On Tuesday, our Rebel Herbs founder and CEO Jason Edwards was interviewed live by Dr. Holly Lucille to discuss arthritis and Ayurvedic Herbs.
During the interview, Jason stated that the most shocking statistic about arthritis is the fact that
300,000 infants and children have arthritis or a rheumatic condition.* When it comes to inflammation and pain, most people are quick to think of the two major herbal players: turmeric and ginger. However, boswellia (commonly called frankincense) is also very beneficial when it comes to pain management. In traditional Ayurveda, Boswellia was burnt and its fumes inhaled for the treatment or warding off of a variety of chronic illnesses. Studies have shown that it is anti-inflammatory and an inhibitor, as well as a mood enhancer.**
In the interview, Jason and Dr. Lucille discuss how boswellia can be combined with other herbs (such as ashwagandha and tinospora cordifolia***) for pain management, and discuss the natural chemicals that create a synergy to help the body. They also discussed various Ayurvedic herbal delivery methods, such as hand-extracted tablets, Dhum-pan, incense, and medicinal wines.
Jason shared his thoughts on the future of nature-based medicine for arthritis treatment. “We have to get rid of this minimalist idea-”, explained Jason, “the idea that we can reduce [natural medicine] down to its lowest common denominator. The body is beautifully and wonderfully made and it is very complex. Much like that, plants...are complex creations, and their effects are derived from that complexity...There is not one compound that ‘does it all’, but rather hundreds of...chemicals that are found in a multitude of herbs that we can put into a formula”.
To watch the interview in its entirety, click here. To learn more about Ayurveda and its practices, click here.
* Arthritis Foundation, What is Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis?, https://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/juvenile-idiopathic-arthritis-jia/what-is-juvenile-idiopathic-arthritis.php
** K. Prabhavathi, U. Shobha Jagdish Chandra, Radhika Soanker, and P. Usha Rani, A Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled, Cross Over Study to Evaluate the Analgesic Activity of Boswellia Serrata in Healthy Volunteers using Mechanical Pain Model, Indian Journal of Pharmacology. 2014 Sep-Oct; 46(5): 475-479.
*** Abiramasundari G, Sumalatha KR, Sreepriya M., Effects of Tinospora Cordifolia (Menispermaceae) on the Proliferation, Osteogenic Differentiation and Mineralization of Osteoblast Model Systems in Vitro, Journal of Ethnopharmacology. Volume 141, Issue 1, 2012 May 7: 474-480., Ko HJ, Ahn EK, Oh JS, N-trans-p-caffeoyl Tyramine Isolated from Tribulus Terrestris Exerts Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 Cells, International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2015 Oct; 36(4):1042-8., Rasool M., Varalakshmi P., Suppressive Effect of Withania Somnifera Root Powder on Experimental Gouty Arthritis: An In Vivo and In Vitro Study, Chemico-Biological Interactions. 2007 January; 164(3):174-80.