Supplements that complement chiropractic care

Curcumin and boswellia, when emulsified in black sesame oil or combined with Devil’s Claw extract, offer effective, natural supplements for relieving acute pain and supporting joint and lower back health.

Many things contribute to the health challenges chiropractic patients face, including high levels of activity, genetic predispositions to arthritis, aging or a combination of all of these. And even if they are active and younger, they may start to notice some of these issues early on. For both younger and older patients, a holistic approach, backed by chiropractic care, is ideal: It matches an individual with a treatment and regimen that best suits their whole life and person. So, which supplements best complement chiropractic care? That is a potentially long list, but there is a select group of essentials, especially for fighting pain, strengthening joints and preserving mobility, which truly stand out.

Fighting pain effectively but safely has been one of the biggest challenges in recent decades. We are all aware of the harm caused by overreliance on prescription pain medication and the damage done by over-the-counter drugs, including acetaminophen, which, within the medical industry is often considered the “safe” pain reliever.

The truth of the matter is quite the opposite. Aside from damage to the liver and stomach lining caused by acetaminophen and its inhibiting effect on critical glutathione in the body, it deadens emotional responses and empathy. It has been called a “social analgesic” by some researchers for its effects on emotional well-being. When you consider more than 600 medicines include acetaminophen, that creates a frightening picture.^1,2,3,4

Fortunately, there is a much better choice for chiropractic practices and their patients, one shown to be just as effective as acetaminophen for acute pain relief. A combination of the supplements, curcumin and boswellia emulsified in black sesame oil not only stops pain but also promotes a positive state of mind.

In a clinical study,⁵ this combination of supplements relieved pain in one hour, about the same amount of time as acetaminophen, on the very first day of use. By day seven of the study, it was clear that curcumin, boswellia and black sesame oil were equal to the task of relieving acute pain, reducing pain and its magnitude by virtually the same levels.

Additionally, this clinical study found the combination of the supplements curcumin, boswellia and black sesame seed oil was 8.5 times better than acetaminophen at reducing the emotional distress and unpleasantness associated with pain.

Contrast that to just curcumin alone, which has been shown to effectively alleviate symptoms of depression. With curcumin working in concert with the other two botanicals, the entire combination addressed both physical and psychological aspects of pain.^6,7

In fact, all three of these botanicals are effective for a variety of inflammatory conditions and acute or chronic pain.

the supplement Curcumin relieves pain and modulates almost every inflammatory pathway in the body. It can treat rheumatoid arthritis, muscle soreness and has been shown with boswellia to have excellent effects for individuals with osteoarthritis, just to name a few of its uses.^8,9,10,11 Boswellia works primarily through the 5-LOX inflammatory pathway, something prescription drugs and many other botanicals cannot do effectively.^12,13 Both curcumin and boswellia are incredibly safe botanicals for pain relief.

Sesame compounds reduce TNF-alpha activity, a factor behind the joint damage of rheumatoid arthritis, and may prevent joint and cartilage damage by increasing type II collagen and proteoglycan synthesis.^14,15,16,17

It is important to note that supplements like curcumin are even more effective when blended with turmeric essential oil for enhanced absorption, up to seven times more compared to standard curcumin extracts. In fact, just such a curcumin has been the subject of more than 90 published studies and counting due to its efficacy.

The supplements boswellia that curcumin is often paired with is standardized for higher levels of acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid (AKBA), one of the herb compounds most recognized for fighting 5-LOX inflammation. Having both emulsified in black sesame oil provides a real advantage for patients dealing with pain; it speeds absorption even more and provides anti-inflammatory actions of its own.¹⁸

Lower back, joint and hip strengthening and relief

When people think of the back, they often think of the spine, the centerpiece of the entire structure, although a healthy back structure comprises muscles, ribs, nerve endings, cartilage and blood vessels working in unison.

What most people think of as the lower back is generally the five vertebrae, L1 through L5, and discs of cushioning cartilage that absorb shocks and provide flexibility. When these cushioning discs rupture or move out of place due to lower back injury or strain, it gets noticed, fast.

