An online health site has urged those suffering with arthritis to venture into their spice cabinet for a natural painkiller.
Healthline revealed nine natural ways to relieve arthritis pain, saying that doctors often recommend homoeopathic remedies as well as medicine.
Turmeric comes from the root of a plant in the ginger family. It is dried and ground into a bright orange-yellow powder that is often used in Asian cuisine – and costs around £1.50 in the supermarket.
It contains a chemical called curcumin, which may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that could help reduce arthritis pain and inflammation.
Lloyds Pharmacy said that a study of 107 people found that daily consumption of curcumin had an effect comparable to commonly used anti-inflammatory medicines.
Healthline recommends adding a small amount of the spice, which has a warm, bitter, black pepper-like flavour, to your dinner to test it out. It can also be bought in teas and as a supplement.
The site mainly recommended staying active, managing your weight, and making changes to your diet, but had some other homoeopathic remedies.
These included using temperature therapy – heat (such as baths, showers, heated blankets and pads) in the morning to ease stiffness and cold (such as a bag of frozen vegetables in a towel and gel ice packs) to provide quick relief to painful joints.
Healthline also suggested acupuncture – an ancient Chinese treatment using fine needles to open up your flow of Qi, the energy that flows along your body’s 14 major energy-carrying channels, or “meridians”.
The site’s final suggestion was herbal supplements such as boswellia, bromelain, devil’s claw, ginkgo, and stinging nettle. It is worth keeping in mind that scientific research hasn’t proved the effectiveness of any specific herb or supplement to treat arthritis.
Always speak to your GP or a pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medications, including over-the-counter drugs, supplements, or herbal remedies.