Natural Home Remedies to Get Relief from Arthritis Pain
Anyone suffering from arthritis knows that it is not just the joints that are affected. Arthritis is a common disease affecting millions of people, and hundreds of thousands of new cases are identified every year.
It can keep you away from performing your daily activities. Severe pain and inflammation may persist despite medical intervention. To get relief, more and more people with arthritis are seeking a natural approach by using herbal remedies.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or commonly known as Arthritis can also cause severe fatigue, various kinds of fevers, weight loss and anemia, along with causing additional problems throughout the major organs such as lungs, heart, and kidneys. Sufferers often experience dry mouth, dry eyes, shortness of breath, damaged nerves, malaise, and small skin lumps, just to name a few.
Certain herbs may have anti-inflammatory properties that can help to reduce pain. However, before you treat arthritis the ‘real and natural’ way, ensure consulting your doctor first in order to avoid any life-threatening side effects.
Today, on ‘World Arthritis Day’, here are some of the best natural home remedies that people suffering from severe pain can consider.
1. Weight Loss is the Key
Your weight can make a big impact on the amount of pain you experience from arthritis. Extra weight puts more pressure on your joints, especially on your knees, hips, and feet.
Reducing the stress on your joints by losing weight will improve your mobility, decrease pain, and also prevent future damage to your joints.
2. Exercise more often
Regardless to say, exercise has way more benefits than merely weight loss. Regular body movement helps to maintain flexibility. Weight-bearing exercises such as jogging, running and walking might damage and make conditions worse. Hence, it is better to consider low-impact exercises like water aerobics or swimming to flex your joints without giving more stress to your body.
3. Try acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medical treatment. Here thin needles are inserted into specific points on the body to reroute energies and restore proper blood circulation. Acupuncture is the most researched complementary therapy and even the World Health Organization recommends this treatment for more than 100 different conditions.
4. Add Omega-3 fatty acids in the diet
The best way to maintain good health is to include omega-3 fatty acids in the diet for optimum health. These fats also help in getting some relief from arthritis pain. Fish oil supplements, which are high in omega-3s, have been useful in reducing joint stiffness and pain.
Another fatty acid that can help is gamma-linolenic acid or GLA. It is found in the seeds of certain plants such as evening primrose, borage, hemp, and black currants. You can also buy these oils of the seeds as a supplement. However, be sure to check with your doctor before taking them.
5. Add turmeric to meals
Turmeric is a yellow spice that is commonly found in Indian foods. It contains a chemical called curcumin that might help reduce arthritis pain. The secret is its anti-inflammatory properties.
It reduces inflammation in joints, so add this tasty spice to your meals as much as possible.
6. Go for Massage Sessions
Regular massage sessions of arthritic joints can help reduce pain and stiffness and improve the range of motion. Learn the techniques from a physical therapist of self-massage or just schedule appointments with a massage therapist regularly.
Massage helps to lower the production of stress hormone cortisol and the neurotransmitter substance P in the body, which has an association with pain. It also improves the mood by boosting serotonin levels.
7. Take Help of Herbal Supplements
The market is filled with numerous herbal supplements that claim to help to reduce joint pain. Some of the herbal products that are touted as a solution for arthritis pain are Boswellia, bromelain, devil’s claw, ginkgo, stinging nettle, and thunder god vine.
But before you take any step, make sure to consult your doctor. It will help you avoid side effects and dangerous drug interactions. Also, be sure of the quality, purity, or safety.
8. Tai chi
Tai chi is a low-impact exercise. With slow and gentle movements, it helps to increase flexibility, muscle strength, and balance.
Tai chi has proved to cure arthritis symptoms. A 12-week course of tai chi is beneficial for reducing pain and stiffness. It also helps to increase physical function in people suffering from osteoarthritis.
9. Iyengar yoga
Iyengar yoga focuses on correct anatomical alignment. It makes use of props to support the body and relieve tension and inflammation.
A 6-week Iyengar yoga program shows great effectiveness on the health, mood, quality of life, and ability to cope with chronic pain.
10. Hot and cold therapy
Heat and cold treatments are two different types of remedies that can be used for effectively reducing arthritis pain. They can make a world of difference when it comes to arthritis pain.
While the Heat therapy boosts circulation as well as soothes stiff joints and aching muscles, the cold therapy restricts blood vessels, lowers circulation, reduces swelling, and numbs the pain.
Anyone suffering from such pain can try alternating heat and cold therapy. However, it is important to monitor the skin carefully to avoid any skin damage from these treatments.
Heat treatments include:
- Begin the day with a warm bath to relieve stiffness
- Apply warm paraffin wax to aching joints
- Place a heating pad on aching joints
Cold treatments include:
- Wrap a bag of ice in a towel and apply it to aching points
- Submerge the affected joint in ice water
- Use a cold pack
One must limit cold treatments to 20 minutes at a time.
11. Mindfulness Meditation to cope with Pain
Meditation and other relaxation techniques can help you reduce arthritis pain by reducing stress and enabling one to cope with it better.
Mindfulness is one of the most effective forms of meditation to treat arthritis. During mindfulness, people try to focus their attention on their feelings and body is experienced in the present moment.
Another technique is Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), a program that uses mindfulness to help people manage pain and stress, a lack of which can compromise on the immune system.
Anyone practicing MBSR can experience a reduction in RA symptoms, including pain, early morning stiffness, and the number of tender and swollen joints.
12. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
It is a pain relief method in which electrodes in the form of sticky pads are attached to the surface of the skin to deliver small electrical currents to the body. One can adjust the intensity of the stimulation with the help of a dial.
Electrical stimulation helps override pain signals and triggers the body to release natural pain relievers called endorphins.
13. Vitamin D
Vitamin D helps to build strong bones and maintain the function of the immune system.
Though it is not yet clear whether taking vitamin D supplements reduces disease activity in people with arthritis, it is still beneficial for the body.
14. Chondroitin and glucosamine
Chondroitin sulfate (CS) develops naturally in human cartilage and bone. It blocks enzymes that break down cartilage and helps enhance shock-absorbency in the joints.
Glucosamine hydrochloride (GH) is responsible for the growth, repair, and maintenance of cartilage.
A combination of CS and GH is effective in reducing pain, stiffness, and joint swelling after 6 months.
Bottom Line
Arthritis is a progressive condition that leads to unbearable joint pain and stiffness. Though many medications are available, using home remedies alongside these is more effective in relieving pain and increasing mobility.
It is important to consult a doctor to decide which home remedies may work best with their medical treatment plan.
If one is experiencing any of the following symptoms for 3 days or more, then consultation is a must.
- Pain, swelling, tenderness, or stiffness in one or more joints
- Redness and warmth of the skin around the joints
- Difficulty in moving the joint or Performing day-to-day activities
