Turmeric for Patients With Basal Joint Arthritis

Inclusion Criteria: * 40 years of age or older * English fluency and literacy * Seeking care for basal joint pain * Tender over basal joint * Positive distraction rotation test (rotation of the thumb metacarpal base while applying axial traction) * Radiographic evidence of Eaton stage 1 and 2 only Exclusion Criteria: * Secondary gains (litigations or worker compensation) procedures that may interfere with patients' motivation for treatment * Inability or unwillingness to participate in a trial study * Rheumatoid Arthritis or other inflammatory disorder diagnoses * Post-traumatic osteoarthritis * Patients on Coumadin/Steroids/NSAIDs/Tylenol * Diabetes Mellitus * Pregnant or lactating women * Basal joint arthritis of Eaton stage 3 * Patients seeking other treatment for their basal joint arthritis (splint, corticosteroid injection, surgery)