LOOKING FOR RELIEF from arthritis or general joint pain?
Waking up, carrying on with daily tasks, or going to sleep with joint pain or arthritis, can make anyone miserable. While there are numerous reasons why you could be experiencing joint pain or discomfort, everyone is trying to find a way to prevent arthritis from affecting their lifestyle.
With that said, there are numerous types of chronic meds on the market that relieve joint pain, however, these can be extremely expensive, and often come with unwanted side effects that make the relief they provide seem pointless.
This is why I decided to stick to supplements that contain natural ingredients as their actives.
Natural products can be just as effective in providing joint pain relief, but the major plus is they have minimal side effects—most times, non at all.
That said, in this article, I have taken it upon myself to research the best natural joint relief supplements in South Africa.
During my research, I looked at a bunch of natural arthritis and joint pain relief products in South Africa and boiled them down to just 7 natural of my favorites.
DISCLAIMER: When we say ‘best,’ this is only our team’s personal opinion based on our experience with getting our hands on the actual products on this list (and yes, we did order & try every product,) our research, as well as survey data that we conducted. Your opinion and experience with these, or other products in South Africa may differ!
These are the ‘qualifying criteria’ I thought was most important during my research:
- Ingredients Profile: Does the product use natural ingredients as their primary actoive ingredients to minimise the side effects? Through research I’ve also identified which key natural ingredients have been scientifically proven to show promising results. This includes ingredients such as Glucosamine Sulphate, Chondroitin Sulfate, Omega Fatty Acids amoung a few others.
- Consumption method & ease of use: During my research I came across three types of consumption methods used by products. Capsule based, topical, and tincture based. While capsule based products are easier to use, often times ointment products provides more targeted pain relief. I’ll be discussing the pros and cons of each.
- Results: How fast can you find relief? I did find that there is a bit of a trade off here. Often times ointment products will provide quick relief, however capsule or tincture based products take longer to work, however they repair damage rather than just masking the pain for a little while.
- Refund Policy: I took a close look at the refund policy of each product taking all hidden terms and conditions into consideration. I think for pain relief products a good refund policy is important, because even though a product might work for some people, it does guarantee results for everyone. We are all different and we all react differently to different formulations.
Taking all that into consideration, which natural joint pain relief supplement do I think is the best in South Africa? I personally think that…
Outback Joint Support is the best natural joint relief supplement in South Africa. According to this study involving 50 patients, green-lipped mussel powder was shown to reduce joint pain. Outback Joint Support is a bit expensive at R499, however, the product is completely natural and is covered by a 90-day money-back guarantee that lets you keep the product when requesting a refund.
Here’s a table that compares all my data on the selected joint relief products.
| Product | Effectiveness rating | Price/daily use | Price | No. Daily Uses | Active Ingredients | Artificial Ingredients | Method | Guarantee | Takealot Link | Website Link |
| Outback Joint Support | 9/10 | R11.08 | R499 | 45 days | Chondroitin Sulfate & Omega Fatty Acids | Completely Natural | Capsule | 90 Days | VIEW | VIEW |
| Outback Pain Relief Roll-On | 9/10 | – | R299 | 60 Days | Eucalyptus Oil & Tea Tree Oil | Completely Natural | Ointment | 90 Days | VIEW | VIEW |
| NEM Flexofend Joint Defense Capsules | 9/10 | R9.50 | R285 per box | 30 days | Chondroitin Sulfate, Hyaluronic & Collagen | Completely Natural | Capsule | 30 Days | VIEW | VIEW |
| OsteoEze Gold Capsules | 9/10 | R9.70 | R293 | 30 Days | Glucosamine Sulphate, Chondroitin Sulfate | Completely Natural | Capsule | 30 Days | VIEW | VIEW |
| Harmonic Health Uric Acid Support | 9/10 | – | R399 | 60 Days | Celery, Nettle, Birch, Alfalfa, Willow Harpagophytum Procumbens, Boswellia Serrate, Tart Cherry. | Completely Natural | Tincture | 90 Days | VIEW | VIEW |
| Lifetones Acid Clear | 9/10 | R6.20 | R186 | 30 Days | Celery, Nettle, Birch, Alfalfa, Willow, Harpagophytum Procumbens, Boswellia Serrate. | Completely Natural | Capsule | 30 Days | VIEW | VIEW |
| BioLife Joint Support | 8/10 | R4.64 | R139 | 30 Days | Glucosamine HCL, MSM, Chondroitin Sulfate Bovine, Calcium, Magnesium Potassium, Bromelain Devils Claw, Celery Seed Powder | Completely Natural | Tablet | 30 Days | VIEW | VIEW |
If you would like more information on the above research, make sure you keep reading! In the rest of the comparative article, I’ll be diving deeper into each product one by one.
