Arthritis relief comes from Arborvitae Joint Health, study finds
In what would be welcome relief for thousands of arthritis sufferers on the Central Coast, a study has found an Australian supplement reduced symptoms in just three months.
Central Coast
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When retired motor mechanic Noel Judd saw a hand surgeon after 15 years of debilitating pain he was told he’d have to fuse his wrists and replace both thumb joints.
Mr Judd did not fancy the prospect of losing so much mobility so he just put up with the pain.
“I would go to bed at night and I would have heat packs on my wrists,” he said.
“It would wake you up at night and I’d take Panadol and whatever else I could. During the day I would have these heavy wrist bands on.”
About a year ago Mr Judd saw former Australian cricketer Mike Whitney come up on his Facebook news feed discussing his positive experience with Arborvitae Joint Health and thought he would try it.
“I only had a little bit, 30mL each morning, and within a couple of weeks I started noticing a difference,” he said.
Within a few months he said he was completely pain free.
“You read about people it doesn’t help, I can only speak from myself and it’s fantastic,” he said.
The 76-year-old said if he does “really work” his hands and wrists, such as house painting or working around his Jilliby property he does experience pain.
“But it doesn’t last, it’s gone within an hour or so,” he said.
Mr Judd said some people said it was expensive but he said he only needed 30mL a day.
“It’s like half the cost of a cup of coffee,” he said.
Mr Judd’s experience comes as a study published in the Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology compared the effectiveness of Arborvitae Joint Health in the supplementary management of osteoarthritis.
The study analysed the outcomes across two groups of participants, one using the standard treatment for management of osteoarthritis, and the other supplementing the standard treatment with the use of Arborvitae Joint Health.
After three months, the group using the additional Arborvitae Joint Health liquid supplement demonstrated stronger results in mobility and ‘walking distance’ tests, a significant reduction in arthritis symptoms (measured by the standard Karnofsky Scale) and had dramatically reduced their need for rescue medications.
The study also revealed oxidative stress levels were also significantly reduced and Quality of Life scores improved.
The researchers concluded that Arborvitae Joint Health “may be an effective supplementary management in controlling signs/symptoms of mild-moderate [osteoarthritis]”.
This includes a reduction in inflammation and, subsequently, pain related to osteoarthritis.
The active ingredient, Pycnogenol, is an antioxidant plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree that has potent anti-inflammatory actions.
Pycnogenol has been clinically shown to be effective in supporting healthy joint function, relieving inflammation and reducing pain associated with various health problems — including mild arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Scientific Director for Horphag Research Dr Jeff Strong said the study results were extremely promising and not just for older generations.
“Arthritis is often considered to be a condition that only effects older generations, however many people will start feeling the effects of arthritis from as early as age 35,” he said.
“These positive results were achieved through a registry study, meaning the product was tested under real world circumstances that reflect the realities that those living with arthritis often face.”