Natural Arthritis Treatments
There are various treatments for arthritis and it is rare for any single approach to provide complete pain relief. It is far better to employ a combined strategy, using exercise, diet, drugs, massage and natural remedies. The best arthritis treatment has to be simple, painless, inexpensive and not too time-consuming.
There are many different types of arthritis, the most common being osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis can be caused by damage to the cartilage which cushions the bones and lets the joints move smoothly. The cartilage becomes worn and uneven which causes your bones to get thicker and broader.
7 Psoriatic Arthritis Treatments That Eliminate Pain
The goal of every psoriatic arthritis treatment is to control the inflammation of the joins and to control the skin lesions that are found in various parts of the body. Most natural psoriatic arthritis will attack the skin and the joint issues separately to be as effective as possible. There are not very many products on the market that will treat both aspects of the disease, so it makes good sense to confront the issues separately.
Here is what one psoriatic arthritis patient had to say about this disease that is really similar to the way that many patients of the disease would describe their pain:“I’m in my 50’s, but I feel like I am trapped in a 100 year old body with a 20 year old mind”.
Unfortunately, even patients that are on medication will continue to be in pain, discomfort, and the disease may continue to advance, causing the loss of mobility even in young patients. Those who take every effort to really care for themselves and to think outside of the box, instead of pumping their bodies full of medications, will usually find that they can find much more relief so they can continue to enjoy life despite their psoriatic arthritis diagnosis.
The top seven psoriatic arthritis treatments offer hope that one can live with psoriatic arthritis without being in pain. Of course, patients should talk to their health care provider before implementing these psoriatic arthritis treatment options.
The top seven include:
- Nutritional supplements
- Herbal treatments
- Diet
- Exercise
- Acupuncture
- Topical applications: creams and lotions
- Heat/cold compression
1. Nutritional Supplements
Nutritional supplements really can change the lives of those who are currently suffering from psoriatic arthritis. There are many great products to choose from. When looking for nutritional supplements, patients should look for ingredients such as boron, magnesium, chondroitin, glucosamine, MSM, and bromelain. It is also a good idea to include Omega 3’s and selenium. The use of aloe Vera can help with the treatment of the psoriasis.
2. Herbal Treatments
There are many herbs that have been found to be beneficial in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis. These include Black Cohosh, Bogbean, Celery Seeds, Chapparal, Feverfew, Nettle, Saffron, and Yucca. These herbs are powerful relaxants, good treatments of rheumatism, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
All of these herbs include anti-inflammatory properties, anti-rheumatic, anti-diuretic or anti-spasmodic and very useful in cases of acne. Some of these herbs are particularly useful for skin conditions of warts and blotches, treatment for pain, and they have the ability to remove or reduce uric and lactic acid build up. These herbs are not hard to find as they can be found at herbal and natural stores as well as your local health food store.
3. Diet
We are what we eat, so be very careful about what you choose to consume. You need to consider the elimination diet, although it is something that will require work. The elimination diet will consist of recording the foods you eat and taking note of how you feel afterwards. Certain foods can make you feel more comfortable and other food groups will intensify the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis. Fruits and vegetables should be a main part of the diet of one who has psoriatic arthritis, as should fresh fish should be.
4. Exercise
Exercise is an important element of psoriatic arthritis treatment because it increases the blood flow throughout the body. This can help to get blood flow on the areas that are the most painful, which can cleanse toxins and provide relief. Additionally, exercising with strengthen your muscles so that your joints are free of the burden of carrying all of your weight. You don’t have to join a gym or start running marathons, simply take a walk every day or even do yard work as this will get the blood flowing.
5. Acupuncture
Many people have found that acupuncture is a great option for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis. The human body communicates to itself constantly and the brain can receive messages from parts of the body called endorphins. Acupuncture has a way of telling the muscle to send a message to the brain to block the “pain” message which in turn helps reduce pain in your joints. Even when other treatments are not working, acupuncture can provide much relief.
6. Topical Creams and Lotions
Many times treatment focuses solely on the arthritic side of the disease when the psoriasis also needs to be treated. Skin care is very important which means you need to keep your skin moist. Adding a humidifier in the home during the dryer months is beneficial as are topical creams and lotions that keep your skin moist. Some of the more beneficial topical creams and lotions include cocoa butter, lanolin cream, mineral oil, petroleum jelly, aloe Vera or baby oil. Those with psoriatic arthritis should be careful to use the most natural soaps and body lotions possible to avoid the aggravation of the disease.
7. Heat/Cold
Hot/cold therapy can help many people who suffer from psoriatic arthritis. The reason is that heat increases the blood flow to the joints and ice can help to numb the areas that are causing the patient pain. Many physical therapists rely exclusively on heat packs and ice massage before activities and ice afterwards.