01. Outback Joint Support
90 Capsules
Outback Joint Support is packaged in a lightweight plastic bottle with a very informative label around the bottle. This was very insightful as the nutritional facts about the ingredients can be easily found. The capsules had a very unpleasant fishy smell when I opened the bottle, which I’m not too crazy about, to be honest.
Ingredients profile.
My favorite part about the Outback Joint Support is that contains a high dose of one potent active ingredient, Green Lipped Mussel Powder (GlycOmega-PLUS). Green-lipped mussel extract is derived from New Zealand and provides a rich source of all the major nutrients that improve joint-related problems.
Green Lipped Mussel contains essential anti-inflammatory ingredients such as omega-3 fatty acids (including EPA, DHA, and a rare fatty acid called ETA) and is a source of B complex vitamins (B12 in particular). It is also a natural source of the nutrients Glucosamine and Chondroitin, which are common GAG supplements.
These are the key nutrients that are used as building blocks to effectively reduce joint pain, reduce inflammation, repair cartilage and increase joint mobility as shown in recent studies.
It is also interesting that the Outback Joint Support undergoes a careful process of using cold extracted Green-lipped mussel powder which preserves the active ingredients. This makes the Outback supplements more effective in improving joint health. I also like that Outback Joint Support not only assists with human joint pain but can also be used to treat arthritis in dogs!
Ease of use.
This product contains 60 green capsules which are packaged in a bottle. The capsules are a little big which can be difficult to take if you don’t like swallowing pills, however, the capsules can be opened and can be used in a powder form.
As mentioned I don’t like the fishy smell, which can be a put-off for many people, but to be honest, when swallowing, it doesn’t taste like anything.
The recommended dosage is 1 to 2 capsules daily, which can be taken with or without food.
Results.
The results from Outback Joint Support supplements depend on each person and on the severity of the condition. Outback reviews have shown that most people with less severe pain are can see results after a few days of use while others are expected to find relief after 2 to 8 weeks of using the products.
Price.
The Outback Joint Support is R499. Since the capsules have to be taken twice a day, each daily serving amount will cost R11.08. At first glance, this can seem quite expensive but one bottle that contains 90 capsules does last for about 45 days, which is longer than most products on my list.
Even though the price of the product is high, it corresponds with the high-quality Green-lipped powder that is used.
Outback does include discounts if you purchase more than one bottle. If you purchase 2 bottles the price is R475 for each bottle, if you purchase 3 bottles the price is R399 each and if you purchase 3 bottles the price is R395 for each bottle. I think this is great once you have felt that this brand works for you!
Refund policy.
This product is covered by a brilliant 90-day money-back guarantee if you purchase this on the Outback website. This guarantee is valid without having to return the opened product, so you can try it without the risk.
View Outback Joint Support on their website here.
View Outback Joint Support on Takealot here.
02. Flexofend Joint Defense Capsules
30 Capsules
The Flexofend Capsules are packaged in a lightweight cardboard box that contains three sheets of 10 capsules. Personally, I feel that this is a bit inconvenient because when I squeeze the capsules out, it feels like they’re going to burst.
I prefer accessing capsules directly from a bottle. That said, I did think the color of the packaging was very appealing.
Ingredients profile.
Flexofend Joint Defense is the only product in South Africa that contains the active ingredient called Natural Eggshell Membrane (NEM).
NEM contains the nutrient Glycosaminoglycans (such as chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid) and proteins (such as collagen types I, V, and X). Based on this study these are all key nutrients in promoting healthy joints and reducing inflammation naturally.
