A natural result of aging is dealing with weaker joints. You can plan for this and try your best to reduce the impact of aging on your joints. There are a couple of good methods for doing this, including low-impact regular exercise, such as walking or tai chi, and the use of joint supplements. But what is the best joint supplement and which ones can be avoided?

In this article, we are going to review five different joint supplements and tell you which one is worth your money. The best one, if you are in a hurry, is Doctor’s Best Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM with OptiMSM.

 

A Spotlight On Some of The Best Joint Supplement 2019

 

Joint Supplement Reviews:

Glucosamine with Chondroitin Turmeric MSM Boswellia by Vimerson Health

The first joint supplement that we are looking at on our best joint supplement review list is Glucosamine with Chondroitin Turmeric MSM Boswellia by Vimerson Health.

This is a very popular joint supplement that has been used by hundreds of thousands of people and it has received rave reviews on places like Amazon from the customers who have used it. But, does it hold up? Well, we think that it does and that anyone who is either experiencing joint pain or who is worried about experiencing it should give it a try.

For starters, because this supplement is made by Vimerson Health, it uses their unique blend of ingredients to provide maximum pain relief for your aching joints. While we won’t give you a full ingredients list, you can see many of the crucial ingredients right in the title.

You have glucosamine, which is a very important nutrient that is found in many joint and muscle medications. You have chondroitin, another very important nutrient that is typically used in medicines to heal torn or damaged cartilage.

You also have more unique ingredients like turmeric, which is typically used in cooking but also has medicinal properties. MSM refers to methylsulfonylmethane, which is an all-natural pain medication. Finally, there is Boswellia, which is yet another all-natural pain reliever.

So, as you can see, one of the main benefits of Vimerson Health’s joint supplement is that it comes with a great ingredient mixture that combines all-natural ingredients like methylsulfonylmethane and Boswellia with proven ingredients like glucosamine and chondroitin.

As you might also expect, this joint supplement does not use any artificial ingredients. You won’t find any GMOs or anything of the sort in the mixture. There are also no artificial preservatives or antibiotics. There are also no filler ingredients like sugar and soy. While this may not matter to everyone, some people like to know exactly what is being put in their bodies, so having only all-natural ingredients is a very nice positive.

This joint supplement accomplishes quite a bit. It helps to repair joint and cartilage damage. It also strengthens both of these things, so that you also end up having greater mobility.

Pros:
Great ingredient blend.
Uses all-natural ingredients.
No filler ingredients or GMOs.
Relieves inflammation.
Encourages mobility.
Improves joint and cartilage health.

Con:
No bulk purchasing options.

Glucosamine Chondroitin Sulfate MSM Curcumin by Zenwise Health

For the next entry on our best joint supplement review list, we have a really great joint supplement from Zenwise Health. Glucosamine Chondroitin Sulfate MSM Curcumin, much like the previous joint supplement on our list, is a joint supplement that has been used by lots of people and it has received rave reviews. However, is it right for you? Well, in this short review, you will find out.

Let’s start with the most important thing to look at whenever you are reviewing a joint supplement, which is the ingredient mixture. If you have read any of the other reviews on our best joint supplement review list, then nothing on this list will be all that surprising. However, that is a good thing as it means that the joint supplement uses ingredients with a proven track record when it comes to aiding people with joint pain.

As the name of the supplement makes clear, the main ingredients in this supplement are glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and MSM (methylsulfonylmethane). Now, we have already covered what these particular ingredients are good for in previous reviews, so we won’t go into too much detail on these particular ingredients. However, suffice to say that these ingredients have a proven track record, so it is always good to see them included.

One ingredient that is included in this supplement that isn’t included in many others is curcumin. If you aren’t familiar with curcumin, it is an ingredient that is related to turmeric. It has proven benefits when it comes to pain relief and joint relief. The supplement also contains hyaluronic acid, another natural ingredient that promotes joint strengthening and relief.

