Replenex® by Melaleuca

This introduction to glucosamine Glucosamine, Part I: Basic Science, at ChiroWeb.com concludes that glucosamine contains analgesic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties due to its ability to normalize cartilage biochemistry which in turn stimulates the healing process.

First, take a look at a general fact sheet on glucosamine from NNFA. In this backgrounder Glucosamine, the National Nutritional Foods Association (NNFA) presents its position on using glucosamine as a dietary supplement and, based on scientific data and information published to date, concludes that glucosamine, when used as a dietary supplement, can be effective in the management of cartilage breakdown and in the promotion of enhanced mobility. (The NNFA, founded in 1936, is recognized for its strong, aggressive lobbying presence in Washington, D.C., where it serves as the natural products industry watchdog on regulatory and legislative matters. In 1994, the NNFA was instrumental in the industry's fight to secure critical legislation affecting natural products resulting in the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). DSHEA granted the natural products industry the right to include health-relevant information with its products.)

This short Q&A article from the UC Berkeley Wellness Newsletter addresses this:

Q: You do not recommend chondroitin sulfate, according to your article on glucosamine in May. Why not? My arthritis supplement contains glucosamine and chondroitin. L.R., VIA THE INTERNET

A: Many people take both of these supplements, separately or in multi-ingredient "arthritis formulas," largely because of a best selling book called the Arthritis Cure. These two substances, produced naturally in the body, are involved in cartilage repair and maintenance. Few studies, none of them good, have looked at the combination of these two supplements. The well-designed study we reported on in May looked only at glucosamine, and found that it did help many arthritis sufferers. There is no such convincing evidence for chondroitin. Moreover, there are many questions about what happens to the chondroitin you swallow. Is this large molecule absorbed? How much of it, if any, attaches to cartilage? There are different kinds of chondroitin sulfate--does it matter which kind you take? Though some research has been done, no one knows the answers to these questions. We'll know more about the effects of chondroitin in two years or so, when the National Institutes of Health completes its large study on the two supplements (used separately and in combination). Chondroitin costs a lot more than glucosamine. If you're going to try a supplement, we suggest trying glucosamine by itself.

In this Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine article Ginger, author Sharon Crawford notes that ginger, taken orally, brings more blood circulation to arthritic joints. She points out that its anti-inflammatory abilities have been shown to help reduce knee and hip pain in some osteoarthritis patients. (The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine, released in November 2000, consists of four volumes of current, unbiased information on alternative and complementary medical practices. Information on recommended therapies for 275 specific disorders and diseases, and on medicinal uses for plants and herbs are balanced by conclusions of studies on efficacy and analysis of current levels of acceptance by traditional scientists and doctors. This resource is published by The Gale Group, a world leader in e-information publishing for libraries, schools and businesses. Best known for its accurate and authoritative reference content as well as its intelligent organization of full-text magazine and newspaper articles, the company creates and maintains more than 600 databases that are published online, in print and in microform. It's online Health & Wellness Resource Center is accessed by the public, university and medical libraries via subscription.)

The article Natural anti-inflammatory supplements: Research status and clinical applications, which was published in the November 5, 2001 edition of Dynamic Chiropractic, reports that the anti-inflammatory enzymes in bromelain have the proven ability to suppress the inflammation and pain of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, sports injuries, and other joint inflammatory conditions. It also helps to minimize swelling by breaking down fibrin.

George E. Meinig, DDS, FACD, of the Price-Pottenger Nutrition Foundation reports in his article Bromelain that renowned physician Dr. Hans Nieper claims that bromelain is "one of the most effective anti-arthritics" and that, since 1975, his clinic has found that its ability to break up fibrin has reduced leg amputation cases of diabetics and cardiovascular disease patients to zero. (The Price-Pottenger Nutrition Foundation (originally called the Weston A. Price Memorial Foundation) was established as a not-for-profit organization in 1965 to provide the public and the healing professions with historical and anthropological findings, and up-to-date, accurate scientific information on nutrition and health. The Foundation is known for its integrity and accuracy in making this information available to the public.)

The article Possible Link Between Green Tea and Arthritis Prevention, which appeared in the September, 1999 issue of the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses Journal, cites a study funded by the Arthritis Foundation which indicated that green tea may be useful in treating or preventing rheumatoid arthritis.