Do you suffer from sore joints?
Many of us are all-too familiar with joint pain. Whether it’s acute, temporary, or ongoing from a chronic condition, joint pain can affect mobility and mood and prevent you from enjoying everyday life.
Joint pain is apt to affect anyone. It can arise from injury to the joint or surrounding area, from sprains and strains, strenuous physical activity, as a natural by-product of aging or from conditions like arthritis.
Arthritis affects 1 in 5 Canadians, causing painful inflammation and gradual degeneration of joint cartilage, and it’s estimated that by 2040 the number of Canadians affected is expected to grow by 50%.
For relief, some turn to medicated topical creams or “painkillers” like NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs e.g. ibuprofen or naproxen) that can temporarily suppress uncomfortable symptoms. But more and more, people are looking for holistic approaches in managing pain including natural products that can help relieve aching hips, burning knees or stiff shoulders.
Herbal medicine has a long history of relieving pain, aiding healing and reducing inflammation. We have honoured these traditional preparations and the wisdom of nature by developing products that amplify the natural benefits of plants and herbs to help alleviate joint pain.
Effective, natural supplements
Curcumin Plus capsules are made with a patented technology that results in a 29-fold improvement in absorption. This is done by binding curcumin to lecithin, a fatty substance that enables it to cross the body’s lipid-rich cell membrane barrier – increasing efficacy and reducing dose requirements.
You may already be familiar with the benefits of turmeric for inflammation that come from its main active ingredient – curcumin. However, in a raw state curcumin has low stability and bioavailability, which can hinder its action, requiring large doses to see effects.
A clinical evaluation compared treatment with this preparation of curcumin in patients suffering with osteoarthritis against a control group of untreated patients over 8 months, and found those taking the curcumin scored a full 60% better in terms of pain, stiffness, and overall physical functioning.
Curcumin Plus relieves pain and supports the healthy functioning of joint cartilage and connective tissue – and contains supporting ingredients for healthy joints:
- Enovita®Grape Seed Extract is standardized to contain 95% proanthocyanidins, polyphenols that support the functioning of the cells that line the body’s blood vessels (i.e. the endothelium) for vascular health benefits.
- MSM (Methyl Sulfonyl Methane) is a naturally occurring sulphur compound that helps support healthy cartilage and connective tissues.
This specific combination not only helps to address joint pain, but also swelling and heaviness in the legs.
Topical relief
Joint pain can also be addressed from the outside in! External remedies can be applied locally to target painful flare ups and have the advantage of quick absorption through the skin (vs. digestive processing to get to the site of pain and inflammation).
A surprising form of relief can come from cayenne. That’s right – the super spicy pepper that brings tears to your eyes! More specifically, the relief comes from capsaicin – an active biochemical compound found in cayenne, which was used traditionally as an analgesic among other medicinal uses.
Kinomai® Cream Cayenne contains a concentrated form of capsaicin (50X the potency of the raw herb!) that can help relieve joint pain, soothing the aches and pains of conditions such as arthritis, backache, lumbago, and strains and sprains involving muscles, tendons, or ligaments.
This topical also features:
- MSM, an essential form of sulfur for joints that acts as a carrier for other herbal compounds
- pain-relieving white willow bark
- anti-inflammatory frankincense for pain and swelling
Supplements or Topical? Which product is right for your joints?
As the nature of joint pain varies from person to person, there is no “one-size-sits-all” solution, and needs may change over time.
Generally, an oral supplement may be more appropriate to treat systemic or chronic joint pain, where a topical preparation may be suitable for treating a small (local) area, or if pain is infrequent, temporary or mild.
If joint pain is particularly troublesome, a combination of supplementary and topical treatments can offer greater relief – and a safe and effective combination can be found in Curcumin Plus with the application of Kinomai® Cream Cayenne.
One thing to consider is that the nature of these herbal preparations is to work gently with the body (rather than just numb or suppress physiological functions) and they may need to be taken for a period before results are felt for certain conditions. It’s also important to consult with your health practitioner when beginning a pain relief program and to check for contraindications if presently taking medications.
A holistic approach toward reducing joint pain will maximize the benefits of any natural treatments. Adjusting lifestyle factors can make a significant difference in soothing joint pain – you can check out these fast and easy tips to beat joint pain.
References available upon request.