Ease of use.
This product contains 30 capsules which came in a box, containing 3 sheets of 10 capsules. Capsules make it easier to consume quickly, which is perfect for those on the move. That said, for some people swallowing capsules might be difficult.
Results.
Based on these human clinical studies, just 500mg of NEM taken daily has been shown to reduce joint stiffness in 4 days and reduce pain within 7-10 days. I also read through these 16 reviews on Takealot, and most people have said that they have started seeing results after a month, however, most people have not felt any difference within the first week of using the product as the brand said they would.
Price.
The price of Flexofend is R285 for 30 capsules and recommended daily dosage is 1 capsule per day which means 1 box will last 30 days.
This works out to R9.50 a day, which is very expensive compared to the other brands as each box will only last a month. That said, this product includes NEM, which is a high-quality ingredient, therefore, the steep price might be worth it to you.
If you purchase Flexofend from their website, they are currently having an exclusive online promotion if you purchase 3 boxes, you pay R645 which also includes free delivery. This is a bit cheaper than purchasing from Takealot here.
Refund policy.
If you purchase the product from Flexofend, there is no guarantee available which I was a bit disappointed in.
That said if you purchase the product from Takealot, it is covered by Takealot’s below-average 30-day refund policy which is only valid if you have not yet opened the product. This means you can not claim back your money if you have tried the product and you are unsatisfied with the results which leaves you to wonder what the actual point of this guarantee is?!
View Flexofend on their website here.
View Flexofend on Takealot here.
03. Outback Pain Relief Roll-On
50 ml oil roll-on
The Outback Pain Relief Roll-On is a topical all-natural joint relief solution that is packaged in a plastic bottle. The label is very informative and I like that it includes the directions for use.
I screwed the cap off and rolled the ball on my forearm. It seems to excrete just enough oil without leaving too much on my skin, which I liked. The ball also didn’t get stuck at all and it seemed to roll smoothly, a problem I’ve noticed with most other roll-ons.
I also thought that the roll-on had a really pleasant eucalyptus smell to it. I’ve read through reviews where a handful of people didn’t like it, however, I personally liked the smell and so did several of my work colleagues.
Ingredients profile.
The Outback Pain Relief Roll-on consists of a patented blend of natural oils which include Australian Tea Tree Oil, Blue Mallee Eucalyptus Oil, Vanilla, and Olive Oil. The Australian Tea Tree Oil and Blue Mallee Eucalyptus Oil were added to penetrate deep into your joints and muscles with Vanilla and Olive Oil assistance.
What I truly enjoyed about the formula is that there are absolutely no other ingredients used. It’s only these 4 natural ingredients.
Ease of use.
It is recommended that you apply and massage a small amount of Outback oil to the joint or muscle area. The oil should be applied twice a day for a week, then use as required. The Outback Pain Relief Roll-On is not as convenient as taking a capsule, however, based on this research, topical pain relievers may be a more effective option especially if you’re looking for quick targeted relief.
The roll-on quickly relieves the discomfort in a specific area quickly, capsules generally have an impact on the whole body’s response to pain, which usually takes longer.
Results.
What really blew me away was the number of reviews this product has on Takealot and its website. They have 285 reviews on Takealot and 101 reviews on their website all with 4 stars and above, which is more than any other product on this list.
The results from using the Outback roll-on vary according to the level of pain people are experiencing.
- People with mild pain may get relief from their joint discomfort within 15 minutes of using the Roll-On.
- People with moderate pain may experience results after 7-10 days.
- people with more severe pain may experience relief after 21 days or more of using the product at least twice a day.
Based on 101 reviews from the Outback website and a whopping 285 reviews on Takealot, people have found joint pain relief within a few days, while most people have seen a dramatic change in their joint pain within the first week of using the product.
Price.
This product can be purchased on the Outback website and from Takealot. The price of the roll-on is R299, which lasts for about 2 months, depending on how often you use the product. When you purchase 2 or more bottles, you get a discount and free shipping!
Refund Policy.
If you have purchased this product on the Outback website, it is covered by a brilliant 90-day money-back guarantee. This guarantee is valid without having to return the opened product, so you can try it without the risk.
