Bovine cartilage – benefits, how it works and side effects!

Bovine cartilage is a substance in the body that provides structural support and comes from cows, people sometimes use bovine cartilage as medicine.

It is given by mouth or injected under the skin (given subcutaneously) for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ulcerative colitis, skin conditions such as scleroderma and psoriasis. Also, herpes infection, brain cancer (glioblastoma multiforme) and other cancers.

It is also taken by mouth for allergic reactions caused by chemical toxins and is injected under the skin for inflammation of the intestines (enteritis).

It is applied directly to the skin (used topically) for wounds that do not heal. Also, external hemorrhoids and rectal itching; and skin conditions such as acne , psoriasis, and dermatitis caused by poison oak or poison ivy. It is also used for “alveolitis”, a painful complication of tooth extraction.

It is sometimes applied to the anus for internal hemorrhoids and anal tears. Health professionals sometimes give bovine cartilage as a muscle injection for osteoarthritis.

How does bovine cartilage work?

Bovine cartilage may work by providing chemicals needed to rebuild cartilage in people with osteoarthritis. In addition, it can also help reduce swelling and help wounds to heal more effectively.

Benefits of bovine cartilage:

1. Acne: 

Research shows that applying cartilage to the skin helps in reducing acne in some people from the water .

“Dry socket” after tooth extraction; In addition, previous research has found that applying cartilage to the tooth cavity after tooth extraction reduces pain in some people who develop a “dry cavity”.

2. Cancer: 

Early research shows that injections of bovine cartilage under the skin , along with bovine cartilage capsules, taken by mouth, may help treat cancer in some people.

Inflammation of the intestine (enteritis). Previous research shows that injecting bovine cartilage under the skin helps improve strength and weight and decreases the need for steroid drugs in people with gut inflammation.

3. Hemorrhoids: 

Previous research shows that cartilage helps reduce itchiness when applied externally to the rectum in people with external hemorrhoids . Additionally, using a cartilage suppository inside the rectum can also help reduce symptoms in people with hemorrhoids .

4. Osteoarthritis: 

Early research shows that injecting bovine cartilage under the skin can lessen the symptoms of osteoarthritis.

Additionally, injecting a combination of bone marrow and bovine cartilage into muscle improves pain and other symptoms of osteoarthritis in some people when taken for up to 3 years. But this effect doesn’t seem to last longer than 3 years.

5. Psoriasis: 

Previous research shows that applying cartilage to the skin or injecting it under the skin for 6 weeks can improve psoriasis symptoms.

6. Rheumatoid arthritis:

Previous research shows that injecting cartilage under the skin helps in reducing the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

7. Ulcerative colitis: 

Previous research shows that injecting bovine cartilage under the skin helps decrease the need for surgery in people with ulcerative colitis.

8. Wound healing:

Previous research shows that applying a specific ointment (Catrix 10) containing cartilage powder to the skin helps reduce redness, swelling and erosion of the skin after a laser procedure on the face.

Applying calf cartilage can actually help wounds to heal faster than applying bovine cartilage from adult or unborn cows.

Side effects:

Bovine cartilage is safe for most people when taken orally, applied to the skin , or given as an injection into the muscle or under the skin for medicinal purposes. It can cause side effects such as diarrhea, nausea, swelling, local redness and itching.

There is some concern about the possibility of catching “mad cow disease” (bovine spongiform encephalitis, BSE) or other diseases derived from animal products.

“Mad cow disease” does not appear to be transmitted through cartilaginous products. In addition, it is probably prudent to avoid animal products from countries where mad cow disease has been found.