Every patient is different and will respond to different treatments. These seven psoriatic arthritis treatments are a great place to start in the treatment of both aspects of the disease. All those that suffer should try these simple options, which will give them hope that you can manage the symptoms and perhaps begin to heal your body from the inside, out.
5 Remedies for Arthritis Treatment
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is most debilitating form of arthritis. The infection attacks the synovial lining of the joints, usually starting in the tender joints of the hands and feet. If the disease is allowed to advance too far, the cartilage between the joints deteriorates completely. Once this happens, the joints may fuse together causing complete immobility and deformation.
Rheumatoid arthritis can also destroy the pericardial lining of the heart and the inner tissues of the lung. Since the prescription drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis can cause severe side effects, many people prefer to use natural remedies to treat rheumatoid arthritis and avoid the prescription drugs if at all possible.
If caught early enough, rheumatoid arthritis can sometimes be cured with natural remedies. Even in more advanced stages, natural remedies can vary significantly to slow the progression of the disease.
Below, you will find 5 of the top natural remedies for rheumatoid arthritis.
1. Stop Smoking
According to the United States Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smoking increases the onset and advancement of rheumatoid arthritis 2.4 times and even more in individuals with a family history of the disease. In order to slow the progression of rheumatoid arthritis, you should stop smoking immediately. This will also make other natural remedies more effective.
2. Avoid Second Hand Smoke
Second hand smoke can be just as bad as smoking yourself if you are exposed to it often enough. For example, if your spouse, room-mate(s), and/or co-worker(s) smoke when you are in the room, the amount of smoke that you breathe in may be almost as much as if you were smoking yourself.
3. Make Sure You Get Omega-3 Every Day
While there are many dietary factors that can help slow the progression of rheumatoid arthritis, making sure you get a healthy dose of omega-3 is one of the most important. However, you first need to understand that there are three forms of omega-3 found in food: DHA, EPA, and ALA. DHA and EPA can be directly utilized by the human body.
However, ALA must first be converted to DHA and EPA before the human body can utilize it and the conversion efficiency is less than 15% in most people. Therefore, it is best to eat foods that contain DHA and EPA. Several research studies have shown that the DHA and EPA help to regulate the immune system. Regulating the immune system can have a direct and significant effect on all autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis.
Since the vast majority of Americans and Europeans do not get anywhere near enough omega-3 in their diet, the chances are very high that you are not currently getting enough. By far, the best source for the DHA and EPA forms of omega-3 are cold water fish like salmon, trout, sardines, and herring.
The next best sources are shrimp, shellfish, crab, and halibut. Other fish like tuna and cod have a fair amount. Grass fed beef, grass fed chicken, and eggs from grass fed chickens also contain a fair amount but these items can be difficult to find and they are usually quite expensive. Good sources of ALA include walnuts and flaxseed.
If you are vegetarian and don’t eat fish, you can buy blue-green algae powder like spirulina from the health food store or from the bulk isle in some grocery stores and add this to shakes. Blue-green algae are the only vegetarian source of DHA and EPA.
While it is best to obtain omega-3 from the foods you eat, you can also supplement with fish oil or krill oil capsules on days you do not consume omega-3 in your diet. Krill oil is significantly more expensive but it contains a slightly better form of DHA and EPA than fish oil. Plus, krill, tiny shrimp-like creatures, are less contaminated with heavy metals.
4. Make Sure You Get More Natural Vitamin D
In a study conducted by the Boston University School of Public Health, vitamin D deficiency was shown to be strongly correlated with rheumatoid arthritis. This was first noticed because it was found that women in the northeast United States developed rheumatoid arthritis more often than women in other parts of the country. It was thus postulated that this might be due to the fact that north-eastern women were getting less sunlight.
This correlation has also been noted at other northern latitudes. Most people don’t realize it but there are actually many different forms of vitamin D.
Some forms are much more useful to the human body than other forms. The form created by exposing human skin to natural sunlight is the form that is most easily utilized by the human body and the best form for those suffering with rheumatoid arthritis. For most people, it only takes about 10 minutes a day on bare skin with no sun screen to get enough vitamin D. Fair skinned people need even less exposure.
The best dietary sources of vitamin D are cod liver oil, seafood, and mushrooms. Please note that most multi-vitamins use a synthetic form of vitamin D2 that the body has difficulty utilizing. This is also true for foods that are “fortified” with vitamin D (artificially added), like milk and cereal. Therefore, it is better to obtain vitamin D from exposure to sun and from foods that contain vitamin D naturally. If you absolutely have to supplement with a tablet, try to find an organic source with natural vitamin D3.
