In Ayurvedic treatment of arthritis, turmeric for knee arthritis is considered to be an ancient ayurvedic treatment used since ages. Ayurvedic medicines are made up of plant extracts and these include curcumin which is one of the flavonoids found in turmeric. Curcumin when taken in sufficient quantities has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In addition to treating osteoarthritis, curcumin has been used for years in other forms to treat such musculoskeletal disorders as ADD/ADHD, hepatitis, Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis and many more.

The use of turmeric as a treatment for osteoarthritis was first reported by The World Health Organization who included turmeric in its list of super foods. In the late nineteenth century, a Chronic Disease Study was conducted wherein research was done on people with varying degrees of arthritis to determine the usefulness of turmeric for treating it. It was found that curcumin not only prevents arthritis but also prevents and treats other chronic degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease and dementia, aids in wound healing, eases muscle pain, reduces inflammation and is an effective antibacterial agent.

The results of this study showed that curcumin possesses the ability to effectively prevent and treat osteoarthritis through its anti-inflammatory agent properties. The extract worked well to treat osteoarthritis by preventing the expression of matrix and glycosaminoglycan which are both important enzymes for cartilage cell formation. It was further proven that turmeric contains at least three major anti-inflammatory agents including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs), corticosteroid and humiraic acid which helps relieve joint pain, stiffness and swelling.

For treating knee arthritis, one will need to take in 500 mgs of dried turmeric plant powder thrice a day along with brown rice milk or any other recommended diet. One should remember not to take turmeric without the guidance of a doctor. The dosage needs to be taken as per the prescription of a doctor only. You can take this treatment for a prolonged period of time according to your convenience. This method of treatment is a good cure for osteoarthritis. It helps in relieving the pain and reduces the inflammation to a great extent.

Further research made on curcumin and showed that more than one hundred anti-inflammatory properties were found in the extract. Further studies made on this herb showed that the extract from turmeric was effective in preventing the growth of amyloids. Amyloids are known to be the insoluble fibrous protein that causes the degeneration of the joint. Further tests on the effectiveness of the medicine proved that the extract of turmeric can reduce the level of amyloid protein in the brain by inhibiting its production.

In another study on the anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric, it was proved that the extract from the turmeric works better in healing all sorts of joint pain. A recent study has shown that curcumin can be used in treating Alzheimer's disease by improving the cognitive ability of the patient. Further tests on curcumin showed that the extract from turmeric is effective in inhibiting the formation of a new age protein called amyloid in the brain. The amyloid protein is formed due to the breakdown of bile salts in the human body. The turmeric extract was found to inhibit the amyloid protein formation by more than fifty percent.