This supplement accomplishes a variety of things. It reduces joint inflammation, which will result in you being more flexible and mobile. It also strengthens your joints, so not only is this supplement good for the elderly or those suffering from joint issues, but it is also good for those of you who are very active and thus at risk of joint damage.

Finally, we should mention that this supplement comes in a good-sized bottle. So, a single purchase should last you for quite a while depending on how many pills you take a day.

Pros:
Good-sized bottle.
Good ingredient blend.
Contains hyaluronic acid.
Contains curcumin.
Improvs mobility and flexibility.

Con:
Unclear about whether they use artificial ingredients and GMOs.

Doctor’s Best Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM with OptiMSM

The next joint supplement on our best joint supplement review list that we want to introduce you to is the Doctor’s Best Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM with OptiMSM. This particular supplement isn’t as well-known as the previous two entries, but it is definitely still a very good supplement that you should consider if you are in the market for a joint supplement.

One of the best things about this particular joint supplement is the ingredients that it uses and the quality of those ingredients. The first two ingredients are our old friends glucosamine and chondroitin, both of which we have seen appear numerous times on the best joint supplement list already.

Those two appearing is good and worth noting, but what we really want to draw your attention to is the MSM. As we have mentioned a couple of times already, MSM stands for methylsulfonylmethane. However, Doctor’s Best doesn’t just use any MSM, it uses OptiMSM. Most of you probably aren’t familiar with OptiMSM, but that’s okay because most people haven’t encountered it before.

OptiMSM is a very pure form of MSM that is manufactured in a factor in America. It is considered to be among the highest quality MSM that you can get, and it is used in a lot of very helpful medications. So, seeing OptiMSM appear in Doctor’s Best is a very good thing and definitely a big positive in favor of this particular joint supplement.

Another great thing about this joint supplement is the size of the bottle. In a single bottle, you get 240 pills. You can also get a pack of two bottles for quite a reasonable price. At 240 pills per bottle, it dwarfs any of the other joint supplement that we have reviewed so far. You are definitely getting some good value for your money with Doctor’s best joint supplement.

The pills themselves are very small, so they are easy to swallow. This is particularly useful if you or a family member hates pills because they can also be hidden easily in food.

Finally, we should mention that like quite a few other joint supplements that have appeared on our best joint supplement review list, Doctor’s Best doesn’t use any GMO ingredients or artificial ingredients.

Pros:
No artificial ingredients or GMOs.
Small, easy to swallow pills.
Big bottles.
Good value for your money.
Uses OptiMSM.

Con:
Pills break very easily, must be handled with care.

Glucosamine Chondroitin Turmeric MSM Boswellia by Arazo Nutrition

The next joint supplement that we want to review is Glucosamine Chondroitin Turmeric MSM Boswellia by Arazo Nutrition.

One of the main draws of this particular joint supplement is its low cost. Simply put, this is one of the least expensive joint supplements on the market and the least expensive (on a per pill basis) on this entire best joint supplement list.

For the low price of $20, you get 180 tablets (it is even less if you subscribe for regular shipments). That works out to a very low price of $0.11 per pill. Again, you aren’t going to find a much better price anywhere else.

Now, at first, you may be turned off by the low price of the Arazo Nutrition joint supplement. But you shouldn’t be. Despite being very inexpensive, the ingredients used in this joint supplement are still top notch. As you can see from the product name, it uses all the ingredients that you have seen mentioned before on this list. This includes glucosamine, chondroitin, turmeric, MSM, and many others.

So, don’t let the cost fool you, this is still a very high-quality joint supplement.

Pros:
Contains all the important ingredients that you look for in a supplement.
Extremely affordable.
Good bottle size.
Small pills that are easy to swallow.

Con:
May use artificial ingredients.

Move Free Advanced Plus MSM, 120 tablets – Joint Health Supplement with Glucosamine and Chondroitin

For the last entry on our best joint supplement review list, we have yet another low-cost joint supplement option. While this isn’t as inexpensive as the Arazo Nutrition joint supplement that we just finished reviewing, it is pretty close in terms of price.

