9 Natural Arthritis Remedies
By Adonia Dennis, Natural Blaze
Arthritis is a disease that can cause severely painful symptoms in joints throughout the entire body. According to the Arthritis Foundation, over 50 million American adults have been diagnosed with some form of arthritis, which accounts for more than 20% of all people of the age of 18 in the United States. In addition to these statistics, at least 300,000 children in the country have some form of arthritis or a rheumatic disease.
This particular disease is the primary cause of disability in the United States and many other countries in the world. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the most common types of arthritis diagnosed in the United States include osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, with gout, fibromyalgia, and lupus also being fairly common.
While the majority of arthritis types are not curable diseases, the symptoms they cause can be controlled, and the progression of the diseases can be slowed down with appropriate treatment options.
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Unfortunately, however, the medication utilized for the treatment of these symptoms can lead to unpleasant adverse reactions. According to Arthritis Research UK, the medication can cause problems with the digestive system, as well as increase the user’s risk of suffering a stroke or heart attack.
Natural Remedies For Arthritis
With the adverse effects of medication used to treat arthritis pain taken into account, people are turning toward natural remedies they can administer at home to relieve the pain and inflammation they experience, without becoming a victim to the adverse effects that NSAIDs, steroids and other conventional drugs may cause. Let’s take a look at nine of the most powerful and effective natural remedies that can be used to reduce the inflammation caused by arthritis, as well as alleviate the joint pain.
- Devil’s Claw
Devil’s Claw, also known as Harpagophytum, is a herb that is native to the African continent. The plant is covered in hooks and contains medicinal properties that can be utilized for a variety of health problems. Devil’s Claw is known for its ability to reduce inflammation in the body, which can also assist with reducing pain that is caused by the inflammation. WebMD reports that this plant can also be used to treat back pain, muscle pain and chest pain.
- Curcumin
If you ever search for information about arthritis, then you have surely read about curcumin. This is one of the most popular natural treatment options for arthritis. Curcumin is an active compound in turmeric, a spice that is used in curry and many other dishes. Arthritis Health reports that scientific evidence is available that proofs curcumin to be an effective natural remedy for reducing inflammation and alleviating pain caused by arthritis.
- Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is a very popular plant, most often used to assist in treating wounds. This plant can also be used for many other ailments. Aloe vera gel, extracted from the leave of the plant, can be applied to the area where joint pain is experienced to reduce the painful symptoms caused by arthritis.
- Ginger
Ginger is used in cooking – both sweet and salty dishes can be prepared with ginger. What many fail to realize is that this particular root plant has many medicinal properties that can assist in treating numerous conditions – not only vomiting and nausea. In addition to being able to treat nausea and vomiting, ginger can also be used to alleviate inflammation and pain in patients with arthritis.
- Flax Seeds
In diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation is one of the primary causes of joint pain. Thus, it is not only important to look at natural remedies for reducing pain, but also to use remedies that can assist with reducing inflammation. Flax seeds are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which may help to alleviate inflammation, which, in turn, can help to treat the pain caused by arthritis.
- Hot Therapy
Apart from eating natural foods that help to reduce inflammation and joint pain, many home remedies can also be utilized that does not involve the consumption of any plants, herbs or spices. Hot therapy is one particularly effective home remedy that involves placing a hot object, such as a warm water bottle, against the affected area.
- Cold Therapy
In addition to hot therapy, cold therapy is also very effective in reducing inflammation and pain in patients with arthritis. Many people use both hot and cold therapy in sessions, which has been proven to be effective not only for joint pain caused by arthritis, but also for painful symptoms caused by injury to joints.
- Weight Loss
As part of our list of home remedies for arthritis, we would also like our readers to note that weight plays a significant impact on the symptoms caused by arthritis. If a person with arthritis is overweight, then they are placing excess pressure on their joints, which may lead to the faster progression of the disease, as well as more severe symptoms. By losing weight, the patient is able to reduce the severity of the symptoms they experience.
- Physical Exercise
Physical exercise is needed for the maintenance of a healthy body. This is a well-known fact but, what many people do not know, is that physical exercise is also beneficial for people with arthritis. By participating in physical exercise regularly, joint flexibility can be maintained. Note that, when exercising to support joint health, lower impact exercises should be chosen.
Conclusion
Arthritis can be painful and even lead to disability. Fortunately, treatment is possible in various forms, but the conventional treatment options often lead to the development of side-effects. Instead of utilizing these drugs, people are starting to rely more on natural medication and home remedies to help them reduce the symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. In this post, we looked at some of the best natural remedies that you can use to manage your arthritis symptoms without developing any severe side-effects.
References:
http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arthritis-information/conditions/arthritis/treatments.aspx
https://www.arthritis-health.com/treatment/diet-and-nutrition/turmeric-and-curcumin-arthritis
Read more from Adonia
DISCLAIMER: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Author Bio:
Adonia Dennis (@adoniadennis), by profession a Health, Beauty and Skin Care adviser. She provides solution related to health and beauty problems. She is an independent researcher who researches for all skin related issues. She is a featured blogger at huffingtonpost.com and sheknows.com and share her views on health, fitness, and diet. Visit Adonia on Facebook, Google+, and LinkedIn.
Photo credit: planetc1 via Visual hunt / CC BY-SA
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