Aust Fam Physician. 2001 Sep; 30(9): 878-83.

Herbal therapy in rheumatology.

Pinn G.

Nambour General Hospital, Queensland.

Musculoskeletal symptoms are common and traditional family remedies are available in most households to reduce pain and inflammation. Most of these have only anecdotal evidence and have not stood up to scientific scrutiny. However, some effective treatments such as aspirin have borne the test of time. With adequate trials more effective herbal therapies may be confirmed, but currently such popular treatments as devils claw and nettles have yet to have confirmation of benefit. Although not herbal, cartilage derivatives are also currently popular alternative medicines and have increasing evidence of beneficial effect.