9 Ways to Treat Arthritis Pain Naturally

 

Treat Arthritis Pain Naturally

Doctors can prescribe effective medication to relieve arthritis pain and inflammation, whether your arthritic condition is a degenerative or an autoimmune condition caused by osteoarthritis (OA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, they also often recommend that patients take natural approaches.

Remember to have a chat with your doctor before taking any natural treatment for arthritis.

1.     Work on Your Weight

According to American College of Rheumatology and Arthritis Foundation (ACR/AF), you need to lose weight if you’re overweight or obese and have Osteoarthritis.

·       Losing weight reduces pressure on your joints, which helps to:

·       reduce join pain

·       improve your mobility

·       prevent future joint damage

 

2.     Consider Hot and Cold Therapy

Another way to relieve arthritis pain and inflammation is to take the heat and cold treatments such as:

Taking long, warm showers in the mornings to ease stiffness! Overnight, you can use an electric blanket or moist heating pad as it lessens discomfort.

Wrapping a gel ice pack in a towel and applying it to the painful joints for speedy relief. Even a bag of frozen vegetables works the same. Remember not to apply ice directly to your skin.

Get capsaicin (made from chilli peppers), a component of certain topical ointments and creams, available over the counter. Apply capsaicin to warm and soothe joint pain.

3.     Get Appropriate Exercise

Be part of an exercise program for motivation and the following:

·       keeping your joints flexible

·       building up stronger muscles around your joints for more support

·       balancing your weight

·       Go for moderate exercises such as:

·       Taking walks

·       cycling

·       moderate water activities

·       tai chi

 

4.     Apply Meditation and Relaxation Techniques to Cope With Pain

Mindfulness meditation, relaxation techniques and low-impact exercise may help decrease arthritic pain. These practices lower stress, anxiety and depression and helps you to cope with arthritis, inflammation and pain.

5.     Stick to a Healthy Diet

Choose plant-based dietary choices rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole foods as they can help improve your immunity and overall health. They enrich an arthritic body with antioxidants, which decreases inflammation by removing free radicals from the body, unlike an animal-based diet, processed foods, sugar and salt, which provoke high cholesterol, obesity, HBP, cardio issues and other complications.

6.     Try Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an age-old chinese medical treatment. It involves introducing thin needles into your body at specific points. The treatment may reduce arthritis pain. Though there’s no sufficient evidence confirming its benefits, the side effects are considered low. Only get a licensed and certified acupuncturist for your treatment.

7.     Add Turmeric to Your Diet

The curcumin in turmeric nourishes your body with enough antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, which according to research may help reduce pain and inflammation from arthritis.

 Results from an animal study in the U.S in which scientist fed rats with turmeric in the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health showed that turmeric reduced inflammation in their joints. However, more research is still underway. Add this mild but tasty spice to your meals.

8. Get a Massage

Apart from boosting your general wellness, massage therapy may also help to relieve your inflammation, joint issues and reduce stress.

Before you go for a massage, involve your doctor to recommend a professional and experienced massage therapist in the area of arthritis. Alternatively, you can consider getting self-massage lessons from a physical therapist.

9. Try Taking Herbal Supplements

Potent properties in certain herbal supplements may reduce joint pain, though there’s no scientific research confirming it as a treatment for arthritis.

Here are some of the herbs:

·       bromelain

·       devil’s claw

·       boswellia

·       ginkgo

·       thunder god vine

·       stinging nettle

Remember to ask your healthcare provider before trying any herbal supplement because supplements have side effects and can interact with other medications.

There’s nothing more important about an illness you already have than treating it early on before it aggravates. Share this post with people you care about as it may be life-saving to them. Please also leave a comment or question below.