Arthritis is a painful inflammation of the joints that affects 24 percent of adult Americans and is a leading cause of work disability, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).[1] It comes in various types, but the two most common are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid.

Arthritis is a painful inflammation of the joints that affects 24 percent of adult Americans and is a leading cause of work disability, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Unfortunately, there is no cure for arthritis, although the symptoms can be managed to reduce the pain it causes. Doctors typically prescribe disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) to slow the progression of RA, for example. These medications work by suppressing the immune system to control inflammation, which heightens the risk of infection from other serious diseases. [1]

Figure 1. A Safe and Effective Natural Therapy for Arthritis Sufferers

Figure 1 shows in recent years, however, scientists in Iran have been pioneering an alternative treatment for arthritis that the researchers say has the advantage of being both natural and safe.[3] By harnessing the anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties of saffron — the spice extracted from the saffron crocus flower — Iranian medical researchers are claiming a breakthrough in arthritic therapy for OA and RA sufferers alike.

Clinical trials of the Iranian-manufactured, saffron-based herbal drug Krocina in 2020[4] and 2022,[5] involving a total of 120 OA patients, found that Krocina significantly reduced C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in the blood, while also increasing the percentage of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and the gene expression of GATA-3, all of which are reliable indicators of an improved anti-inflammatory immune response to the disease. [2]

All things considered, saffron extract shows real promise as a therapy for those suffering the painful and often debilitating effects of arthritis, and its safety profile is clearly superior to that of the pharmaceutical drugs commonly prescribed for long-term symptom management.

Since the available data indicates that crocin is the chemical constituent primarily responsible for saffron’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties, consumers should look out for good quality saffron supplements that are standardized for high crocin content. [3]

References:

1. https://headtopics.com/us/saffron-a-safe-and-effective-natural-therapy-for-arthritis-sufferers-28127896
2. https://reporterwings.com/finance/market/pepsico-results-underscore-the-brands-dominance-even-in-inflationary-storm-the-motley-fool/
3. https://scitechdaily.com/saffron-a-safe-and-effective-natural-therapy-for-arthritis-sufferers/

Cite this article:

Thanusri swetha J (2022), Saffron: A Safe and Effective Natural Therapy for Arthritis Sufferers, Anatechmaz, pp.244