Phytotherapy and osteoarthritis: the plants that support your joints
Osteoarthritis is a common joint condition that affects millions of people1. Stiffness, pain, discomfort with movement... These symptoms impact daily life2.
Many people are interested in herbal medicine, a natural approach that leverages the benefits of plants to support joint comfort3.
What is phytotherapy?
Phytotherapy is about treating or relieving with plants. It is based on the use of different parts of plants; roots, leaves, flowers, bark or fruit, in order to preserve well-being and support certain functions of the body3. In concrete terms, this can take several forms:
Herbal teas and infusions,
Capsules or plant extracts (in the form of food supplements),
Essential oils or macerates (concentrated preparations).
Phytotherapy is not a substitute for conventional medicine, but it can be a useful complement to overall care, particularly to support certain discomforts such as those related to osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis: understanding the origin of pain
Osteoarthritis is a progressive wear and tear of the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones4. Over time, this tissue thins, causing:
Pain during movement4,
A loss of flexibility4,
Joint stiffness4.
The most commonly affected areas are the knees, hips, hands, and feet4.
Plants for your joints
Find out what effects certain plants can bring when you suffer from osteoarthritis.
Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
Rich in curcumin, turmeric is known for its antioxidant and soothing properties and acts on markers of chronic inflammation 5,6.
Curcumin-concentrated formulas can help improve mobility and reduce joint discomfort, as long as they are well absorbed 5,6 (often combined with piperine, extracted from black pepper).
Ginger
Ginger's mechanisms of action include anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and analgesic properties7. Ginger may have a modest beneficial effect on osteoarthritis symptoms, particularly pain and joint function8. Its combination with other plants (such as turmeric and black pepper) may also improve certain inflammatory markers9.
Avocado and soy unsaponifiables (ASU)
ASUs are natural plant extracts (from avocado and soybean oils) that can help relieve symptoms (pain, stiffness) and may help slow the progression of cartilage breakdown10. ASUs have anti-inflammatory effects and may also act on oxidative stress10.
Boswellia (Boswellia serrata)
Also known as Indian frankincense, Boswellia contains boswellic acids that have anti-inflammatory properties11. Standardized Boswellia extracts may reduce stiffness, pain, and improve joint function in people with osteoarthritis11.
White willow (Salix alba)
Rich in tannins, flavonoids and salicylates such as salicin, white willow bark releases compounds that the body converts into salicylic acid, which is valued for its analgesic (pain-relieving) and anti-inflammatory actions12. Contraindications12: White willow bark has the same contraindications as aspirin (non-exhaustive list: risk of allergy, drug interactions, coagulation disorders).
Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica)
The leaves, roots and seeds of nettle contain valuable minerals and plant active ingredients, such as caffeic and chlorogenic acids, sitosterol and flavonoids13. These components would explain its remineralizing and soothing properties, often sought for the well-being of the joints13. Contraindications12: People suffering from urinary stone attacks, heart or kidney problems should avoid consuming it, due to its diuretic effects.
Collagen
Collagen plays a key role in the structure and stability of joint cartilage, and its breakdown contributes to the progression of osteoarthritis14. Collagen supplementation, in the form of hydrolyzed peptides or undenatured type II collagen, may improve the symptoms of osteoarthritis15. Collagen derivatives have an effect on reducing pain and improving joint function, while having a good safety profile15.
Precaution and safety
Phytotherapy is a complementary support but does not replace an adapted lifestyle. Before starting an herbal supplement:
Seek the advice of a healthcare professional, especially if you are taking medication.
Avoid self-medication: some plants can interact with anticoagulants, anti-inflammatories or anti-diabetics.
Choose certified products from recognized laboratories that contain standardized extracts.
Chen, D., Shen, J., Zhao, W., Wang, T., Han, L., Hamilton, J., & Im, H. (2017). Osteoarthritis: toward a comprehensive understanding of pathological mechanism. Bone Research, 5. https://doi.org/10.1038/boneres.2016.44.