The Move Free joint supplement ends up working out to $0.12 a pill. While this is close in terms of price to the Arazo Nutrition joint supplement, you only get 120 pills per purchase with the Move Free.

However, what the Move Free lacks in size, it makes up for in ingredient quality. In addition to all the ingredients that have been mentioned before (glucosamine, MSM, chondroitin, etc.), Move Free also contains minerals and hyaluronic acid, both of which supplement the already potent powers of the other ingredients. This makes Move Free joint supplement very good at dealing with joint pain and inflammation.

Pros:
Cheap.
Good ingredient mixture.
Very easy to swallow pills.
Contains minerals and hyaluronic acid to supplement the other ingredients.

Con:
Small bottle size.

Joint Supplement Buying Guide

Hopefully, you have already selected a joint supplement from our best joint supplement review list. If you are still on the fence about which supplement to buy, then this second section may help you make up your mind.

This second section is going to be a buying guide dedicated to explaining why joint supplements are helpful and what makes a good joint supplement. This may be of use to those of you still unsure about what joint supplement is right for you.

Are Joint Supplements Right For Me?

One question that you may still have is whether joint supplements are right for you or not. A big part of this is no doubt due to the fact that joint supplements (and really, most supplements) are marketed towards elderly people. While elderly people can gain a lot of benefit from joint supplements, don’t let the advertising fool you, they can be helpful for everyone.

So, here are just a few of the many people (besides the elderly) who can benefit from using some of the joint supplements on our best joint supplement review list.

For starters, anyone who is working out regularly and not taking supplements of some form is putting themselves at risk. Even healthy people suffer a lot of internal damage when they work out. People who run damage their knees and joints in their legs and people who lift weights damage the joints and cartilage in their arms, pecs, etc.

If you are doing intense workouts regularly, then you should definitely consider giving joint supplements a try as they can prevent injury and help you deal with pain.

People who have suffered serious injuries that impacted their joints or cartilage can also benefit from joint supplements. While we won’t promise that you will suddenly recover overnight, joint supplements can help aid in recovery and prevent injuries from occurring in the future.

Finally, people with elderly pets may also be interested to know that elderly pets can really benefit from regular joint supplements. Although this best joint supplement review list is directed at people, we felt that it would also be worth noting that the supplements can be helpful for pets as well.

There are many other uses for joint supplements that we could list, but we just wanted to do this quick list to show that they are useful for more than just elderly people.

Evaluating Joint Supplements

Alright, so how does one go about determining if a joint supplement is a good option or not. Well, there are a few different criteria that one can use.

Ingredients

As you might expect, the number one thing to look for when evaluating a joint supplement is the ingredients list. You want to keep an eye out for certain ingredients that are an absolute must-have in any joint supplement.

For starters, any joint supplement must have both glucosamine and chondroitin. These two are by far the most important ingredients. Why? Well, simply put, these two ingredients have by far the best track record when it comes to improving joint health. Both are backed up by study after study.

Getting joint supplements that don’t contain both of these ingredients is like getting a bran muffin that doesn’t contain fiber, it is missing the whole point.

However, those two ingredients are the only thing to keep an eye out for. Another good ingredient to be on the lookout for is turmeric or any ingredient that is derived from it. While we could go in-depth on the science behind it, for this buying guide let’s keep it simple and just say that turmeric (and derivative ingredients) have great value as an anti-inflammatory and it helps to manage pain.

Finally, there is also MSM (methylsulfonylmethane). You saw this ingredient a lot on the best joint supplement review list and for good reason. This helpful little compound is found in small amounts in most food. However, when taken in larger quantities, it is very helpful as an anti-inflammatory and for helping you to deal with pain.

Cost and Size

In addition to the ingredients found in your joint supplement, you should also consider the size and cost. Ideally, you want a joint supplement that comes in a large bottle at a decent price.

While small, 90 pill bottles can be good to test out a supplement, when you consider that many people take 3 pills a day, that won’t last you very long. You want to look for bottles in the 180 to 240 range, as these give you the best value for your money.

