Cartilage can regenerate from damage. However, this process is slow because there’s no blood circulation in the tissue. Deficiency in lubricant surrounding the joint, called synovial fluid, aggravates the damage. The reduction of the lubricant also happens as part of the aging process. Cartilage damage causes inflammation that results in pain and difficulty in mobilization. Analgesics (natural or not) relieve the inflammation, but don’t promote regeneration. So, relying on analgesics alone for arthritis may end up aggravating the current damage, as the reduction of the pain tends to encourage the patient to use the damaged joint more frequently.