How Aloe Vera Helps Joint Stiffness

There are millions of people who suffer from osteoarthritis - a painful condition where the cartilage between joints, which normally acts as a cushion, gradually wears away. The usual course of treatment involves non-steroidals (NSAIDS) and COX-II inhibitors to help control pain and inflammation.

But drugs like this carry the risk of undesired side-effects, ranging from stomach ulcers to liver problems, heart disease and more. The recent withdrawal from the pharmaceutical market of drugs like Vioxx and Celebrex are a testament to that. And studies have repeatedly shown that long-term use of NSAIDS can in fact accelerate the degenerative process, rather than slow it down.

So millions of people want a viable alternative to pharmaceutical drugs, that also show promise of having an effect on the symptoms of osteoarthritis, but without the possible side-effects.

Several recent studies have documented some promising results with Aloe Vera, particularly when taken together with Chondroitin Sulphate, MSM and Vitamin C.

» read more: Aloe Vera & Joint Care

Can Aloe Vera Replace Non-Steroidals?

Every year in the UK, approximately 25 million prescriptions are written for Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs). That doesn’t include those non-steroidal drugs that are bought over the counter.

They’re very effective. If you’ve ever injured yourself, you’ll know just how painful the inflammation in the muscles, tendons or joints can be. And that inflammation - the body’s secondary reponse to healing - can be more painful than the original injury itself. You’ve probably bought non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs from the chemist without even thinking about it. Nurofen® and Ibuprofen are over-the-counter NSAIDs.

The full list of non-steroidals covers aspirin, naproxen (Aleve®, Naprosyn®), ibuprofen (Nurofen®, Motrin®), diclofenac (Voltarol®), piroxicam (Feldene®) and others. Essentially, they are a class of drugs that have a strong anti-inflammatory effect. They’re effective in reducing mild to moderate pain - muscle strains & sprains, joint and tendon problems - as well as helping with headaches; reducing fevers; and alleviating the symptoms of coughs, colds and flu. Which is why NSAIDs also often included in many cold and allergy preparations.

» read more: Aloe Vera & Non-Steroidal Drugs