(PR.co.nz) A New Zealand dietary supplement made with an herbal extract from the medicinal plant Artemisia annua, has been shown clinically to have potentially life changing benefits for osteoarthritis sufferers. According to the World Health Organization, osteoarthritis is among the ten most disabling diseases in developed countries.
Published results in December’s issue of the international journal, Clinical Rheumatology, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26631103 show that New Zealand joint support formula, Arthrem®, significantly reduced pain and stiffness and improved physical function in patients aged 35 to 75 years with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee. The randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted by Associate Professor Simon Stebbings at the Rheumatology Research Department at Otago University and was supported by a grant from Callaghan Innovation, a government agency.
Arthrem® is made by New Zealand Company Promisia, whose principal scientist, Dr Sheena Hunt said that the published results indicate that Arthrem® has potential as an anti-inflammatory/analgesic in osteoarthritis. She also noted that Arthrem®, at the recommended dose of one capsule twice a day, was well tolerated with no treatment-related side effects.
Promisia’s chief executive, Charles Daily said, “These are extremely positive findings. There is potential for Arthrem® to improve the quality of life of more than 300,000 people in New Zealand and millions worldwide who suffer from osteoarthritis.”
The plant Artemisia annua, which has been used in Chinese traditional medicine for more than 2000 years, is already well known for its use as a treatment for malaria but this is the first published evidence of its efficacy in arthritis.
For Arthrem®, Promisia grows Artemisia annua at high altitude in Tanzania. The dried plants are then shipped to New Zealand where the material is extracted using a diffusion-based, high pressure, low temperature process.
Media Release on 8 December 2015 by Promisia
Media Contact
Dr Sheena Hunt, Promisia
Email: sheena@promisia.com
Phone: 021 201 6104
Website: http://arthrem.co.nz/