Curcumin for Arthritis

http://blog.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/anti-inflammatory-tumeric-curcumin/

How Curcumin Works

Curcumin seems to target specific molecules or pathways that control the cell cycle. It also blocks inflammatory cytokines and enzymes, including 5-LOX and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), the target of the drug celecoxib. That’s why studies have shown that it can be helpful for people with osteoarthritis. For example, a 2016 review of eight randomized controlled trials found that 1000 mg a day of curcumin relieved OA pain as effectively as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen – minus the intestinal side effects. Other research suggests that low doses of curcumin may help restore a normal balance between T cells that cause inflammation (Th17 cells) and those that protect against it (regulatory T cells). The imbalance in these cells is believed to drive lupus and other autoimmune diseases. And a small study published in Molecular Medicine in 2016 suggests that curcumin may help to prevent bone erosion in people with rheumatoid arthritis.