Concluding Remarks

If you still have questions that need answering or if you just have thoughts that you want to share with regards to our best joint supplement review list, then you should definitely go ahead and leave a comment.

If you are familiar with alternative medicine or Oriental medicine, then you might be familiar with Gua Sha therapy. If you aren’t, the idea behind Gua Sha is that it releases toxins that build up from lack of blood flow and increases circulation in the connective tissue and muscle layers. “Gua” means to scrape and “sha” is the redness that is raised from the skin. It is also called coining, scraping, spooning, and kerokan.

Gua Sha is often used as a beauty treatment, since it will improve the quality of your skin and counter sagging, especially on your face, by boosting collagen and cellular repair. You can also use Gua Sha tools for a lymphatic massage.

If you have sore, stiff, or injured muscles, Gua Sha will also help the healing process by stimulating new oxygen flow to the area. Because Gua Sha can affect the connective tissue, athletes are now using it to heal old injuries as well as recover from new injuries more quickly.

However, to get the best results from Gua Sha therapy, you need good Gua Sha tools. Since many people aren’t familiar with either the therapy or the tools, we have decided to review a bunch of the best Gua Sha Tools.

We will also be including a buying guide to explain what Gua Sha therapy is and why we picked the tools that we did. If you just want to buy a Gua Sha tool and be done with it, we recommend the Bian Stone Gua Sha Massage 4-Tool Set.

A Spotlight On Some of The Best Gua Sha Tools 2019

Gua Sha Tool Reviews

Natural Jade Roller and Gua Sha Tool Set

We start off our best Gua Sha tools list, not with a single tool, but with a set of tools. This genuine jade set contains two very useful Gua Sha tools. When you pick up them up for the first time, because they are made with real jade, they will feel a bit heavier than they look.

The first tool is a traditional jade Gua Sha tool. Jade tools are especially good to use on your face, around the eyes, and on your neck. The stone is very cooling and soothing. Gua Sha will stimulate collagen production, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and firm and tighten up the skin.

You can use the Gua Sha tool other places as well, like your arms and legs. You can also have someone use the tool on your back or other areas that are hard to reach.

The second tool that you get is a jade roller. The jade roller is for your face and neck and is used to smooth out your skin, reduce puffiness, and help your lymphatic circulation after using your Gua Sha tool.

Both tools are designed very well. The Gua Sha tool jade is very smooth. The jade roller glides easily over the skin and the manufacturer has taken special care to make the roller as noiseless and smoothly as possible. The handle is sturdy and well constructed, and not too thin.

These tools are hand made and the quality is very good. They fit well in the hand, are genuine jade, and glide smoothly. Above all else, they work.

There is also a genuine rose quartz version of the Gua Sha tool and roller on the same page.

Pros:
Two tools for a great price.
Both tools are well made.
Jade/quartz roller glides easily and doesn’t squeak.
Handheld tool fits in hand and is completely smooth.
Comes with an instructional ebook.
60-day replacement/exchange, no questions asked

Con:
Jade or quartz tools can break if dropped on a hard surface.

Sibin Bian Stone Gua Sha Scraping Massage 4-Tool Set

Up next on our best Gua Sha tools list is a set of 4 Gua Sha tools made from genuine Bian Stone. They can be used on the entire body and these different shapes are designed to accommodate any technique.

Bian Stone has very powerful detoxification properties. Some say this is the very best material for Gua Sha therapy. This set of Gua Sha tools also comes with a certification of authenticity from Sibin, China, source of the best Bian Stone.

In addition to being made from real Bian Stone, the product works well. These are obviously very simple tools, but they are designed to do everything that you would want a Gua Sha tool to do. They fit very easily in your hand. They are very smooth and don’t have any jagged edges or anything of that sort.

These are very easy to use and , as it only has one end that is meant to be used (some other Gua Sha tools, as you will see, have a lot of different ends that make them more complicated).

It is also very affordable, you can’t go wrong with such a moderately priced item.

