Ibuprofen Vs Turmeric For Arthritis: Which Is Better?

Arthritis can leave you in a terrific amount of pain. It can cause you to struggle to move your joints and do the things that you enjoy. Because of the pain associated with arthritis, many people end up looking for something to give them the relief they need so they can get back to their regular lives and enjoy living and doing things with their loved ones. While some turn to Ibuprofen for relief, others are looking for something more natural to help cure their pain and allow them to move their joints. Even though Ibuprofen might be a good way to ease your pain, there are a lot of known side effects associated with taking it for too long.

Reports indicated that people who used Ibuprofen on a regular basis were taking an average of 17 pills each month just to deal with their chronic pain. That's a tremendous amount of pills each month just to deal with arthritis pain. This is where an all-natural alternative comes into play and provides you with the relief you need without all of the harsh side effects of Ibuprofen.

Turmeric is a bright orange spice that is often associated with an assortment of different curries. The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, which has been associated with a number of different benefits for people using the spice. A study was conducted where participants were given 1,500 milligrams of turmeric. They divided 367 individuals into two different groups. Half of those received the turmeric and the other half received 1,200 milligrams of Ibuprofen every day over a course of a month. All of the participants were dealing with arthritis in the knee and had pain levels of five or higher.

At the end of the study, the results were quite astronomical. It was found that both the Ibuprofen and the turmeric reduced the amount of pain the individuals were dealing with. However, there were a few significant differences. The individuals who received the Ibuprofen over the course of the month dealt with a significant amount of pain in their abdomen. The turmeric recipients were also able to climb stairs better than those who received the Ibuprofen. Those who took the turmeric didn't have the level of discomfort that the individuals taking the Ibuprofen did.

Other studies were done that involved individuals who suffered with rheumatoid arthritis, which is an extremely painful inflammatory condition. Those who took the turmeric had the highest level of improvement at the end of the study.  

Another study was conducted where the individuals received 500 milligrams of curcumin, which is the main ingredient in turmeric, while the other participants received a prescription medication to treat their arthritis. Another group of participants received both the prescription and the turmeric. At the end of the test, only those who received the curcumin had an improvement in their condition. The scores were determined by taking tenderness and swelling in the joint into account. Not only did the results amaze the recipients, but they didn't have to deal with all of the negative side effects that come with taking prescription drugs and Ibuprofen.

Turmeric has long been one of the best healing foods around. The problem is that many people aren't aware of all the benefits that come from using this ingenious little spice in their everyday lives. Just taking 1,500 milligrams of turmeric per day could be the key you need to putting an end to your arthritis pain and reducing swelling in your joints.

In fact, turmeric goes beyond just treating arthritis in individuals. It has also been shown to treat depression, cancer and much more. By consuming turmeric on a daily basis, you can boost your mood and minimize your chance of getting cancer. Curcumin has been shown to reduce tumors by as much as 81% and prevent cancer cells from spreading and growing. When you think about all of the benefits that come from one spice, it makes sense to take it in on a regular basis.