View Outback Pain Relief Roll-On on their website here
View Outback Pain Relief Roll-On on Takealot here
04. OsteoEze Gold Capsules
90 Capsules
OsteoEze Gold is in capsule form in a plastic bottle. When I got my hands on the product, it genuinely just feels like they put a ton of effort into their packaging. The company has a great packaging design, they bothered to put their bottle in a box, AND they even labeled each tablet “OsteoEze Gold,” which could be beneficial if you take multiple pills.
All this effort into the packaging really shows that the company cares about the customer experience.
When I opened the bottle and smelled the capsules, there wasn’t a distinct smell from the pills, which I liked. Other brand’s capsules tend to smell one way or another, which makes my sensitive stomach a bit queezy.
Ingredients Profile.
OsteoEze Gold consists of ingredients such as Glucosamine and Chondroitin, which form the key foundation in building and protecting joint cartilage. Furthermore, OsteoEze contains essential ingredients such as Vitamin C, MSM, and Manganese.
These nutrients have been shown to assist the development and maintenance of bones and connective tissue formation. On top of that, they are proven to be safe to use as a daily supplement. The main claimed benefits of OsteoEze Gold are it builds healthy cartilage, improves mobility, and reduces stiffness & swelling which is supported by scientific studies.
Ease of use.
OsteoEze capsules are packaged in a bottle, which is easy to access. I also like that each capsule is labeled which helps avoid getting it mixed up with other medications. The recommended dosage is one capsule after every meal, with water.
The only major drawback here for me is that you have to take the capsules three times a day which can be a pain, especially if you don’t like taking capsules.
Results.
OsteoEze brand conducted clinical studies which indicate that people noticed positive effects within the first two months of use. This varied according to each person as some users were able to feel results within the first few weeks. Based on 23 reviews on Takealot, people have said that the product works and have not mentioned how soon it worked for them.
Price.
The price of OsteoEze Gold is R293 on Takealot. Since there are 90 capsules that need to be taken 3 times a day, each day of use costs around R9.70 which is similar to Outback Joint Support and Flexofend.
Refund policy.
If you have purchased the product from Takealot, you will be covered by the 30-day refund policy. If you purchase on the OsteoEze site, you will only be covered by a 7 working day refund policy.
In both instances, the refund will be rejected if the product is opened or damaged after delivery. This could be disappointing if especially if you spent all that money and the product didn’t end up working for you!
View OsteoEze on their website here
View OsteoEze on Takealot here
05. Harmonic Health Uric Acid Support
100 ml
Harmonic Health Uric Acid comes in a glass bottle with a built-in pipette dropper. The product has appealing packaging, I really like the natural feel! I liked that the label was informative, it had all the relevant information and includes the directions for use. The Harmonic Health scent is almost that of sweet alcohol but it was not overbearing.
Ingredient Profile.
Harmonic Health Uric Acid Support contains a blend of 8 natural herbs. Although the formula does not contain key ingredients such as glucosamine, chondroitin, or MSM, this formula includes potent natural antioxidants such as Tart Cherry, Devil’s Claw, Celery Seed, Boswellia, and Willow Bark.
These ingredients make the product effective in supporting joint health in reducing inflammation. When uric acid levels in the body are too high, crystals of uric acid can be formed in the joints which results in arthritis or joint pain. Hence, this product was formulated to reduce uric acid crystals levels.
Ease of Use.
Harmonic Health Uric Acid Support is taken by adding 15 drops with the built-in pipette dropper into 200ml of water. This is not as convenient as taking a capsule but this study mentions that that liquid extracts could work faster than capsules. The reason being, liquid extracts could be digested within 1-4 minutes whereas it could take about 20 to 30 minutes for capsules to break down.
Tinctures can also be a nice alternative to capsules to people that struggle to swallow pills and capsules.
Results.
Relief from the Harmonic Health Uric Acid Support varies from person to person based on the severity of the condition and the amount of uric acid crystals in the body.
It is recommended that customers try the product daily for at least 8 weeks to feel the full benefits and to drink at least 2 liters of water a day to help flush the uric crystals out. Based on 72 reviews on their website and 157 reviews on Takealot, most customers have found relief from their joint pain within the first three days of using the product.
