Yucca: Can it relieve arthritis pain?

Can yucca relieve arthritis pain?

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Mayo Clinic rheumatologist April Chang-Miller, M.D., and colleagues answer select questions from readers.

Answer

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.