Knee joint pain can be caused by many things such as a knee injury from torn ligaments, worn out knee cartilage due to arthritis, or just a plain old knee joint infection. Even though there may be many reasons for knee pain, figuring out what is causing the affliction may require a trip to the doctor. For most people however, knee joint pain is cause by osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is a disease that affects the joints by causing deterioration to the cartilage that supports it. When there is degeneration in these areas, it can cause arthritis pain and inflammation. These symptoms can be mild to severe depending on the stage of arthritis you are in.

The cartilage that protects the bones in the knee from rubbing against each other becomes worn out. When this happens, the bones begin to cause excruciating arthritis knee pain because bone is rubbing against bone. As time goes on, joint deformities, joint stiffness and limited range of motion can also occur.

Because arthritis affects over 40 million Americans, there has been extensive research on several natural supplements that help alleviate knee joint pain, rebuild cartilage and decrease inflammation. Three such supplements that is used to treat arthritis knee pain are glucosamine, MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane), and chondroitin.

Glucosamine is a natural substance that is found in the body. It is manufactured into a supplement from a natural compound called chitin found in shell fish like shrimp, lobsters, and crabs. Glucosamine is needed to produce glycosaminoglycan. Glycosaminoglycan is a molecule that helps repair and rebuild cartilage and other connective tissues.

MSM also known as Methylsulfonylmethane, is a natural source of sulfur which has been shown to reduce inflammation and strengthen collagen. Sulfur also helps get rid of excess mineral deposits found in joints and tissues. This supplement is often used in conjunction with glucosamine.

Chondroitin is also a substance that is found naturally in the body. It is manufactured by extracting beef cartilage into a supplement. It has found to be an essential building block for the body to produce new cartilage and it may also block enzymes that cause cartilages to breakdown.

There are other natural supplements like white willow bark that can alleviate knee joint pain. White willow bark was the inspiration behind the now famous aspirin but we all know that aspirin can cause side effects such as stomach irritation. If you decide that a natural supplement is right for your knee pain relief, make sure it has all the ingredients discussed here.