Do you know the natural remedies for Arthritis? From the name itself, Arthritis means the inflammation of one or more joints. Arthritis is among the prevalent chronic diseases affecting all population groups including children and two-thirds of those diagnosed with arthritis are women. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability and the most common forms of chronic arthritis are osteoarthritis, gout, fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis.
The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis which damages the cartilage, joints, and bones, whereas rheumatoid arthritis causes pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of function attacking the synovial lining of joints. The major body changes associated with aging, including decreased body protein, body fluid, and bone density as well as increased proportion of total body fat may all or partially contribute to the onset and progression of arthritis.
Chronic arthritic conditions have no known cure, medical therapy in addition to physical, nutritional therapy have been the sole solution as the remedy for arthritis. Certain natural remedies for arthritis pain have been a well- balanced diet that is promoting the attainment and maintenance of desirable body weight. We should prefer a diet that contains fruits, veggies, nuts, legumes, fish and olive oil. Limit the consumption of red meat, processed and fried foods, sugary foods and foods with high content of salt and preservatives. It has been observed that cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage or Brussel sprouts can protect against the development of arthritis. Increase the consumption of salmon, sardines, mackerel, walnuts and flaxseeds that are rich in omega 3 fats. Prefer foods rich in antioxidants like Vitamin C, anthocyanidins, and beta–cryptoxanthin like papaya, pumpkin, cherries, grapes, raspberries or bell peppers, oranges and kidney beans. Consider a 20-minute walk to take in Vitamin D source sunlight.
Apart from diet management, there are certain natural cures for arthritis. Let us know the natural remedies for arthritis.
Natural Remedies for Arthritis Pain
What is the best home remedy for arthritis? Try out this arthritis remedy that will be a natural approach to relieving pain and without causing any side effects. Do consult your doctor before trying out these natural remedies for arthritis.
1. Sip A Turmeric And Ginger Tea
Turmeric and ginger are two anti- inflammatory ingredients that are an answer to help with osteon and rheumatoid arthritis. Turmeric consists of a very powerful and active antioxidant called curcumin which is responsible for reducing the levels of enzymes that cause inflammation.
Take 2 cups of water in a pan and bring it to boil, add ½ teaspoon each of ground ginger and ground turmeric. Reduce the flame and allow it to remain for 10 to 15 minutes. Now strain the concoction and add honey to taste. You can have this tea as natural cure for arthritis at least twice daily.
2. Peppermint and Eucalyptus Oil
Peppermint and eucalyptus have been one of the natural remedies for arthritis, that provides a soothing relief against the discomfort and can ease the pain caused by arthritis.
Mix 5 to 10 drops of peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil together and blend it with 1 to 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Olive oil works as a carrier oil that can dilute the essential oils. You can also use grapeseed oil or almond oil instead of olive oil. Store this oil blend in a dark glass bottle and keep it away from direct sunlight. This oil soothes your joints whenever you apply and massage this oil on the joints whenever they ache.
3. Home Remedies for Joint Inflammation
When we talk about arthritis, we are also talking about inflammation. During inflammation, there is increased blood flow and the chemicals are released into the blood. This attracts the white blood cells to the infected area and can cause irritation of the joints and swelling of the joints. There are a number of options that can treat joint inflammation like medication, rest, exercise and surgery depending on the age, severity of the symptoms and medical history. However, there have been a number of home remedies for joint inflammation.
a. Apple Cider Vinegar
Drinking apple cider vinegar or applying apple cider vinegar topically can help in relieving joint inflammation. Mix 1 to 2 tablespoons of raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar into 8 ounces of water. You need to drink this water at least 2 to 3 times a day. Apple cider vinegar is also effective when applied topically. Add 1 cup of apple cider vinegar in a bucket containing 4 cups of hot water. You can soak your foot in this bucket for 30 minutes. Apple cider vinegar helps to make our body alkaline and helps in soothing acute pain.
b. Ice Pack
Wrapping an ice pack around the affected joints can reduce the discomfort. During the joint inflammation, keep your affected joint elevated on a pillow and you can also prepare an ice pack and wrap the ice pack around the joints for 20 to 30 minutes at a time. This procedure can be done several times a day as it will help in reducing joint inflammation.
c. Ginger Root
The anti-inflammatory properties of ginger root add a brownie point as the home remedy for joint inflammation. Either ginger root can be added as an ingredient in certain home remedy recipe or it can be applied on the affected area. Take equal amount of turmeric powder, fenugreek powder and ginger root (dried) powder. Mix these powders well together. You can have 1 teaspoon of this mixture along with warm water. This powder can be taken twice daily. Other way of using ginger root is where this anti -inflammatory agent can be applied externally. Prepare a paste of ginger root with little water and apply this paste on the affected area. Now leave this paste for half an hour. You can apply this paste once daily.
We are giving you health benefits of ginger and reasons to include this miraculous herb in your daily life.
4. Home Remedies for Knee Pain Caused Due to Arthritis
Osteoarthritis is the common form of arthritis and is commonly called as wear and tear arthritis, occurs even in young people though the chances of developing osteoarthritis increases after the age of 45. The knee is the commonly affected area. People who suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee (degenerative arthritis of the knee) have pain, swelling, feeling of warmth in the joint, stiffness and decreased mobility. There are a number of treatments to deal with osteoarthritis of the knee like weight loss, exercise, pain relieving drugs, physical therapy and surgery in extreme cases. There are home remedies that can help with knee pain associated with However, these remedies are useful during mild or moderate pain and you also need to consult a doctor regarding the treatment.
a. Lemon
Lemon is considered to be beneficial as a home remedy for knee pain due to Lemon contains citric acid that act as a solvent for uric acid crystals, which is also one of the causes of certain types of arthritis. You need to cut 1 or 2 lemons into pieces and tie these pieces into the cotton cloth and dip in warm sesame oil. Place this cloth on the affected area for 5 to 10 minutes. You need to do this twice daily until you get relief from the pain. You can also have lemon juice prepared in warm water on empty stomach early in the morning.
b. Mustard Oil
When we have knee pain, it is always advisable to massage with warm mustard oil as the remedy for arthritis.This massaging improves the blood circulation and relieves the pain. Take about 2 tablespoons of mustard oil and heat this oil. Now we need to chop one garlic clove and fry this clove in the oil till it turns brown. Cool this oil and strain the oil. When this oil is lukewarm, massage this oil on the knees in a circular motion. Now cover the knee with a plastic wrap and apply warm towel on the knee for few minutes. This treatment is effective if done twice daily for one to two weeks.
Whenever we talk about natural remedies for arthritis, it is always essential that we take care of our diet. We need to have a low fat, low cholesterol diet consisting of complex carbohydrates. If having salads, do not exaggerate on the dressing. Just make it simple like lemon juice and salt. Avoid spicy foods and fried foods and excessive consumption of tea, coffee, alcohol or chocolates.
You will love to know some knee strengthening exercises that you can do to ease up on your knee pain…
Apart from natural remedies for arthritis pain and diet, exercise also plays a crucial part in improving the flexibility, strengthening the muscles and reducing the joint pain. For some it may sound next to impossible. But you don’t need run like an athlete or swim like a pro. A mild to moderate exercise will help you to maintain a normal weight and ease upon your pain. Aerobic exercise like walking, bicycling, swimming or just raising your arms above your hand or rolling your shoulder forward and backward are effective. Body awareness exercises like yoga, tai chi can help in relaxing your muscles and improving the balance. But make sure you consult the doctor regarding the forms of exercise that you can do. Let the instructor know about your condition and avoid positions that can lead to pain.