According to one study, over 180 million people in India have arthritis. It means that arthritis is more prevalent than other well-known diseases such as AIDS, diabetes, and cancer. Nearly 14% of the Indian population visits a doctor every year for this joint disease.Mayo Clinic defines arthritis as “swelling and tenderness of one or more of your joints. The main symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.”
In arthritis, you experience pain and inflammation in the joints where two bones meet. The joint connects the body parts so that you can move.It has a flexible connective tissue termed cartilage which protects the joints by absorbing the shock and pressure when they undergo huge stress.
When this cartilage deteriorates, it can increase the risk of getting arthritis.
The common symptoms of arthritis are redness, pain, decrease range of motion and swollen joints.
It is caused by obesity, intense joint movements and sports injuries. Although there is no treatment for arthritis yet, the symptoms can be managed with the treatments such as surgery, topical ointments and physical therapy.
Simply put, the treatment intends to ease the pain and prevent additional damage to the joints.
While medication is the foundation of managing arthritis, home remedies and lifestyle changes play an important role in your arthritis treatment too. Arthritis should be treated from an entire body perspective, not simply a medical one, which means using all aspects of wellness, including home remedies.
Here we have listed out such home remedies that can help you ease pain and prevent additional damage to the joints.
Chilli Peppers:
Chilli peppers are an effective home remedy for arthritis. This is because it is packed with capsaicin, an element that makes chilli peppers spicy heat.
And this is the same component that works by minimizing a neurotransmitter known as Substance P, which sends pain signals from nerve endings to the brain and causes joint inflammation as well.
If you keep Substance P lower, you will fell less inflammation and pain. No wonder why capsaicin is used in many OTC pain-relieving creams.
You must be wondering how to use capsaicin to manage your arthritis pain.
Here’s what you can do…
- Heat ½ cup of olive oil in a saucepan
- Add two tbsps. of cayenne powder.
- Let the powder dissolve. Whisk it continuously.
- Let it cool down
- Transfer it to a glass jar.
- Rub this onto affected joints.
Eucalyptus Oil:
Eucalyptus oil is packed with menthol that is a common ingredient in several pain-relieving ointments. It raises the skin temperature and boosts blood flow. In fact, eucalyptus ointment is also commercially available.
Here is a simple recipe for making eucalyptus balm for arthritis at home.
- Add ten drops of eucalyptus oil to a tbsp. of petroleum jelly
- Mix it well.
- Massage it onto your aching joints.
- You can also add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to water to be used for bathing.
Ginger:
Ginger is an effective remedy for arthritis. It reduces the releasing of chemicals like leukotrienes that increase joint inflammation. Moreover, it is a great source of salicylates, which converts into salicylic acid, the same pain-relieving substance used in aspirin, by the body.
Salicylic acid balances the production of prostaglandins, which can raise inflammation and send pain signals to the brain.
Here is how you can use ginger to ease your arthritis pain.
- Take three cups of water and boil it in a saucepan.
- Add a tbsp. of freshly grated ginger root to the water.
- Boil for ten minutes and strain.
- Add honey or stevia for taste.
Turmeric:
Turmeric has been used for several health conditions for ages.
What makes turmeric an effective home remedy for arthritis and joint pain?
Thanks to its effective compound known as curcumin that reduces the enzymes and proteins raising inflammation. Many studies have proved that ginger can reduce pain and swelling.
According to one study, taking 1,000 mg of curcumin for up to 12 weeks can relieve pain and inflammation from arthritis.
As turmeric is a common cooking spice, it can be used in a variety of ways to flavor foods and beverages. Using turmeric in recipes can empower the foods and drinks with “inflammation-fighting power.”
However, taking turmeric alone might not be that effective. It is recommended to take it along with black pepper. According to one study, the pain-relieving power of turmeric increases by 2000% when combined with black pepper.
Here is a super easy recipe you can try now…
- Boil 2 cups of water with 1 tbsp. of turmeric powder and ½ tbsp. of black pepper.
- Simmer it for 15 minutes
- Add honey or lemon to taste.
- Drink this tea whenever you experience joint pain or inflammation.
Fish Oil:
Fish oil is packed with Omega 3 essential fatty acids, which have strong anti-inflammatory properties. It also contains vitamin D for repairing the cartilage within the joints. Some of the recommended fish types are salmon, herring, sardines, mackerel and trout. Or you can take fish oil supplements available at drug stores or online.
Relying Only on Home Remedies is not Enough for Arthritis
So you must have understood how certain home remedies can ease pain and inflammation associated with arthritis. But keep in mind that these remedies only ease the pain. They can’t be used as an alternative to medicine or doctor’s advice. Like we have said before, it takes an entire body perspective and all aspects of wellness to manage arthritis.
Apart from medication and home remedies, you have to consider lifestyle nd diet plan. Here’s how…
Exercise:
Physical activity is the most common method of arthritis pain. One of the key reasons for doing a workout is to reduce your weight. Losing extra kilos can remove the unnecessary strain off the joints. Exercise also improves your body’s natural supply of anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving substances. It releases endorphins to alleviate your mood and minimize the emotional effects of suffering from arthritis.
Diet:
Diet plays important role in managing your condition. Make sure to include omega-3 fatty acids and dietary fibers in your diet.
Meditation:
Relaxation is an efficient practice for managing diseases like arthritis. This is because stress can prompt inflammatory reactions in the body. Meditation and deep breathing can promote relaxation.
Massage Therapy:
Massage therapy is a relaxing and safe therapeutic approach to arthritis pain management. It involves various techniques to relax your tensed tissues and muscles. Gentle massage therapy also improves circulation throughout your tissues, joints and muscles. With improved blood flow, your joints can get important nutrients and oxygen to promote repair. Massage therapy also releases feel good hormones to uplift mood and reduce anxiety.
Hot and Cold Therapy:
Hot and cold therapy is one of the effective self-management tools for arthritis pain. While hot therapy with a hot water bottle or heating pad can soothe sore muscles and joints, cold therapy with a gel ice pad can decrease swelling and inflammation. However, avoid using extreme heat or cold.
Medication:
Apart from using the doctor’s prescribed medication, you can use OTC herbal supplements to ease your joint pain. At Alliance Biotech, we offer Jod Rakshak, effective medicine for joint pains. It is packed with the goodness of Shudh Guggul, Ashwagandha and Shilajit.
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