If you have arthritis, you may be wondering about a new herbal supplement called Phenocane that is being advertised lately. Phenocane is a brand name used by supplement makers, and usually denotes the combination of the ingredients curcumin, boswellia and phenylalanine.

There has been some preliminary research done on these substances, some of it conflicting. Curcumin may help reduce inflammation the same way drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen do. It may also help slow cartilage damage. This may help relieve joint pain in people with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Preliminary data, although conflicting, also suggests that boswellia may also help reduce joint pain in these people. Studies also show that phenylalanine may increase the pain threshold in animals, however, this result has not been demonstrated in humans. 

These supplements are not to be used indiscriminately. There are warnings people with arthritis need to be aware of. For example, some of these supplements may contain a substance called nattokinase. This ingredient is a mild ‘blood clot breaker’. It is inserted by some manufacturers for added protection against blood clots. However, the safety and effectiveness of this ingredient has not been tested and can place certain people at a higher risk for bleeds. Likewise, the ingredient curcumin may act as a sort of ‘blood thinner’ placing some people at a higher risk for bleeds as well.

Phenylalanine is not without its problems either. This ingredient was originally made popular by its use in diet soda. There is evidence now that this ingredient may contribute to neurotoxicity. In other words, it may be toxic to the brain and nervous system. Further, people with a condition called phenylketonuria should not ingest products with phenylalanine because they can not break it down. This can make them sick or can even be deadly.

Before trying these supplements, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Although they may prove helpful in the treatment of arthritis down the road, the safety and efficacy of these ingredients has not been demonstrated.

Author: Christi Larson, Pharm. D.

Dr. Larson is a Clinical Infusion Pharmacist, author of Empowered Medicine; A Guide for Consumers and creator of www.empoweredmedicine.com. You can read more about her by visiting www.EmpoweredMedicine.com and clicking on the 'About Us' tab.  EmpoweredMedicine.com is committed to providing evidence-based medical information.