Index of Herbs

Concern guide

Herbs for Joint Pain and Arthritis

Herbs that may ease aching, stiff joints, from turmeric to capsaicin cream, with what the research shows for arthritis.

9 herbs reviewed

Updated October 7, 2026

Aching, stiff joints are one of the most common reasons people look for natural remedies. Most joint pain in adults comes from osteoarthritis, the gradual wear and repair of cartilage that typically affects the knees, hips, hands and spine, with stiffness that eases within a short while of getting moving. Rheumatoid arthritis is different: an autoimmune disease in which the immune system inflames the joint lining, often in matching joints on both sides of the body, with swelling, warmth, fatigue and morning stiffness that lasts longer. Gout, injuries, and strained tendons and bursae can also make joints hurt.

Herbs can sit comfortably alongside the foundations of osteoarthritis care. The American College of Rheumatology and Arthritis Foundation strongly recommend exercise, tai chi, self-management programs and, for knee and hip osteoarthritis, weight loss where needed, along with conventional options such as topical anti-inflammatory gels, and they conditionally recommend capsaicin cream for the knee. Rheumatoid arthritis needs a rheumatologist and disease-modifying drugs (DMARDs) started early, because they help prevent lasting joint damage. A herb can be a gentle complement for symptoms, never a replacement for that treatment.

The herbs below are ordered by strength of evidence for joint pain, then by how commonly they are used. Ratings run from good clinical evidence to long traditional use, and for arthritis the best-supported herbs currently sit at promising. Most of the research is in knee osteoarthritis; evening primrose is the exception, studied in rheumatoid arthritis. Trials tend to be small and short, test different extracts, and results from one product may not carry over to another, so each entry notes what was studied. The full monographs cover doses, side effects, and interactions.

02 The shortlist

The herbs, from best studied to time-honored

How to read the ratings

  • Good clinical evidence
  • Promising clinical evidence
  • Early or mixed evidence
  • Long traditional use

Ratings show how much research backs each herb for this particular concern. Every herb links to its full monograph, with preparations, safety notes, and sources.

  1. 01 Turmeric

    Promising clinical evidence

    Curcuma longa

    Turmeric is the best-known joint supplement, taken mainly for knee osteoarthritis. Several meta-analyses of curcumin extracts found less pain and stiffness than placebo, and NCCIH describes the early evidence as positive, though trials are small and higher-quality studies would help. Kitchen turmeric delivers far less curcumin than the extracts tested. Avoid medicinal doses with gallstones or bile-duct problems, check first if you take blood thinners, and stop if you notice dark urine or yellowing skin, since liver injury has been reported with high-absorption products.

    Read the turmeric monograph →

  2. 02 Cayenne

    Promising clinical evidence

    Capsicum annuum

    Capsaicin, the compound that gives cayenne its heat, is the active ingredient in over-the-counter creams widely used for arthritic aches. The American College of Rheumatology and Arthritis Foundation conditionally recommend topical capsaicin for knee osteoarthritis. It works by first stimulating and then quieting pain nerves in the skin, so the first applications sting and it needs regular use over days to weeks. Results vary between products. Use it only on intact skin, wash your hands afterward, and keep it well away from the eyes.

    Read the cayenne monograph →

  3. 03 Boswellia

    Promising clinical evidence

    Boswellia serrata

    Boswellia, or Indian frankincense, is a resin extract often found in joint formulas. In a Cochrane review, an enriched extract taken at 100 mg a day for 90 days eased knee osteoarthritis pain and improved function compared with placebo in two small, high-quality trials, and later reviews point the same way. Trials use different extracts and many were funded by manufacturers, so larger independent studies would help. Side effects are usually mild stomach upset; take it with food, and check first if you take blood thinners.

    Read the boswellia monograph →

  4. 04 Ginger

    Promising clinical evidence

    Zingiber officinale

    Ginger is a familiar kitchen spice that Europe also accepts as a traditional remedy for minor joint pain. A 2015 meta-analysis of five placebo-controlled trials with 593 people with osteoarthritis found a modest reduction in pain and disability, rated as moderate-quality evidence, though people taking ginger were more likely to stop treatment because of side effects. Heartburn and stomach upset are the most common complaints, and high-dose capsules deserve a check with a clinician if you take blood thinners or diabetes medicines.

    Read the ginger monograph →

  5. 05 Evening Primrose

    Promising clinical evidence

    Oenothera biennis

    Evening primrose oil is the herb here studied mainly in rheumatoid arthritis. A Cochrane review of seven trials of oils rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), from evening primrose, borage or blackcurrant seed, found moderate evidence of less pain and disability than placebo, with trial doses around 6 g of oil a day taken alongside standard treatment. NCCIH still considers the evidence insufficient, so larger trials would help. Side effects are usually mild stomach upset; it may add to the effect of blood thinners and is not recommended in pregnancy.