Whatever the cause, the resulting scar tissue from torn or injured muscles or discs is never quite as strong or mobile as the original and can lead to more back injuries in the future. The good news is, effective natural ingredients can stop pain and inflammatory damage and help rebuild the cushioning cartilage of the spine.

In addition, the supplements curcumin and boswellia combined with Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens, also known as Harpagophytum zeyheri) extract, can be recommended for patients dealing with arthritis, injury or other conditions that may limit their mobility. Devil’s Claw from South Africa has been shown to inhibit inflammatory enzymes, help stop the deterioration of the joints, improve mobility and reduce pain.^{19,20,21,22,23,24,25}

A clinical study indicated Devil’s Claw relieved the pain of osteoarthritis in the hips by 35% by the end of the eight-week trial.

Other research shows Devil’s Claw is equal in back pain-relieving ability to rofecoxib, better known to pain sufferers as Vioxx, a prescription non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that has since been pulled from the market due to its side effects.

Many Devil’s Claw extracts are only standardized at 2% harpagosides, the plant’s key compound. Therefore, for noticeable results, look for a concentrated form standardized to 20% harpagosides. This extract has been found to reduce COX-2 activity by 31%, making it a good partner to curcumin. It has also been reported to boost hyaluronic acid synthesis in chondrocytes that produce and maintain the natural cushioning cartilage between the vertebrae by 41%.^26,27,28,29

Additionally, concentrated Devil’s Claw extract increases the level of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), natural building blocks of tissue, including the extracellular matrix that acts as a shock absorber between the vertebrae, by 38%.²⁹

Final thoughts on supplements

Your patients have many reasons to visit your practice. Very often, it is due to pain from being active, or mobility issues caused by chronic conditions that prevent them from being active. With the right supplements curcumin and boswellia, either emulsified in black sesame oil for acute pain relief or combined with Devil’s Claw extract for strengthening and comforting the lower back and joints, you have ideal choices that are a perfect fit for your practice and your patients.

Terry Lemerond is a natural health expert with more than 50 years of experience. He has owned health food stores, founded dietary supplement companies, including EuroMedica^®, and formulated more than 400 products. A published author, Lemerond appears on radio, television and is a frequent guest speaker. He can be contacted via email at info@euromedicausa.com.

