Home remedies for arthritis can help give relief to the agonizing pain that accompanies the disease. Along with glucosamine, MSM, and SAMe, herbs for arthritis pain are a valuable addition to the diet.
Millions of people are searching for arthritis home remedies. The problem of serious side effects of medical arthritic treatments has made the search for natural home remedies for arthritis more popular than ever. One home remedy for arthritis may work for one person but not for another. Bodies process substances in different ways. Hopefully you will find a home remedy for arthritis among the many listed below.
Herbal Remedies for Arthritis
Borage Oil contains the fatty acid, gammalinolenic acid (GLA), which is an anti-inflammatory agent. The human body makes GLA but a person, as they age, may become deficient. Gel capsuls are available. It can take up to eight weeks to notice improvement after adding it to the diet.
A tea made with Angelica leaves may relieve arthrits. It should not be taken by pregnant women or people with diabetes.
Drink Black Cohosh tea. Black Cohosh is a plant from the buttercup family and is native in the central and eastern areas of the United States. Make the tea by boiling a small amount of root in a cup of water for two minutes. Let it stand and cool. Strain it and drink a small amount three times a day. After two or three weeks stop the treatment for a week and then do it again for two weeks. Do not use Black Cohosh if you are pregnant, are allergic to aspirin, are taking medication for blood clots, are taking oral contraceptives, or homone replacement therapy. Read labels carefully.
A tea made with Cat's Claw, an herb from the rain forests of Brazil and Peru is an anti-inflammatory and has proven effective in treating arthritis. It reduces swelling and
relieves pain. It is available in capsules, extract, and powder form. Read about the other health
benefits of cat's claw.Devil's Claw is one of the widely used home remedies for arthritis in Europe for back, knee, and hip pain and is becoming well known in the United States. It is a plant that is native to Southern Africa where it has been used for thousands of years. It should be avoided by people with ulcers and because it lowers blood sugar, it should also be avoided by people who are hypoglycemic.
Boswellia has proven to be an effective and safe arthritic back pain reducer. It comes from a tree native to India. Take 150 mg three times a day. It should not be taken for more than eight weeks.
Feverfew, an herb used for the prevention of migrain headaches, has anti-inflammatory properties and can be used for rheumatoid arthritis. It takes time to work. Store capsules in the refrigerator.
Oil of Oregano is anti-inflammatory and analgesic (relieves pain). It is one of the most popular home remedies for arthritis. Apply it to the painful area straight from the bottle. Oregano used to flavor foods is a very powerful antioxidant. Since antioxidants help prevent damage to cells caused by free radicals, it should be added to foods as often as possible. It is believed that free radicals are involved in causing inflammation and degenerative arthritis.
Taking Bromelain can help prevent inflammation. It is an anti-inflammatory enzyme found in pineapple that blocks the production of prostanoids which cause pain and swelling.
Tumeric or Curcumin is used as a spice in Indian foods. It is an anti-inflammatory and has been shown to be as effective as cortisone in some kinds of inflammation. Read more about
tumeric benefits.Ginger is an anti-inflammatory and has long been used for relief of joint pain. It is easy to incorporate ginger into the diet by using it in delicious recipes. Read about the
health benefits of ginger
and try some easy recipes.
Common Foods - Natural Home Remedies for Arthritis
Drink black cherry juice for arthritis pain. Dilute the juice with water (half juice, half water). Drink a small glass full twice a day.
Eat a small handful of walnuts each day for their anti-inflammatory benefits. They are rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids which are good home remedies for arthritis.
Massage joints with virgin coconut oil for pain relief. In fact, eat all the coconut you can including the oil. Yes it is a saturated fat. No it is not bad for your heart. The saturated fatty acids are medium chain tryglycerides and this makes it different from animal saturated fat.
Eat celery either raw or cooked. Celery is is rich in potassium and anti-inflammatory compounds. You can even make a celery tea with celery seeds. Add celery to salads, soups, and casseroles.
Ginger has long been known as an effective pain reliever. Make a ginger tea with a piece of peeled ginger root in boiling water.
Rosemary leaves contain earnosol, oleanolic acid, rosmarinic acid, and ursolic acid. These acids are anti-inflammatory and have been shown to be effective in treating arthritis. Use Rosemary as an herb in cooking. Also, drink a tea made with Rosemary leaves. Steep Rosemary leaves in hot water for half an hour. Strain and enjoy twice a day.
Stinging Nettle reduces inflammation, aches and pains of osteoarthritis. Nettles are a popular vegetable dish. They are cooked much the same as fresh spinach and the taste is similar. If you pick your own nettles you will have to wear gloves to keep from being stung by the tiny hairs on the leaves. Cooking does away with this. Nettles are available in capsules. People who are taking blood thinners, heart medications, or have diabetes or low blood pressure should not eat or take Stinging Nettle supplements.
Research has recently shown that vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant, may protect the joints from damage caused by free radicals. Research has also shown that vitamin C can prevent bone loss and cartilage degeneration associated with aging. Vitamin C is necessary for the cartilage to repair itself.
You need at least 120 mgs of vitamin C a day. You can either take supplements or eat a couple of oranges a day to get that amount. Other fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C are cantaloupe, broccoli, strawberries, cranberries, and bell peppers.
Other Home Remedies for Arthritis
Pycnogenol - Pine Bark Extract. Pycnogenol is made from the bark of a pine tree which grows along the southwest coast of France. In a recent study in Italy, participants took 50 mg of Pycnogenol twice a day. Inflammation was significantly reduced in the control group.
Take a nice hot bath with two cups of Epsom Salt. Epsom salts are magnesium and are anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic. When used in the bath it is absorbed by the skin. Soak in the tub for at least half an hour and keep the water hot. Pregnant women should not take really hot baths.
Vitamin B-6 is thought to relieve compression of the nerves. It is a water-soluble vitamin but even so it can be toxic if taken in very high doses over a long period of time. Take 200 mg or less a day.