Sufferers of osteoarthritis may want to rejoice - there is more than one natural joint care supplement available which have shown some promising results for alleviating the pain from inflammation. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease which targets the cartilage between joints. Often the joints become inflamed, which causes a great deal of pain and stiffness.

There have been many recent studies which have examined a variety of natural joint care supplements and the good news is that there are several which seem to support their claims to alleviate inflammation and pain in arthritis sufferers.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin, these two substances work best when taken together; they are often packaged as capsules containing both. Green lipped mussel extract contains these naturally. They have been shown to alleviate pain, reduce inflammation, and stop the progression of arthritis.

How do they work? Glucosamine sulphate prevents the cartilage from further deterioration. Chondroitin works to slow deterioration, as well, and aids patients in regaining their mobility. Both of these substances are naturally occurring and do not cause any side effects. Numerous studies comparing the effects of glucosamine-chondroitin against a placebo for a period of several years resulted in the patients taking the supplements realising an end to cartilage degeneration, reduced inflammation, and pain relief.

The next supplement on the list is S-adenosylmethionine (SAM-e). This natural remedy is actually a molecule which increases certain chemical reactions in the body. Because it has been shown to be effective for depression as well as easing pain and increasing mobility, it is often prescribed for patients who suffer from both osteoarthritis and depression. SAM-e is one of the most commonly recommended natural treatments for arthritis.

It works by delivering sulfur to the cartilage, which, in turn, aids in the building of collagen bonds to strengthen deteriorating joints. It also provides relief for pain and inflammation and it is believed that it boosts mood via chemical messengers in the brain. SAM-e can be used to replace non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, such as Ibuprofen.

Finally, the culinary spice turmeric has also been identified as being effective as a natural joint care supplement. This spice, which is found in curry powder, has long been used by Chinese and Indian Ayurvedic medical practitioners who realised its properties for relieving both pain and inflammation.

So far, studies to support this have only been performed on animals. Although it is still unclear exactly how it works on osteoarthritis, it is thought that turmeric inhibits the production of prostaglandins and leukotrienes, two of the body's naturally occurring chemicals which cause inflammation of the joints. One piece of research combined turmeric with the capsaicin found in chilli peppers and it was effective in reducing inflammation in the paws of rats. A further study on the combination turmeric-capsaicin was done on post-surgery patients suffering from inflammation and the results were purported to be as good as from the drug phenylbutazone.

If you have been living with osteoarthritis and wondering if there was a natural joint care supplement which might be effective for your condition, any of these natural remedies may work at relieving your pain and inflammation.