Arthritis is a common problem in winter and in the daily lives of many across the globe. Presenting here few natural medicine for healing and relief from painful moments

1. Presented by
Dr. Sudhakar Kokate
Director PPRC, India

2. About disease
∞ Inflammation of a joint characterised by pain,
swelling and limitation of a joint movement
∞ Osteo-arthritia (OA)
– Knee and hip…debilitating disease affected
– More in women than male
– Increases with ageing
PPRC/INDIA 01

3. About disease
∞ Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
- Most common disease
- Affects 1% of world population
- Involves many joints
PPRC/INDIA 02

4. About disease
PPRC/INDIA 03

5. Drugs in Practice
∞ Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDS)
…. For symptomatic treatment of
OA and RA
Side effects
risk in use
- many limitations
PPRC/INDIA 04

6. Side effects of NSAIDS drugs
∞ Propensity to cause stomach ulcers
- GI bleeding
- Perforations
∞ New cox – 2 drugs
- Long term use may increase the risk
of stroke and heart attack
PPRC/INDIA 05

7. Side effects of NSAIDS drugs
∞ USFDA withdrawn from market
∞ Biologics drugs
(Anti-bodies for IL-1, IL-6, TNF-ɑ)
Benefits:
- Reduce inflammation
- Joint destruction
PPRC/INDIA 06

8. Disadvantages
∞ Not effective universally
∞ Higher costs
∞ Severe side effects as life – threatening
infections
∞ Increases risk of malignances
PPRC/INDIA 07

9. Emerging CAM therapy
∞ CAM: Complementary and Alternative
Medicine
∞ Use of accu-puncture
∞ 60-90% of dissatisfied patients use this
therapy
PPRC/INDIA 08

10. Symptoms of Arthritis
∞ Caused due to the aggravation of vata
(air) dosha and accumulation of Ama
(toxins) gets deposited in the weak areas
of the body
∞ Weak digestion, constipation, overeating
and little physical activity
PPRC/INDIA 09

11. Osteoarthritis
∞ Most common joint disease
∞ Women >55 yrs age affected
∞ 12% incidences of Osteoarthritis in India
∞ Condition of synovial joints characterised
by cartilage loss with peri-articular
response
PPRC/INDIA 10

12. Emerging new trends
in
the development
of
PhytoDrugs
In
Arthritis
PPRC/INDIA 11

13. Ashwagandha
Withania somnifera
PPRC/INDIA 12

14. Withania somnifera
• The root contains traces of an essential oil
• It is effective in the treatment of rheumatic
infections
• The water soluble portion of the root extract
contains indefinite amorphous substances and a
quantity of sugar
PPRC/INDIA 13

15. Ajwain
Trachyspermum ammi
PPRC/INDIA 14

16. Trachyspermum ammi
• The seeds are used as a household remedy for
indigestion, colic, diarrhoea, flatulence and asthma
• In arthritis it is quite effective
• Ref. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, New
Delhi Part I, Vol. I, II
• Waltis T.E. - Textbook of Pharmacogney
PPRC/INDIA 15

17. Alfalfa
Medicago sativa
PPRC/INDIA 16

18. Medicago sativa
• It contains 1-canavanine, an amino acid causes
curing properties against joint pain
PPRC/INDIA 17

19. Angelica
Angelica archangelica
PPRC/INDIA 18

20. Angelica archangelica
• It is used in European folk medicine
• Western
variety
has
12
anti-inflammatory
constituents, 10 anti-spasmodic constituents and 5
anodyne ones
• Chinese species is sold in North America in the
name of dang guei or dang quai
PPRC/INDIA 19

21. Black cohosh
Cimicifuga racemosa
PPRC/INDIA 20

22. Cimicifuga racemosa
• There are five species worldwide that have been
used to treat rheumatism
• It contains aspirin-like substances and the root of
the plant is very beneficial
• Other
anti-inflammatory
and
anti-spasmodic
constituents
PPRC/INDIA 21

