Turmeric Could Potentially Offer Multiple Benefits for Horse Arthritis

(Newswire.net — January 9, 2017) Orlando, FL — Arthritis does not just affect humans, but also animals such as horses. There are pain medications available to help horses achieve pain relief. However, there are also natural remedies, such as turmeric, widely believed to be beneficial for the condition.

Turmeric could potentially offer multiple benefits for horse arthritis. This condition is characterized by the degeneration of joint tissues. According to scientists, arthritis is a natural result of the aging process. Thus, this could mean that all horses are susceptible to the condition.

There are certain factors believed to increase the risk of the condition, such as injury and excess work load. While it cannot be treated, arthritis can be managed.

The disease takes place when the articular cartilage is damaged. This cartilage is a flexible tissue found in between the joints. Damage can resist motion between the joints, which result in pain and stiffness.

Arthritis in horses typically causes symptoms such as joint swelling, pain, stiffness, and difficulties lying down or getting up.

Veterinarians often recommend the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to control inflammation and pain. There are also steroids, which are directly injected in the affected joints. There are also natural remedies such as turmeric that could help horses with arthritis.

Turmeric contains curcumin, which is a phytochemical with many healing ingredients. Some of these therapeutic ingredients are its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, antiviral, and antibiotic properties.

The anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric are thought to modulate the pathways and proteins that support inflammation. This ancient, medicinal spice also has the ability to inhibit the activity of cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX-1 & COX-2).

These enzymes promote inflammation as well as promote prostaglandins production. It is important to note that prostaglandins cause disaggregation or aggregation of platelets in inflammation.

Researchers from a study collected cartilage cells from the joints of horses. The cells were stimulated by the inflammatory agent called interleukin-1. This is for the purpose of imitating the inflammatory process that results in cartilage degradation in osteoarthritis.

It was found that curcumin has been able to decrease the effects of interleukin-1. The researchers suggest that curcumin has the potential to reduce the likelihood of inflammation-induced cartilage loss.

Curcumin is also thought to be better than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and other pain relief drugs. It could also serve as an alternative to steroids with its immunosuppressant and steroid-like activities.

Curcumin could be consumed through supplementation. Supplements are believed to contain high levels of curcumin. One of the best types of curcumin supplements in the market contains a black pepper extract called BioPerine, which is a bioavailability-enhancing ingredient (http://www.amazon.com/Turmeric-Curcumin-Complex-BioPerine-Bio-availability/dp/B00JA4TLTI/).