    Read the evening primrose monograph →

  6. 06 Devil’s Claw

    Early or mixed evidence

    Harpagophytum procumbens

    Devil’s claw is a southern African root that has become a mainstream European remedy for aching joints, and EMA accepts it as a traditional medicine for minor joint pain in adults. In a four-month trial of 122 people with knee or hip osteoarthritis, it eased pain about as well as the drug diacerhein and people used fewer painkillers, though there was no placebo group. Diarrhea and stomach upset are the main side effects; avoid it with stomach ulcers, and check first if you have gallstones or take warfarin.

    Read the devil’s claw monograph →

  7. 07 White Willow

    Early or mixed evidence

    Salix alba

    Willow bark has eased aches and fevers for centuries, and its salicin is a chemical cousin of aspirin. EMA accepts it as a traditional remedy for minor joint pain in adults, for up to four weeks. Trials in osteoarthritis are mixed and results in rheumatoid arthritis have been less encouraging, while its clearest evidence is for low back pain. Do not use it if you are allergic to aspirin or NSAIDs or are under 18, and do not combine it with aspirin, other anti-inflammatory painkillers or blood thinners.

    Read the white willow monograph →

  8. 08 Comfrey

    Early or mixed evidence

    Symphytum officinale

    Comfrey, long nicknamed knitbone, is used only as an ointment or gel on the skin. In a trial of 220 people with knee osteoarthritis, a comfrey root extract gel reduced pain over three weeks compared with placebo without extra side effects, which a Cochrane review rated as moderate evidence; it is a single trial of one product, so confirmation would help. Comfrey contains alkaloids that can seriously damage the liver, so never take it by mouth, and use it only on unbroken skin for short periods.

    Read the comfrey monograph →

  9. 09 Stinging Nettle

    Long traditional use

    Urtica dioica

    Stinging nettle has been pressed against aching joints since antiquity, and EMA accepts nettle herb teas and extracts as a traditional remedy for minor joint pain in adults. In a small crossover trial of 27 people with osteoarthritis at the base of the thumb, rubbing fresh stinging leaves on the painful area daily for a week eased pain more than a non-stinging lookalike, though larger studies would help. Nettle increases urine flow, so check first if you have heart or kidney disease, and avoid it in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

    Read the stinging nettle monograph →

03 Caution

Using these herbs safely

Most of these herbs are well tolerated by adults in short-term use, and knowing when joint pain needs a doctor is the most important safety step. A single hot, red, swollen joint, especially with fever or feeling unwell, needs same-day medical care, because it can mean a joint infection (septic arthritis), which can damage a joint within days, or an attack of gout. Get prompt care too for sudden, severe joint pain, a joint that looks deformed or that you cannot use or bear weight on, and swelling in several joints at once. Stiffness that lasts more than 30 minutes after waking, and especially an hour or more, suggests inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis and deserves a medical assessment. Early treatment with disease-modifying drugs (DMARDs) helps prevent permanent joint damage, so herbs should never replace or delay them, and no prescribed arthritis medicine should be stopped or reduced without the prescriber.

Several joint herbs affect bleeding or the stomach, and many arthritis medicines do too. Turmeric, ginger, willow bark and devil’s claw may add to the effects of anticoagulants such as warfarin and antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel or aspirin, and boswellia and evening primrose carry a similar caution; one person taking warfarin developed bleeding into the skin after adding devil’s claw. Willow bark contains salicylates, so taking it with aspirin or NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or naproxen adds to stomach and bleeding risk, and it can also interact with methotrexate. Devil’s claw and NSAIDs can both irritate the stomach. Joint formulas that combine several anti-inflammatory herbs add these effects together, so ask a pharmacist to review the full ingredient list, mention any diabetes medicines, and tell your surgical team about all supplements before a procedure.

A few herbs carry specific warnings. Willow bark must not be used by anyone allergic to aspirin or other NSAIDs, or with asthma triggered by aspirin, and it must never be given to children or teenagers, because salicylates are linked to Reye’s syndrome, a rare but serious illness affecting the brain and liver. Liver injury has been reported with turmeric and curcumin supplements, especially high-absorption formulas, so stop and see a doctor for dark urine, yellow skin or eyes, nausea, or unusual tiredness, and avoid medicinal turmeric with gallstones or bile-duct problems. Comfrey is for external use only, on unbroken skin and for short courses, because its pyrrolizidine alkaloids can cause serious liver damage when swallowed or absorbed through broken skin. Capsaicin cream burns on contact with the eyes, mouth and other sensitive areas, so wash your hands well after applying it and never use it on broken skin or under a heating pad. Devil’s claw should be avoided with stomach or duodenal ulcers.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: EMA does not recommend devil’s claw or nettle, willow bark is generally avoided and must not be used in the third trimester, EMA prefers to avoid medicinal ginger as a precaution, comfrey should not be used, and turmeric, boswellia and evening primrose supplements are best avoided without medical advice. Children: willow bark, devil’s claw and capsicum medicines are for adults only, and joint pain in a child, especially with fever or a limp, needs a pediatric assessment rather than an adult supplement. Product quality varies, so it pays to choose carefully: turmeric and boswellia extracts differ widely in their active content, capsaicin creams differ in strength, and joint formulas often blend several herbs with overlapping cautions. Look for products that name the plant, the part used and the amount, ideally matching what was studied.

