Herbal supplements today rake in billions of dollars in sales throughout the world. There are herbal supplements hat can  help you lose weight or help treat diabetes, hypertension, joint pain and also osteoarthritis. Here is a list of the popular herbal supplements that are used for treating osteoarthritis.

Glucosamine is used extensively to treat osteoarthritis. It is basically produced in the human body, in larger amounts in the joints. It helps stimulate the formation of cartilage, which is very important for joint repair.

Glucosamine is available as glucosamine hydrochloride and glucosamine sulfate in herbal supplements. When used with chondroitin, it can help reduce pain in people suffering from knee osteoarthritis. It also helps in reducing joint space narrowing in the knee after regular use.
Chondroitin is another popular ingredient found in herbal supplements for treating osteoarthritis. It too helps in reducing pain, and in slowing down the narrowing of joint space. However when compared to glucosamine sulphate, glucosamine sulphate is a better osteoarthritis drug.

SAM-e is S-adenosylmethionine , and is produced in the liver from methionine. It helps in increasing the chondrocytes and cartilage thickness in the body and also helps in reducing chondrocyte damage.

When used in herbal supplements for osteoarthritis, SAM-e effectively helps reduce pain and provides pain relief. While SAM-e is safe to use, it may cause anxiety, headache, insomnia and nervousness in some people. It may also interact with other drugs. So if you are taking any other medication, it is better to consult your doctor about taking these herbal supplements before you start taking it.

Methylsulfonylmethane otherwise known as MSM is found in common plants, fruits, dairy products, meats and vegetables and has many anti-inflammatory properties. In herbal supplements, it helps reduce pain and swelling, but does not provide relief from joint stiffness.

Harpagophytum also known as Devil’s Claw comes form an African plant, and is used in many osteoarthritis herbal supplements for its anti-inflammatory effects. It effectively reduces osteoarthritis pain; but is still to be proven safe for long term use.

So you see that there are various herbs and ingredients used in the many herbal supplements found in the market for treating osteoarthritis. Instead of buying the first supplement you come across, you have to read reviews, ask friends and doctors for suggestions and make comparisons to buy the best herbal supplement that will help treat your condition.

No matter what ingredient is used in a herbal supplement, it is always better to first consult your doctor before taking it, just to be on the safe side.