Arthritis Pain Relief the Natural Way
There are hundreds of thousands of people who suffer from a condition commonly called arthritis. Arthritis in the literal sense means inflammation of the joints. In fact it is not a single disease; rather it refers to a whole cluster of over a 100 rheumatic diseases and conditions. In earlier days certain conditions that were generalized into the category of rheumatic diseases were rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, lupus, Fibromyalgia, and tendonitis.
Typically a part of your body can become inflamed due to arthritis at any age and some of these conditions can really be crippling by putting you in life threatening predicaments. If left undiagnosed or unattended it can affect other parts of your body like the bones, muscles and sometimes even some of your internal organs. Arthritis is a condition that can even affect children. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis which is also called degenerative joint disease is the consequence of wear and tear, meaning that the pressure exerted brings on physical injury to the joints and the tissues around that joint. As a result of this you suffer pain, inflammation and reduced movements. In the early stages of this condition this ailment is not inflammatory and you hardly realize you have it as its progress is very slow and causes pain only in some joints like the knees, hips, spine and hands. But as you grow older the risk increases.
On the other hand rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that starts off when your own immunity system fights the synovial fluid in the joints. This condition is chronic and far more debilitating causing pain in the joints, stiffness and swelling, in more severe cases loss of joint functioning. Though the causes for the ailment are not very clear, it can to a great extent be attributed to genetic factors.
Gout is another terribly painful form of arthritis that brings on severe and sudden attacks of pain, redness, tenderness, swelling, etc to the joints particularly to the big toe. It is believed that the inflammation related to gout is caused by the crystals of uric acid that get accumulated in the joints from the blood.
There is no cure for this condition but there are many different ways you can get relief from the symptoms of various types of arthritis. You can relieve pain and attempt to arrest deterioration with allopathic, Ayurvedic and homeopathic medications.
Here are some suggestions that might help you to stay active and independent:
* Lose weight. Even if you lose just a few pounds, it’ll improve the way your joints feel. In fact, if you are only 10 pounds overweight, it increases the force on the knee by 30-60 pounds…with every step!
* Exercise regularly. When joints hurt, people have a tendency to avoid moving around, so their muscles get weak. This, in turn, creates stiff muscles (called contractures), making it even more difficult to move. It becomes a cycle that’s hard to overcome. Walking, swimming, stretching, dancing and yoga are all great ways keep moving while not further straining your joints. Be sure to allow for small rest periods in between your exercises.
* Try physical therapy. A professional therapist can help you strengthen the muscles around the joints for increased mobility and comfort. They’ll teach you simple, at-home exercises to help you with your daily activities.
* Apply heat. Using heat from warm baths, a heating pad or hot towels may alleviate the pain and stiffness.
* Eat foods high in antioxidants. Fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts can improve the functioning of your liver and kidneys by helping to eliminate toxins and waste products. Since free radicals, the waste product created when food is converted into energy, can be detrimental to your joint health; be sure to include a full spectrum of antioxidants including a variety of berries, pomegranate, grapes, walnuts, peppers, sunflower seeds, and oranges.
* Try supplements. Fortunately there are effective alternative treatments for arthritis pain that have minimal side effects. For example, consider herbs from India's ancient Ayurvedic tradition such as Curcumin, Boswellia and Holy Basil. All of these have powerful anti-inflammatory properties as well as other health supporting benefits which make them particularly appealing to arthritis sufferers.
~ Curcumin is derived from the herb turmeric which is common in traditional Indian cooking. Research has validated its effectiveness as an anti-inflammatory that is helpful for arthritis pain. It may also help reduce LDL cholesterol and suppress the growth of tumors. Curcumin may promote blood thinning so consult a knowledgeable professional if you take medication for this purpose.
~ Boswellia contains an active anti-inflammatory compound called boswellic acid. It has few if any side effects and has been used as a treatment for many different inflammatory conditions including asthma, digestive ailments such as colitis or Crohn's disease and of course arthritis. Boswellia is available as a capsule or a powder.
