Plant Extracts Relieve Hand Osteoarthritis

If you have patients with hand osteoarthritis (OA) who want extra relief and don’t mind trying a plant-based supplement, this combo looks promising. 

Researchers in Belgium found that a daily combination of plant extracts significantly reduced hand OA pain over time.

1. Patients had real pain relief.
People with hand OA who took Curcuma longa (turmeric) and Boswellia serrata had noticeably better pain reduction over 3 months than those on placebo, about 8-9 points better on the pain scale.

2. Quality of life received a boost, too.
Patients didn’t just feel less pain; they also reported feeling better overall and rated their quality of life higher than the placebo group.

3. Safe and easy to stick with.
Patients took the supplement consistently (over 90% adhered to it), and side effects were comparable to those of the placebo.

4. Well-done study — but with a few limits.
This solid randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial focused on patient-reported outcomes rather than structural improvements or radiographic findings.

5. Another option for the toolbox.
These extracts aren’t a replacement for standard care, but they may be a safe adjunct for patients wanting complementary therapies for hand OA pain, especially those who prefer more “natural” options.

Bottom line: Current evidence indicates that plant extracts provide symptomatic relief for hand OA; however, they do not address the underlying joint pathology. Counsel patients on these limitations.