5. Remove the Silver Fillings In Your Teeth
Silver fillings are an amalgam containing heavy metals, especially mercury that continually contaminate your system and interfere with the normal functioning of your immune system. This in turn can exacerbate your rheumatoid arthritis and prevent other natural remedies from working.
Even though it may cost you hundreds of dollars, it is very important that you have your silver fillings replaced with a non-toxic amalgam as soon as possible. All 5 of these natural remedies for rheumatoid arthritis are very important. You should try to do all of them that apply to your particular situation. Have you tried any natural remedies to relieve your joint pain?
Arthritis Treatment Care
Alternative treatments are available, which can be much more cost-effective and useful in making the patient more comfortable, thereby boosting recovery period. You may find that depending on other methods will be much more worth your while in the long run. Here are some more tips and details about using alternative treatment.
About the Effects
Some alternative therapies for arthritis include acupuncture and zinc sulphate. There are also other tools and methods used such as glucosamine, copper bracelets, yoga and magnets. Arthritis sufferers rely on alternative therapies to seek pain relief. According to the Arthritis Foundation, about two-thirds of people suffering from the illness have tried alternative therapies.
Some of the preferred alternative treatments to arthritis include prayer, meditation, magnets and glucosamine. Physicians also recommend several arthritis alternative treatments such as biofeedback, journal writing, tai chi, acupuncture, relaxation and yoga. Some of the alternative treatments are backed by true scientific and medical facts.
Healing the Inner Self
A lot of experts believe that individuals should achieve a balanced state or inner equilibrium to garner the most benefits out of alternative treatment. The mind is the first aspect that should be given focus. Living with arthritis can debilitate most individuals, leading to emotional and mental stress. It is important for the mind to stay calm and collected. Some of the ways to help soothe the mind include relaxation exercises, meditation and visual imagery.
People have to balance and maintain a healthy body as well to cope with the different challenges posed by arthritis. There are plenty of foods and drinks that will help refresh and nourish the body. You have to maintain a low-fat and nutritious diet that you can stick to for the long term. Exercising is another form of alternative treatment, which effectively releases stress and other toxins in the body.
Affirmations
Affirmations are described as statements that evoke positive thoughts and feelings. Arthritis will feel more motivated to reach their treatment goals if they believe that it is possible to achieve and discovers positive actions toward the goals. Affirmations are ideally stated in the present tense.
Foods to Avoid
Some kinds of food are not recommended to arthritis patients, since these can aggravate the illness. You may feel better by giving up animal protein or foods that belong in the nightshade family. Nightshade family foods include white potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. Tobacco and belladonna may also be included in the family. After eating a tomato, a reaction can occur after about 48 hours, so you need to watch out for any effects after consumption of different foods. You may also consider eliminating gluten from your diet. Gluten can be found in barley, oats, rye and wheat.
More Alternative Treatments
You can take glucosamine, which is a sugar compound, together with chondroitin, a cartilage-building compound. In some studies, individuals presented a marked improvement by using these compounds at the same time. According to a number of scientists these compounds may not be easily absorbed by some people. You can expect some effects within 3 months.
Vinegar and honey combinations are also used to help relieve osteoarthritis. Physicians believed that low potassium could trigger osteoarthritis, which is why the mix of honey and apple cider vinegar provides potassium in an absorbent form that fixes the chemical imbalance in the body that aggravates or leads to arthritis.
Natural Arthritis Treatment
Arthritis is one of the health disorders that attack the joints. The disease is caused by many factors that trigger inflammation in the joints such as bacteria, virus, hormonal and immune system. Until recently there is no medication that can heal arthritis totally.
To overcome this problem you can use alternative treatment methods that are natural. Natural arthritis treatment that can be done is to adjust your diet, therapies and using herbs.
Adjusting The Diet
Adjust your diet is one of the way that can reduce pain in joints. You should reduce fatty foods and consume more foods from vegetables, fruits and foods that contain a lot of protein. There are many fruits and vegetables that you can use to reduce inflammation in joints such as cherry, papaya, paprika and more. Cherries contain a lot of anti oxidants called anthocyanins that are beneficial to overcome the inflammation.
Papaya contains a lot of enzyme that beneficial to reduce inflammation.
This enzyme called papain and chymopapain. This fruit is also rich in vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, C and E, beneficial to increase metabolism and increase endurance.
Schedule time in your day to rest and relax. Having a little downtime can reduce the pain in your joints and help you feel more energized. You do want to be careful not to get too much rest, however; it is important to stay active to help with the symptoms associated with your arthritis.
TIP! Drinking alcohol could help with your symptoms. Alcohol is not a cure and should not be abused, but people who consume alcohol regularly do not suffer from arthritis as much as people who do not drink.
