- With Mayo Clinic rheumatologist
April Chang-Miller, M.D.
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April Chang-Miller, M.D.
April Chang-Miller, M.D.
Dr. April Chang-Miller is board certified in internal medicine and rheumatology and is a consultant in the Division of Rheumatology and Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Arizona.
Dr. Chang-Miller's primary field is rheumatology with special interests in inflammatory joint diseases called seronegative spondyloarthropathies such as ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis. She also cares for patients with rheumatoid arthritis and polymyalgia rheumatica.
The New York City native is a graduate of the Yale University School of Medicine and had been with Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., between 1991 and 2002 when she relocated to Mayo Clinic, Arizona. She is a fellow in the American College of Rheumatology and has been on the board of directors of the Arthritis Foundation North Central Chapter.
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Question
Yucca: Can it relieve arthritis pain?
Can yucca relieve arthritis pain?
Answer
from April Chang-Miller, M.D.
Yucca root supplements have long been touted as a possible treatment for arthritis pain. However, only a few small, controversial studies have evaluated this claim.
Yucca plants grow in the arid regions of North America. According to medicinal folklore, yucca contains compounds that help suppress certain intestinal microorganisms, which may play a role in joint inflammation. But this has yet to be proved.
Although scientific studies have validated many alternative and complementary therapies for arthritis, yucca is not one of them.
Next questionKombucha tea: What are the health benefits?
- Cheeke PR, et al. Anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects of yucca schidigera: A review. Journal of Inflammation. 2006;3:6. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1440857. Accessed April 29, 2009.
