Q: Do we really need to take supplements every day?

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About 400,000 Britons suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, which occurs when the body’s immune system attacks joints, causing painful swelling and damage to cartilage and bone.

Conventional medicines have only limited effectiveness in treating the disease but an herbal medicine could help ease the agony for rheumatoid arthritis sufferers. In a recent study, after taking capsules of rose-hip powder for six months, patients who had been treated with conventional drugs reported ‘significant improvement’ in their condition, better quality of life and less pain.

Cherry juice is being tested as a new treatment for osteoarthritis. It follows earlier research suggesting that compounds in cherries — particularly tart ones — may reduce inflammation and pain in a similar way to aspirin.

Previous research at Michigan State University found that compounds called anthocyanins, which give tart cherries — sometimes called sour red cherries — their colour, may have anti-inflammatory properties and contain protective antioxidants.

In a new trial, due to start in May at the Philadelphia Medical Centre in the U.S., men and women with osteoarthritis will be given a tart cherry juice drink for six weeks to see if it has an effect on their use of painkillers, and whether it improves their ability to walk.