23. Celery
Apium graveolens
PPRC/INDIA 22

24. Apium graveolens
• Eating raw or cooked celery seeds or large amount
of this plant to treat rheumatism arrived in North
America
• Celery is rich in minerals
• 1 cup of celery contains 350 mg of potassium
PPRC/INDIA 23

25. Chaparral
Larrea tridentata
PPRC/INDIA 24

26. Larrea tridentata
• It is widely promoted in health food-stores as a
treatment for arthritis
• Externally as a wash or internally as a tea
PPRC/INDIA 25

27. Cat’s claw
Uncaria tomentosa, Uncaria guianensis
PPRC/INDIA 26

28. Uncaria tomentosa, Uncaria guianensis
• This plant contains oxindole alkaloids tannis,
quinoxic acid glycosides, flavonoids and sterols
• Extract of this herb is effective in arthritis
PPRC/INDIA 27

29. Devdaru
Cedrus deodara
PPRC/INDIA 28

30. Cedrus deodara
• It is acute and pungent in action
• This is one of the most useful drug
• It is used in combination with other anti-pyretics
PPRC/INDIA 29

31. Ginseng liquor
Panax quinquefolius
PPRC/INDIA 30

32. Panax quinquefolius
• It contains ginsenosides which has a variety of
pharmacological actions
• It handles a wide variety of stresses effective in
rheumatism
PPRC/INDIA 31

33. Garlic
Allium sativum
PPRC/INDIA 32

34. Allium sativum
• It possesses anti-inflammatory anti-arthritic, hypolipidemic, anti-coagulant, hypo-proteomic, hypo-
cholesterolemic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, antihypersensitive and hypo-glycaemic action
PPRC/INDIA 33

35. Gandhaprasarini
Paederia foetida
PPRC/INDIA 34

36. Paederia foetida
• This plant exhibits disease modifying antirheumatic activity
• It also helps in treating inflammatory disorders
PPRC/INDIA 35

37. Ginger
Zingiber officinale
PPRC/INDIA 36

38. Zingiber officinale
• Chromatographic fraction results showed that most
of the fractions containing gingerols / gingerol
derivatives were excellent inhibitors of LPS-induced
PGE-2 production
• Ginger extract when administered daily for 4 weeks
caused significant reduction in PGE-2 levels in rats
PPRC/INDIA 37

39. Green tea
Camellia sinensis
PPRC/INDIA 38

40. Camellia sinensis
• One of the most commonly consumed beverages in
the world with no side-effects
• Sufficient experimental proof on the effect of
Green
tea’s
anti-inflammatory
and
chondro-
protective properties at molecular level
PPRC/INDIA 39

41. Hop tea
Humulus lupulus
PPRC/INDIA 40

42. Humulus lupulus
• It contains 32 constituents that have antiinflammatory activities
• 10 out of them may act as sedative
• It is popular remedy for rheumatism
PPRC/INDIA 41

43. Karpura
Cinnamomum camphora
PPRC/INDIA 42

44. Cinnamomum camphora
• When applied on the affected area camphor may
redden the skin and produce a warm sensation
• When rubbed into painful, stiff joints, ligaments
and muscles, it provides soothing “camphor-ice”
relief
PPRC/INDIA 43

45. Pepper
Piper nigrum
PPRC/INDIA 44

46. Piper nigrum
• As an external application, it dilates the superficial
vessels and acts as a counter-irritant
• It is used as an analgesic liniment for myalgia and
rheumatic pains
PPRC/INDIA 45

47. Liquorice
Glycyrrhiza glabra
PPRC/INDIA 46

48. Glycyrrhiza glabra
• It acts on the body without any harmful side-effects
• It has significant anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy
activity
• It has been historically in the treatment of
inflammation, allergy and asthma
PPRC/INDIA 47

49. Mustard plaster
Brassica alba, Brassica juncea
PPRC/INDIA 48

50. Brassica alba, Brassica juncea
• Popular counter-irritant treatment for arthritis
• Active principle – allyl-isothiocyanate
• Crush the seeds in grinder, moisten the mixture
with vinegar and sprinkle the flour. Spread mixture
on cloth and place it on skin for > 20 mins. After
removal, wash the affected area
PPRC/INDIA 49

