RESEARCH - Can cherries relieve the pain of OA?

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Can Cherries Relieve The Pain Of Osteoarthritis?

ScienceDaily (Mar. 21, 2009) — For the estimated 27 million Americans

who suffer from osteoarthritis, pain relief may come with a cherry on

top. According to researchers with the Baylor Research Institute, tart

cherries, in pill form, may be a promising pain-reliever for this

common and debilitating form of arthritis.

More than half of the patients enrolled in a 2007 pilot study at the

Baylor Research Institute experienced a significant improvement in

pain and function after taking the cherry pills for eight weeks.

Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, is considered

degenerative and typically affects the hands, feet, spine, and large

weight-bearing joints, such as the hips and knees. Patients with

osteoarthritis of the knees were enrolled in this pilot study to

assess potential efficacy of the tart cherry pills.

“The current treatment of osteoarthritis is largely focused on

controlling pain through use of over-the-counter acetaminophen or

prescription pain medications as well as non-steroidal

anti-inflammatory drugs,” explains J. Cush, M.D., rheumatologist

and principal investigator of the study. “These conventional

medications are widely used, but have not been shown to alter the

natural history of the disease. In some cases, overuse may contribute

to significant gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, hematologic, renal

and liver toxicity.”

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Read the whole article here:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090319164327.htm

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