^®) to enhance the bioavailability of curcumin.

Pain in traditional Chinese medicine

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) pain is often considered to be due to the flow of blood being obstructed, for example by injury or environmental and lifestyle factors that inhibit or slow its movement.

Many of the pain-relieving herbs traditionally used in TCM increase or ‘activate’ the movement of blood and relieve inflammation to ease pain.

White turmeric: topical relief for pain

Some herbs traditionally used in TCM to promote blood circulation, reduce swelling and relieve mild pain can be used topically in lotions, ointments, tinctures and plasters.

One example of a herb used in this way in TCM is another type of turmeric, called white turmeric, which is traditionally applied to affected areas to promote healthy circulation and get the blood moving as it should, thus relieving pain, as well as reduces soft tissue injuries including pain.

Arnica: traditionally used to relieve inflammation

Arnica is traditionally used topically in Western herbal medicine as a counterirritant to relieve pain and to relieve mild muscle and joint inflammation.

Menthol eases mild muscle and joint pain

Menthol is one of the constituents of peppermint oil. It has a cooling effect when applied to the skin, initially stimulating pain receptors in the area and then desensitising them (reducing their sensitivity or ‘turning them off’). As a result, it relieves inflammation and decreases mild joint pain as well as mild muscle pain and soreness.

Fusion Pain Relief Gel

Fusion Pain Relief Gel includes white turmeric, traditionally used in Chinese medicine to relieve symptoms of soft tissue injuries including pain, and menthol to relieve inflammation and decrease mild joint and muscle pain. Also contains magnesium, arnica and wintergreen oil.

This non-greasy formula has a pleasant scent and is readily absorbed, so its easy to apply to aching muscles and joints.

Reference:

1. Hardin, J.G. Rheumatic pain. In Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations, (Eds, Walker, H.K. et al.) Boston: Butterworths, 1990.

Always read the label. Follow the directions for use. If symptoms persist, worsen or change unexpectedly, talk to your health professional.