~ Holy Basil also known as tulsi is one of the most sacred herbs in Ayurveda. It is considered an adaptogen which has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as confirmed by traditional use and scientific research. The tulsi plant is found in many Indian homes where it is used as a folk remedy for ailments such as headaches, colds, flu or digestive upsets. Its anti-inflammatory properties make it an effective treatment for arthritis pain as well. In addition, there is evidence it is beneficial for conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and ulcers.
* Vitamin D plays an important role in protecting the body from disease, including maintaining bone and joint health. People who don't get enough of it are at a much higher risk of developing diseases like rheumatoid arthritis than those who maintain optimal levels.
The best way to get vitamin D is through sunlight exposure, but foods like oily fish and raw milk are also rich in the vitamin. Vitamin D3 supplements in the form of cholecalciferol are also a good option as well.
* Apple cider vinegar is rich in minerals like magnesium, phosphorus, calcium and potassium. Mineral deficiency can worsen joint pain, so a diet rich in essential minerals is an important step to relieving the pain of arthritis. The potassium in cider vinegar may be especially beneficial because it works to prevent calcium build-up in the joints, which is linked to joint stiffness.
* Raw, unprocessed apple cider vinegar is also rich in beneficial enzymes and acids that improve digestive health. Taking a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar before a meal will encourage proper digestion of food and absorption of nutrients. This is vitally important for those with arthritis, a condition which is connected to poor digestion that can lead to deficiencies in minerals and other nutrients. These nutrients are crucial for joint health, so it is imperative that the body be capable of absorbing and using them. With apple cider vinegar, this is made possible even if you have arthritis.
Experts suggest that joint pain and arthritis may be linked to toxins accumulating in the joints, since metabolic waste is often stored in connective tissues. At the same time, people with joint pain tend to shun activities that might trigger more pain, and the lack of movement may cause toxins to build-up even more. The pectin in apple cider vinegar helps absorb toxins and move them out of the system, while the acids in cider vinegar work to purify and detoxify the entire body.
How to Use Apple Cider to Relieve Joint Pain
All of the benefits of apple cider vinegar can only be achieved with vinegar that is organic, raw, unfiltered and unprocessed. Your apple cider vinegar should be ruddy-colored with a noticeable amount of residue floating around in the bottle. This is the "mother," the natural accumulation of beneficial enzymes and nutrients. Apple cider vinegar in any other form, including pills, is inferior and much less effective.
The simplest way to incorporate apple cider vinegar into your diet is to mix 1-3 teaspoons in eight ounces of water three times per day, preferably just before meals. You can sweeten the drink with a small amount of honey or stevia if you like.
For those who suffer from joint pain, apple cider vinegar can also be used topically to relieve pain. You can make a relaxing foot or hand soak using one cup of apple cider vinegar with six cups of warm water. Or you can mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with one tablespoon of coconut or olive oil for a soothing ointment to rub directly on your joints.
Glucosamine and chondroitin are two important supplements for joint health.
Glucosamine occurs naturally in your body: it works to lubricate your joints by helping cartilage tissue absorb water. This process helps cartilage perform its important job of cushioning and mobility. However, we tend to produce less glucosamine as we age. Therefore, supplementing with daily glucosamine has been shown to be effective in maintaining healthy joint cartilage.*
Chondroitin also occurs naturally in healthy joint tissue and is a major component of joint cartilage. Together with glucosamine, chondroitin stimulates your body to produce glucosaminoglycans, which act as powerful water magnets. These "magnets" increase the water content of your joint cartilage keeping it healthy and lubricated while increasing its shock-absorbing potential. These effects aren't just limited to cartilage - all the body's Taking glucosamine and chondroitin together - in the liquid formula ensures that you get a full day's supply of glucosamine (1,500 mg) and chondroitin to maintain healthy and happy joints.