51. Pineapple
Ananas comosus
PPRC/INDIA 50

52. Ananas comosus
• Active principle – “Bromelain” helps prevent
inflammation
• Athletic trainers recommend pineapple for athletes
to prevent and treat sports injury
• Bromelain help the body to get rid of immune
antigen complex compounds that are implicated in
arthritic conditions
PPRC/INDIA 51

53. Rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis
PPRC/INDIA 52

54. Rosmarinus officinalis
• The leaves of this plant contain carnosal, oleanolic
acid rosmarinic acid and ursdic acid which acts as
an anti-inflammatory activity
PPRC/INDIA 53

55. Red pepper
Capsicum sp.
PPRC/INDIA 54

56. Capsicum sp.
• It interferes with pain perception
• It contains capsaicin salicylates and others
• These help to relieve arthritis
PPRC/INDIA 55

57. Sesame seeds
Sesamum indicum
PPRC/INDIA 56

58. Sesamum indicum
• Chinese folk medicine to eat seeds
• ½ ounce of the seeds contain 4 gm of essential
fatty acids, 175 mg of calcium, 64 mg of
magnesium, 0.73 mg of copper
• Increased copper intake may be important during
arthritis attacks
• A rind ½ ounce of seeds & sprinkle on food
PPRC/INDIA 57

59. Stinging nettle
Urtica dioica
PPRC/INDIA 58

60. Urtica dioica
• Official remedy for rheumatism in Germany
• Most important herb to consider for treating early
onset arthritis
• Contains anti-inflammatory component similar to
that of steroid drugs
• Dose: 1 tablespoon juice thrice a day, freeze the
juice if needed
PPRC/INDIA 59

61. Thunder god vine
Tripterygium wilfordii Hook f.
PPRC/INDIA 60

62. Tripterygium wilfordii Hook f.
• It is a perennial vine-like plant that grows in
Southern China and Taiwan
• Root extract is for treatment of various autoimmune and inflammatory diseases including RA
PPRC/INDIA 61

63. Turmeric
Curcuma longa
PPRC/INDIA 62

64. Curcuma longa
• Curcumin, the yellow pigment of Turmeric has
significant anti-inflammatory action
• Curcumin – effective as cortisone in inflammation
• Dosage: 400-600 mg thrice a day
• Non-toxic dietary pigment quite useful in arthritis
• It is effective in liver infections
PPRC/INDIA 63

65. Wild cucumber bark
PPRC/INDIA 64

66. Wild cucumber bark
• Best plant for treating rheumatism and arthritis
• It is to be taken in drinking alcohol or tea
PPRC/INDIA 65

67. Wild yam
Dioscorea villosa
PPRC/INDIA 66

68. Dioscorea villosa
• Contains “Diosgenin” a steroid constituent with
anti-inflammatory properties
• Wild yam tea popular folk remedy for muscular
rheumatism
• Dosage: 1 ounce of wild yam root + 1 ginger root
= fill jar with boiling water – mixture at room
temp. Drink 2 – 3 cups / day
PPRC/INDIA 67

69. Willow
Salix spp.
PPRC/INDIA 68

70. Salix spp.
• Active principle: “Salicin”
• Pain relieving and anti-inflammatory properties
PPRC/INDIA 69

71. Wintergreen
Gaultheria procumbens
PPRC/INDIA 70

72. Gaultheria procumbens
• Chief active principle: Methylsalicylate
• Dried herb is used
PPRC/INDIA 71

73. Yucca
Yucca filamentosa
PPRC/INDIA 72

74. Yucca filamentosa
• To reduce arthritic pain
• Saponin
extract
of
Yucca
showed
positive
therapeutic effect
• It decreases bacterial endotoxin absorption thus
reducing inhibition of cartilage synthesis
PPRC/INDIA 73

75. Thank you !!