Pros:
Made using genuine Bian Stone from Sibin, China.
Very smooth and fits perfectly in your hand.
Cheap and easy to use.
Comes with a carrying case and storage box.
Comes with an instructional ebook.

Con:
Bian stone tools can break if dropped on a hard surface.

Buffalo Horn Gua Sha Scraping Massage 4-Tool Set

Up next on our best Gua Sha tools list is another traditional set of Gua Sha tools. These are made of genuine, high-quality black buffalo horn, which is excellent for circulation, relaxing stiffness, and dispelling inflammation and heat.

This set covers the basic Gua Sha tool shapes, allowing you to use a variety of techniques. These tools can be used on the face, neck and body. Horn is lightweight and durable and won’t break so easily if dropped on a hard surface. Beware of plastic imitations. Buffalo horn will sink in water, whereas plastic will float.

Pros:
Made using traditional, high-quality black buffalo horn.
Very smooth and fit perfectly in your hand.
Cheap and easy to use.
Does not break easily if dropped on a hard surface.

Con:
Doesn’t come with any sort of carrying case.

Kona Rose Quartz Gua Sha Scraping Massage 3-Tool Set

This Gua Sha tool is made from Rose Quartz. This beautiful pink stone is said to open up the heart chakra and let go of tension in the heart. Like the jade, it has good weight to it that feels very good on the skin.

There are three Gua Sha tools in this set. You can use them on your face or body.

Pros:
Simple, proven designs.
Very smooth, high-quality pink quartz.
Convenient box.

Con:
Can break if dropped on a hard surface.

Endiglow Medical Titanium Gua Sha Massage Tool

Our next Gua Sha tool on the list is a modern evolution of the Gua Sha tool. Whereas the previous tools are made with stone or buffalo horn (extremely common materials to make Gua Sha tools out of), this tool is made from medical-grade titanium.

Medical-grade titanium has higher strength, lower weight, and is more resistant to corrosion than regular titamium. Aside from being unbreakable, this titanium Gua Sha tool has the advantage of being hypo-allergenic and anti-microbial. The metal is also very cooling.

If you are an athlete and plan on using Gua Sha on your muscles and tendons to remove fascial adhesions and stimulate healing, this type of gua sha tool is probably best for you.

The product is very easy to use. It fits naturally into your hand and it is very easy to keep a hand on the tool while using it. The titanium glides very easily across your skin. Using this tool, you can apply enough pressure to properly do Gua Sha therapy, without hurting yourself.

The Endiglow Gua Sha tool also comes with a bunch of little extras that make it even more worthy of consideration. This includes a nice, leather carrying case and a free eBook detailing various ways to use the tool. The eBook is written by a licensed and experienced chiropractor, making it a very useful addition to an already very useful product.

The only downside that we can think of for the Endiglow tool is the price. It is more expensive than the other entries on the best Gua Sha tools list. While we personally think its quality can make it worth the increased price, others may feel differently.

Pros:
Made using medical-grade titanium.
Unbreakable
Has anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties.
Comes with great leather carrying case.
Comes with free eBook written by licensed chiropractor.

Con:
Not as cheap as other Gua Sha tools.
Not for the face.

Gua Sha Tools Buying Guide

In the introduction to this article, we said that we would be including a buying guide in addition to our best Gua Sha tools section. This buying guide going to do a few things.

First, we are going to explain in a bit more depth what exactly Gua Sha therapy is and what the benefits of it are. Now, we know that quite a few of you out there reading this won’t need this information, however, there are many others out there who don’t know what Gua Sha therapy is and we want to provide a concise, accurate definition for those people.

Once we have finished establishing what Gua Sha therapy is, we are going to move onto the second part of the buying guide, which is where we will explain exactly what things that you should be considering when buying a Gua Sha tool of your own.

What Is Gua Sha Therapy

If you read through the first part of our article, the best Gua Sha tools section, then you probably already have a good idea of what this therapy is. However, if you skimmed through and still aren’t sure, we are going to explain it. Gua Sha Therapy is very simple, it involves the use of a stone instrument to massage the skin, it is that simple.