Clynes, M., Jameson, K., Edwards, M., Cooper, C., & Dennison, E. (2019). Impact of osteoarthritis on activities of daily living: does joint site matter?. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, 31, 1049 - 1056. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-019-01163-0.
Dragoș, D., Gilca, M., Gaman, L., Vlad, A., Iosif, L., Stoian, I., & Lupescu, O. (2017). Phytomedicine in Joint Disorders. Nutrients, 9. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9010070.
Abramoff, B., & Caldera, F. (2020). Osteoarthritis: Pathology, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options. The Medical clinics of North America, 104 2, 293-311 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mcna.2019.10.007.
Li, X., Feng, K., Li, J., Yu, D., Fan, Q., Tang, T., Yao, X., & Wang, X. (2017). Curcumin Inhibits Apoptosis of Chondrocytes through Activation ERK1/2 Signaling Pathways Induced Autophagy. Nutrients, 9. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9040414.
Chin, K. (2016). The spice for joint inflammation: anti-inflammatory role of curcumin in treating osteoarthritis. Drug Design, Development and Therapy, 10, 3029 - 3042. https://doi.org/10.2147/dddt.s117432.
Maryam, H., Azhar, S., Akhtar, M., Asghar, A., Saeed, F., Ateeq, H., Afzaal, M., Akram, N., Munir, H., Anjum, W., & Shah, M. (2023). Role of bioactive components of ginger in management of osteoarthritis: a review. International Journal of Food Properties, 26, 1903 - 1913. https://doi.org/10.1080/10942912.2023.2236811.
Bartels, E., Folmer, V., Bliddal, H., Altman, R., Juhl, C., Tarp, S., Zhang, W., Christensen, R., & Christensen, R. (2012). Efficacy and safety of ginger in osteoarthritis patients: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Osteoarthritis and cartilage, 23 1, 13-21 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2014.09.024.
Heidari-Beni, M., Moravejolahkami, A., Gorgian, P., Askari, G., Tarrahi, M., & Bahrain-Esfahani, N. (2020). Herbal formulation "turmeric extract, black pepper, and ginger" versus Naproxen for chronic knee osteoarthritis: A randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial. Phytotherapy research: PTR. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6671.
Christiansen, B., Bhatti, S., Goudarzi, R., & Emami, S. (2015). Management of Osteoarthritis with Avocado/Soybean Unsaponifiables. Cartilage, 6, 30 - 44. https://doi.org/10.1177/1947603514554992.
Yu, G., Xiang, W., Zhang, T., Zeng, L., Yang, K., & Li, J. (2020). Effectiveness of Boswellia and Boswellia extract for osteoarthritis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-020-02985-6.
Bhusal, K., Magar, S., Thapa, R., Lamsal, A., Bhandari, S., Maharjan, R., Shrestha, S., & Shrestha, J. (2022). Nutritional and pharmacological importance of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.): A review. Heliyon, 8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09717.
Ouyang, Z., Dong, L., Yao, F., Wang, K., Chen, Y., Li, S., Zhou, R., Zhao, Y., & Hu, W. (2023). Cartilage-Related Collagens in Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis: From Pathogenesis to Therapeutics. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24129841.
Liang, C., Cheng, H., Lee, Y., Liao, C., & Huang, S. (2024). Efficacy and safety of collagen derivatives for osteoarthritis: a trial sequential meta-analysis.. Osteoarthritis and cartilage. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2023.12.010.
Osteoarthritis of the knee and alternative medicines: how effective are they?
The treatments recommended by experts to relieve osteoarthritis of the knee include analgesics (painkillers) and anti-inflammatories, physiotherapy, physical exercise and weight loss. In addition to these measures, alternative medicines can also be beneficial and are widely used.
Making a few changes to your diet can help relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee (or gonarthrosis) and slow down its progression(1). Improving the balance of your diet and favouring joint-protecting foods is easy and really helps.