04 Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

For knee osteoarthritis, the best-studied options are turmeric (curcumin) extracts and boswellia, which both eased pain more than placebo in small trials, and capsaicin cream made from cayenne peppers, which rheumatology guidelines conditionally recommend for the knee. For rheumatoid arthritis, oils rich in GLA such as evening primrose have moderate evidence for easing symptoms alongside standard treatment. No herb yet has strong evidence, and exercise and, where needed, weight loss remain the most effective steps for osteoarthritis.

Check with a doctor or pharmacist first. High-dose turmeric or curcumin may add to the bleeding risk of anticoagulants such as warfarin, antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel, and NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, and many products add piperine from black pepper, which can change how other medicines are processed. Turmeric in cooking is a much smaller exposure. The same caution applies to ginger capsules, willow bark and devil’s claw, so avoid stacking them, and tell your surgical team before any procedure.

Most work gradually rather than like a painkiller. Reviews of boswellia suggest allowing at least four weeks, and the strongest trials ran for 90 days. Health Canada suggests at least two to three months of devil’s claw for osteoarthritis pain, while EMA advises seeing a doctor if joint pain continues after four weeks of use. Capsaicin cream needs regular application for days to weeks, and the first applications sting the most. Joint pain that keeps getting worse deserves a medical review rather than a higher dose.

Some may ease symptoms, but none can replace disease-modifying drugs (DMARDs), which help prevent permanent joint damage. A Cochrane review found moderate evidence that oils rich in gamma-linolenic acid, such as evening primrose, reduced pain and disability when taken alongside usual treatment. Most turmeric and boswellia research is in osteoarthritis rather than rheumatoid arthritis. If you would like to add a herb, talk with your rheumatologist first, since some herbs interact with arthritis medicines (willow bark with methotrexate, for example), and never stop or reduce a prescribed medicine on your own.

It can help some people, especially with knee osteoarthritis, where the American College of Rheumatology and Arthritis Foundation conditionally recommend it. Capsaicin, the hot compound in cayenne peppers, first stimulates and then quiets pain nerves in the skin, so it stings at first and needs regular use. Apply a small amount of a labeled cream to intact skin, wash your hands afterward, and keep it away from the eyes, mouth and broken skin. Kitchen cayenne powder is not a substitute and can blister the skin.

05 References

Sources

These references support the claims in this guide. Each herb’s monograph carries its own full source list.

  1. Oral herbal therapies for treating osteoarthritis

    Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (PubMed 24848732), 2014

    Supports the some rating for boswellia: an enriched extract at 100 mg a day for 90 days reduced knee osteoarthritis pain and improved function in two small, high-quality trials.

  2. Turmeric

    National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH), 2025

    Describes the initial evidence from meta-analyses for knee osteoarthritis as positive and reports liver damage in some people taking high-bioavailability curcumin products.

  3. 2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation Guideline for the Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hand, Hip, and Knee

    Arthritis Care & Research (PubMed 31908149), 2020

    Source for the strong recommendations for exercise, tai chi, self-management and weight loss, and the conditional recommendation for topical capsaicin in knee osteoarthritis.

  4. Topical herbal therapies for treating osteoarthritis

    Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (PubMed 23728701), 2013

    Moderate evidence from a 220-person knee osteoarthritis trial that comfrey extract gel improves pain, very low-quality evidence for stinging nettle leaf, and a reminder that topical products differ.

  5. Herbal therapy for treating rheumatoid arthritis

    Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (PubMed 21328257), 2011

    Seven trials giving moderate evidence that GLA-rich oils, including evening primrose oil, reduce pain and disability in rheumatoid arthritis.

  6. Efficacy and safety of ginger in osteoarthritis patients: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials

    Osteoarthritis and Cartilage (PubMed 25300574), 2015

    Five trials with 593 patients showing a modest reduction in pain and disability with ginger, alongside more withdrawals because of side effects.

  7. Salicis cortex (willow bark)

    European Medicines Agency, 2017

    Traditional use for minor joint pain in adults for up to four weeks, and contraindications including salicylate or NSAID allergy, children and adolescents, and the third trimester of pregnancy.

  8. Rheumatoid Arthritis

    National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIH), 2022

    Describes rheumatoid arthritis as an autoimmune disease that damages joints, with symmetrical joint involvement and morning stiffness lasting longer than 30 minutes.

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