There are a few things to consider here. Firstly, Gua Sha therapy can be done anywhere on the body. A lot of the best Gua Sha tools are meant for use on the face, but you can also find ones meant for the back, the legs, the stomach, and anywhere else that there is skin.

Now, you may think that this is a very painful therapy. However, it isn’t for a few reasons. First, high-quality Gua Sha tools (such as the ones we reviewed at the beginning of our article) should not be sharp. In fact, good Gua Sha tools will actually be blunt. So, your skin isn’t scrapped off, nor should the tool be causing cuts or anything like that.

Second, Gua Sha therapy isn’t rough. Sure, you should be pressing fairly hard, but when properly done, you shouldn’t be applying enough force to actively cause pain. If you are experiencing pain when doing this therapy, it might be because you are either using low-quality tools or because you are doing Gua Sha therapy wrong.

It is important that you do not do Gua Sha on any cuts, rashes, skin irritations, or any open wound, no matter how small!

Finally, we come to the question of what Gua Sha therapy is meant to do. There are a couple of different things that the therapy can do, and different people do it for different reasons. First off, the therapy helps increase blood flow to an affected area.

Anyone with even a bit of cursory medical knowledge can tell you that applying friction to an area increases blood flow to that area (it is why rubbing your leg when it falls asleep helps wake it back up). So, if you have some stiff muscles or sore muscles, rubbing the area with a Gua Sha tool can help increase blood flow to the area and alleviate pain and/or stiffness.

Increasing blood flow to an area can also help make that area look more vibrant and healthier in the long run. On Hence why many people use Gua Sha tools as beauty products. When used consistently, Gua Sha therapy can make your face look vibrant, youthful, and radiant. Regular Gua Sha on the face will promote collagen production, tighten up and smooth the skin, and decrease pore size.

Secondly, Gua Sha therapy can be used to “cleanse” a specific area, by helping scrape away and turn over dead skin cells. This will be of interest to people who put a lot of effort into trying to keep their skin healthy. This aspect of Gua Sha therapy works best when combined with other face care products. Usually oils and other products are used on the face in conjunction with gua sha.

Finally, some do Gua Sha therapy because it can help with various medical ailments, especially when they involve poor circulation. Sometimes old injuries develop scar tissue in the fascia, which can be broken down and healed through Gua Sha therapy. However, we aren’t going to comment too much on this aspect, as it is better left to individuals to determine if the therapy is right for them.

Buying A Gua Sha Tool

Now that we are all on the same page as to what Gua Sha therapy is and how it can be helpful, we can move onto the next part of our buying guide, which is explaining how to buy a good Gua Sha tool. This section won’t be too long because there isn’t a whole lot to discuss as Gua Sha tools are fairly simple.

Smooth Edges

The biggest thing to look for when shopping for a Gua Sha tool is smoothness. You want to make sure that the tool that you use is completely smooth. Any rough or jagged edges make the tool unusable.

An ultra-smooth tool offers by far the best experience. While rough or jagged edges won’t be an issue if you buy from a reputable company or from our best Gua Sha tools list, it is something to keep in mind if you go shopping at a physical store or buy from non-reputable sellers online.

Different Materials

Different Gua Sha tools are made using different materials. Generally speaking, the best material for healing and dispelling toxins is Bian Stone, followed by jade. Jade is often used for the face. Buffalo horn also releases toxins, relaxes stiffness, and cools. Quartz is associated with the heart chakra. Some find quartz harder to hold than the other materials. Metal, such as titanium, represents a fusion of traditional Chinese Gua Sha and modern Graston techniques. In the end, all of these materials have their benefits and it will be a personal choice.

While assembling our best Gua Sha tools list, we included a wide variety of tools made from different materials, including titanium, green jade, and more.

Concluding Thoughts

That is it for our best Gua Sha tools article, we hope that you found it enlightening and helpful.

If you have questions that weren’t quite answered in our buying guide, then you should let us know by leaving a comment.