References

1. Major JM, et al. Trends in rates of acetaminophen-related adverse events in the United States. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2016;25(5):590-598. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26530380/. Accessed August 13, 2025.
2. Mischkowski D, et al. A social analgesic? Acetaminophen (Paracetamol) reduces positive empathy. Front Psychol. 2019;10:538. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31001155/. Accessed August 13, 2025.
3. Tully J, Petrinovic MM. Acetaminophen study yields new insights into neurobiological underpinnings of empathy. J Neurophysiol. 2017;117(5):1844-1846. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27707814/. Accessed August 13, 2025.
4. Mischkowski D, et al. From painkiller to empathy killer: Acetaminophen (Paracetamol) reduces empathy for pain. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2016;11(9):1345-1353. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27217114/. Accessed August 13, 2025.
5. Rudrappa GH, et al. Efficacy of high-dissolution turmeric-sesame formulation for pain relief in adult subjects with acute musculoskeletal pain compared to acetaminophen: A randomized controlled study. Medicine (Baltimore). 2020;99(28):e20373. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32664057/. Accessed August 13, 2025.
6. Sanmukhani J, et al. Efficacy and safety of curcumin in major depressive disorder: A randomized controlled trial. Phytother Res. 2014;28(4):579-585. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23832433/. Accessed August 13, 2025.
7. Löffler M, et al. Impact of controllability on pain and suffering. Pain Rep. 2018;3(6):e694. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30706037/ . Accessed August 13, 2025.
8. Chandran B, Goel A. A randomized, pilot study to assess the efficacy and safety of curcumin in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. Phytother Res. 2012;26(11):1719-1725. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22407780/. Accessed August 13, 2025.
9. Antony B, et al. Clinical evaluation of a herbal product (Rhulief™) in the management of knee osteoarthritis. Abstract 316. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2011;19(S1):S145-S146. https://library.olympics.com. Accessed August 13, 2025.
10. Goel A, et al. Curcumin as “curecumin:” From kitchen to clinic. Biochem Pharmacol. 2008;75(4):787-809. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17900536/ . Accessed August 13, 2025.
11. Hatcher H, et al. Curcumin: From ancient medicine to current clinical trials. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2008;65:1631-1652. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18324353/ . Accessed August 13, 2025.
12. Siddiqui MZ. Boswellia serrata, a potential anti-inflammatory agent: An overview. Indian J Pharm Sci. 2011;73(3):255-261. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22457547/. Accessed August 13, 2025.
13. Ammon HP. Boswellic acids in chronic inflammatory diseases. Planta Med. 2006;72(12):1100-1116. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17024588/. Accessed August 13, 2025.
14. Khansai M, et al. Effects of sesamin on primary human synovial fibroblasts and SW982 cell line induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha as a synovitis-like model. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2017;17(1):532. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29237438/. Accessed August 13, 2025.
15. Phitak T, et al. Chondroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of sesamin. Phytochemistry. 2012;80:77-88. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22704650/. Accessed August 13, 2025.
16. Khansai M, et al. Ex vivo model exhibits protective effects of sesamin against destruction of cartilage induced with a combination of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and oncostatin M. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2016;16:205. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27400672/ . Accessed August 13, 2025.
17. Srisuthtayanont W, et al. Effects of sesamin on chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan synthesis induced by interleukin-1beta in human chondrocytes. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2017;17(1):286. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28569157/. Accessed August 13, 2025.
18. Antony B, et al. A pilot cross-over study to evaluate human oral bioavailability of BCM-95 CG (Biocurcumax™) a novel bioenhanced preparation of curcumin. Ind J Pharm Sci. 2008:70(4);445-449. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20046768/. Accessed August 13, 2025.
19. Wegener T. Therapy of degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system with South African Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens DC). Wien Med Wochenschr. 1999;149(8-10):254-257. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10483693/. Accessed August 13, 2025.
20. Harpagophytum procumbens (Devil’s Claw). Monograph. Altern Med Rev. 2008;13(3):248-252. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18950251/. Accessed August 13, 2025.
21. Laudahn D, Walper A. Efficacy and tolerance of Harpagophytum extract LI 174 in patients with chronic non-radicular back pain. Phytother Res. 2001;15(7):621-624. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11746846/. Accessed August 13, 2025.
22. Chrubasik S, et al. Comparison of outcome measures during treatment with the proprietary Harpagophytum extract Doloteffin in patients with pain in the lower back, knee or hip. Phytomedicine. 2002;9(3):181-194. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/120468. Accessed August 13, 2025.
23. Chrubasik A, et al. A randomized double-blind pilot study comparing Doloteffin and Vioxx in the treatment of low back pain. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2003;42(1):141-148. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12509627/. Accessed August 13, 2025.
24. Brendler T. From Bush Medicine to Modern Phytopharmaceutical: A Bibliographic Review of Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum spp.). Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2021;14(8):726. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8398729/#sec12-pharmaceuticals-14-00726. Accessed August 13, 2025.
25. Chrubasik S, et al. Patient-perceived benefit during one year of treatment with Doloteffin. Phytomedicine. 2007;14(6):371-376. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17521896/. Accessed August 13, 2025.
26. Inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 by concentrated Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) extract. Unpublished study, 2007.
27. Huang TH, et al. Harpagoside suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced iNOS and COX-2 expression through inhibition of NF-kappa B activation. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006;104(1-2):149-155. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874105005933. Accessed August 13, 2025.
28. Increase of hyaluronic acid by concentrated Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) extract. Unpublished study, 2007.
29. Increased glycosaminoglycans by concentrated Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) extract. Unpublished study, 2007.