Price.
The price of the Harmonic Health Uric Acid is R399. I think it’s great that if you purchase 2 or more bottles you qualify for free shipping and if you purchase 3 or more bottles you get an R200 discount!
Refund policy.
If you purchase the product directly from the Harmonic Health website, you are offered a 90-day money-back guarantee without returning the product! This is ideal if you were unsatisfied with the results of the product.
View Harmonic Health on their website here
View Harmonic Health on Takealot here
06. Lifetones Uric Acid Clear
60 Capsules
Lifetones Uric Acis Clear was packaged in a lightweight cardboard box that contains six sheets of 10 capsules.
Ingredients Profile.
Lifetones is a botanical capsule supplement that contains 100% Natural Ingredients.
These include similar ingredients to the Harmonic Health product, which include Celery, Nettle, Birch, Alfalfa, Willow, Harpagophytum Procumbens, Boswellia Serrate, which, as the product name suggests, were added to reduce uric acid levels in the body, which in turn, reduces crystals, inflammation, and pain in the joints.
Ease of use.
The recommended dosage for Lifetones is 2 capsules daily with a full glass of water which is nice because it also encourages you to drink extra water throughout the day. Once you have obtained your desired results, the recommended dosage drops to 1 capsule daily.
As with all other capsules, if you don’t like swallowing pills then Harmonic Health tincture or an ointment such as Outback Relief Roll-On might be a better option.
Results.
Lifetones mentioned customer testimonials here which indicate that customers have seen results between one week to one month.
That said, if you are someone who has experienced discomfort for a few years, Lifetones does suggest that you take a month’s treatment for each year that you have experienced discomfort before expecting results.
During my research on Takealot, I did also find 11 reviews of people that mentioned the product does work.
Price.
Lifetones Uric Acid Support capsules are R186 for 60 capsules. Each recommended daily dosage costs R6.20, which will last you for 30 days. This price is very reasonable when compared to all the other brands on this list, in fact, it has the second-lowest price.
Refund policy.
Even though the price looks great, I was a bit disappointed by the refund policy.
Lifetones is covered by Takealot’s 30-day refund policy. As mentioned before I feel that this is not useful because you will not be able to claim a refund if you opened the bottle. So what’s the point?!
View Lifetones on their website here
View Lifetones on Takealot here
07. BioLife Joint Support
60 Tablets
The product is packaged in a glass bottle which feels high quality. I like that the main ingredients were displayed on the front of the bottle because I instantly knew what the ingredients were without searching too deep.
The tablets are slightly big, which could be a bit difficult to swallow. I find that tablets are generally harder to swallow than capsules as it is.
Ingredients profile.
BioLife consists of a blend of natural ingredients such as Glucosamine, Chondroitin, and MSM. These ingredients form an important structure for cartilage and assist in the treatment of osteoarthritis. The claimed health benefits of the BioLife Joint Support include the promotion of healthy joints, strengthening collagen fibers, and promoting healthy connective tissues.
Ease of use.
BioLife supplements are packed in a bottle, although the orange capsules look appealing, they can be difficult to take. That said, if you’re on the move and don’t mind tablets, using this will be a lot quicker and easier than tinctures or ointments. The recommended dosage is 1 to 2 tablets, which could be taken once or twice a day.
Results.
Based on 10 reviews from Takealot people have noticed a difference in their joint pain discomfort within the first two weeks of using the product.
Price.
The price of the Biolife Joint Support is R139. Since there are 60 tablets, each daily dosage of two capsules costs just R4.64 which is the most affordable product on this list.
Refund policy.
The Biolife website offers a 14-day refund policy for all Biolife products. This product is also covered by Takealot’s 30-day refund policy. Unfortunately in both cases, this is only applicable if you have not yet opened the product, which as you might know by now, I’m not a fan of at all, especially when it comes to supplements.
View Biolife on their website here
Your Turn
Do you know of any joint and arthritis relief products that deserve to be on this list? Or do you think that I missed a crucial piece of information about one of the products I mentioned? Let us know in the comments below so we can start helping each other out!