Amir
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Location: Hidden World
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Registration date: 2007-09-21
 |  Subject: DEVIL'S CLAW Mon 27 Jul 2009, 8:31 am | |
| Nutritional support for Individuals with Rheumatoid Arthritis
The South African plant Harpagophytum procumbens is better known to American consumers as "Devil's Claw" It has been advocated in the treatment of a variety of diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis. Pharmacological studies in animals and clinical trials in human beings have reported that devil's claw posses an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect comparable to the potent drug phenylbutazone.
In addition to relieving joint pain in these clinical trials, serum cholesterol and uric accid were reduced. The anti-inflammatory effects of devil's claw has been attributed to three iridoid glycosides - harpagoside, harpagide, and procumbide. This compound also contains the following herbs that possess anti-inflammatory activity.
WILLOW BARK (Salix alba): Wllow bark has been used worldwide in folk medicine for the relief of aches, fevers and rheumatic pains. Salicin was isolated from the willow in the early 1800's. This compound served as the starting materail for the manufacture of aspirin. By the late 1800's the use of synthetic aspirin had almost entirely replaced the use of willow bark.
LICORICE (Glycyrrhiza glabra):Licorice has demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory activity in experimental studies and has a long history of use for arthritic conditions.
BLACK COHOSH (Cimifuga racemosa):Black cohosh was sued by American Indians for a wide variety of conditions including arthritis and rheumatism.
HORSE CHESTNUT (Aesculus hippocastanum): Flavonoid components of the horse chestnut fruit have confirmed anti-inflammaotyr activity and are believed to be the active constituents. The fruits were widely used by American Indians in the treamtnet of arthritis, bacckache, neuralgia, and related conditions.
BIRCH (Betula pendula), NETTLE (Urtica dioica), DANDELION ( Taraxacum officinale), HORSETAIL (Equisetum arvense), and RHODODENDRON (Rhododendron chrysanthum): These plants have long histories of use in the treatment of arthritic conditions but limited scientific investigation as anti-inflammatory agents. Many constituents of these herbs have, however, been shown to possess anti-inflammatory activity.
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