For centuries traditional medicine has been using the aromatic resins of frankincense and myrrh to cure various chronic inflammatory diseases. The Holy Bible, Egyptian scrolls, the Indian Vedas and the Quran all mention frankincense and myrrh.The Three Wise Men - Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar brought frankincense and myrrh to baby Jesus as a gift. At that time, these were the most prized gifts alongside gold.

During the past 15 years, we have seen more than 20 research projects investigating the two extracts’ effectiveness in managing arthritis-related issues, as well as other inflammatory conditions.  The newest research has been the one performed at Indira Gandhi Medical College in Nagpur, India, as the frankincense plant is commonly found in India. The study explored the impact of frankincense extract on the inflamed knee joints of 50 osteoarthritis-suffering individuals over a two-month period.  Osteoarthritis is a common chronic degenerative disease which often affects the knee joint.

Read more: Renarthro - Smarter Choice than Glucosamine and Chondroitin

Research has shown that some foods and food supplements really can help with arthritis, although the effects are fairly specific to the type of arthritis you have. Arthritis Research UK has recently funded a grant into a study looking at whether a compound found in broccoli can slow the progression of osteoarthritis, for example.
You may find it helpful to talk your dietary needs through with a nutritionist.

Omega-3 fatty acids for inflammatory arthritis

Omega-3 (also called ‘n-3’) polyunsaturated fatty acids have been shown to help some people with inflammatory types of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis, reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. Recent research shows they can help even if you're also taking strong disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as methotrexate.

Read more: Foods and Supplements That Might Help

Having a beer a few times a week might help women avoid painful rheumatoid arthritis, a new study suggests. The disease, which affects women more than men, is a form of arthritis linked to immune system dysfunction. According to the Arthritis Foundation, over 1.5 million Americans suffer from the disease, which typically begins in the 20s or 30s. However, "long-term, moderate alcohol drinking may reduce future rheumatoid arthritis development" in women, said lead researcher Dr. Bing Lu, an assistant professor of medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, in Boston.

Read more: Could a Few Beers a Week Cut a Woman's Rheumatoid Arthritis Risk?

Fibromyalgia patients with low levels of vitamin D saw their pain decrease slightly after taking vitamin D supplements for several months, according to a study published in the February issue of the journal Pain. But most other symptoms remained largely unchanged.

Fibromyalgia is a condition that involves chronic, widespread pain along with other symptoms such as fatigue, poor sleep and mood changes. While a variety of medications are used to treat it, they work well in less than half of patients. As yet, there is no cure.

Read more: Vitamin D May Ease Some Fibromyalgia Pain

Paeonia lactiflora is a plant of the Paeoniaceae family, and is also known as a noble peony. This flower originates from central and eastern Asia. It first appeared in Europe in the 18th century and was for many years known as Paeonia albiflora. Peony flower appears in different colors: purple, pink, milky white and red. However, the names white or red peony, which we find in books relate to the color of the roots. This plant can be found in many parks and gardens; however, in traditional Chinese medicine, it is used for the treatment and prevention of a range of diseases.

Read more: White Peony Root Against Inflammation