There is likely an applied finish on the brass, used to be lacquer, now who knows. You'll have to remove it (try citristrip) before you can actually dull the brass with steel wool. Of course after that you'll have an exposed brass that will be more prone to tarnishing, being affected by cleaning products, etc. The steel wool might slightly dull the finish so it wouldn't hurt to try that first.

I take cat's claw, but not for arthritis specifically. I have psoriatic arthritis and I found out by accident about 25ish years ago that high quality flax seed oil manages both for me, better than medications, rx or otc. I was young then, and early intervention is probably why flax seed oil was/has been so effective in my case. If I go 3 days without, things get bad again. I also take fish oil, but I have not had any noticeable benefits from it like others do. I continue with it "just in case" since I seem to be only one who doesn't report improvement from taking fish oil. Maybe it would help you if don't take it already. Positive things could be happening in ways behind the scenes I may not notice, thus I keep taking it. Cat's claw may add additional benefits re: arthritis since it does benefit the immune system, which is why I take it. For note, I have one tiny patch of psoriasis that would not ever resolve. It has improved a little bit as of late for reasons unknown. Perhaps cat's claw is the reason. I've been taking it twice daily or a year a half and this improvement in the tiny patch is recent, so results might be a long wait if cat's claw is the reason. (who knows) In case it helps, I also take glucosamine and chondroitin daily now that I'm older. When I run out, I do notice a difference. I try to keep an excess supply on hand knowing this. MSM helps too. Dh takes these 3 supplements and he notices stiffness and soreness in his joints when he doesn't take them. Relief when he does. We call the supplements a witch's brew :) My dr always tells me at our visits to keep on doing what I'm doing as it's working.

Or Facebook Marketplace (which is killing craigslist!)

There is a part on the seed that ants eat and then they carry the seed to new locations. I have a blood root growing in one of my hosta beds for 20 years that has multiplied into a big clump but last year I noticed seedlings popping up 7 to 10 feet away from the momma. I let them grow in their spot between stepping stones for the last year and have moved them into a permanent location in the last month. I put a double flowering bloodroot in my front hosta bed last year and it had one leaf but no flowers this year. It is still alive (yay) so hopefully if will be happy and multiply.