For many of the 27 million Americans with osteoarthritis, taking aspirin to ease joint pain can be irritating to the stomach. To avoid use of aspirin, some patients turn to white willow bark, an herb that contains salicin (a natural compound that is chemically similar to aspirin).
So far, research on white willow bark's effectiveness in taming osteoarthritis pain has yielded mixed results, with some research indicating that white willow bark may have a moderate pain-reducing effect on osteoarthritis patients.
If you do use white willow bark for osteoarthritis relief, it's important to note that the herb may be harmful to people with an aspirin allergy or sensitivity. In addition, white willow bark should be avoided by people with peptic ulcers, kidney disease, gout, or asthma. Read the full story: White Willow Bark for Osteoarthritis.
Great tips for those who suffer from osteoarthritis. Chinese practitioners discovered long ago that acupuncture for arthritis is an effective pain management alternative. We practice acupuncture as well and write often about its benefits on our blog, http://www.swintegrativemedicine.com/blog. Keep the great tips coming!