Therapy
– Acupunture
Have a regular eating schedule. Test your body to find out what eating pattern works best for you, and set up a distinct schedule around those times. If you find yourself hungry at a time when you are not scheduled to eat, have a light nutritious snack to keep yourself energetic and on schedule.
TIP! While cleaning the house is important, it should not be done all at once, without breaks, and without the help of other family members. Different activities performed while cleaning the house is relentless and awkward, producing unneeded stress on the body. This therapy has been scientifically proven to reduce inflammation in the joints by break downs the pile of lactic acid in the joints.
– Massage
Exercising regularly will do wonders for your energy levels when you are dealing with psoriatic arthritis. Try to aim for 15 to 30 minutes of exercise a day to give you more energy and keep your body healthy and your bones strong. Make sure to not overdo it and end up tiring yourself out.
TIP! Squeeze tubes are your friends when living with arthritis. Buy them whenever you have the option. This therapy is useful to reduce pain in joints. There are thousands of techniques used in massage to make relax the joints and accelerate blood circulation.
– Using The Herbs
Add Epsom salt to your bath water. Epsom salts relax the body and help relieve stiffness, swelling, and pain. Combining these great benefits with a warm bath in the morning hours can easily increase flexibility and reduce pain, allowing you to have a more energized and relaxed day ahead of you.
TIP! Be sure to establish a proper balance between exercise and rest in your daily life. When you get plenty of exercise, as well as plenty of rest, you will find your arthritis is less bothersome.
Using the herbs is one of the natural arthritis treatment is often done. Herbs are usually made of leaves and roots are taken from different type of plants such as turmeric, ginger, olive and more. Currently herbs are also available capsules, oils and creams.
Arthritis in Seniors – Arthritis Treatment Care
The elderly are the most usual persons affected by arthritis. The condition can limit their range of motion, prevent them from doing activities of daily living and aggravate the symptoms of other underlying conditions. It is important to note that arthritis occurs in different types, so you have to assess and diagnose carefully to provide only the right treatment. Some seniors are not as tolerant to drugs as others so precaution is needed.
Affecting Arthritis in Seniors
There are several kinds of arthritis, each present different signs and symptoms and requiring specific treatments. A lot of types are chronic, which means that these can last for several years. Arthritis can affect joints in almost any part of the body. Some forms of the condition trigger changes that are very noticeable, such as warmth, swelling and joint redness. The pain and swelling may last for a short period, but at very intense levels. Other types can trigger less troublesome symptoms that will gradually damage the joints.
The Common Types of Arthritis
Arthritis is among the most common illnesses in the United States. Millions of adults and about half of all individuals age 65 and above are afflicted by the condition. The three most common types that seniors have include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout.
About Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common arthritis type that older individuals have. Osteoarthritis begins when the cartilage starts to become ragged and wears away because of frequent use. Cartilage is described as the tissue that pads bones within a joint. The worse cases of osteoarthritis involve all of the cartilage in the joint becoming worn away, leaving bones that tend to rub against each other. Some of the most commonly affected areas include the hands; lower back, knees, hips and neck.
The symptoms of OA or osteoarthritis can include joint stiffness and mild pain associated with activities like stooping, walking and bending. In some cases, OA triggers stiffening of the joints if these haven’t been moved for a time. The stiffness usually goes away after the joint moves. OA causes include growing old, obesity and familial tendencies.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is known as an autoimmune disease, which means that the body attacks the lining of its own joint, the same way it does when trying to protect the person from illness or injury. RA or rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by stiffness, pain and swelling that lasts for several hours. Seniors who have RA may experience fever and joint immobility. Older women are the most usual victims of this type. RA attacks joints, as well as internal organs, muscles, eyes and blood vessels.
About Gout
Gout is considered to be one of the most painful types. It is significant to note, since seniors also have less tolerance to pain because of their old age. The attack starts when uric acid crystals form in the connective tissues and joint spaces. The deposits can lead to swelling, heat, joint stiffness, redness and pain. Gout attacks usually occur after ingesting food like liver, dried beans, gravy, shellfish anchovies and peas. Other factors that can lead to the problem include being overweight, consuming alcohol and taking certain drugs.
Gout most usually manifests in the big toe, although other joints can also be involved like the wrist, hands, ankles, elbow and other toes. The skin may pull tightly around the joint because of swelling, causing the area to become tender and appear purple. Blood test sand x-rays may be needed, as well as synovial fluid extraction to confirm the diagnosis.
Watching for Signs of Arthritis
Seniors should carefully watch out for signs of arthritis such as lasting joint pain, joint stiffness, joint swelling, pain and tenderness when a joint is touched, joint redness and warmth and problems using the joint normally. Other forms that can be present among the elderly include psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, temporomandibular joint arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.
Arthritis Treatment – Joints Pain Relief
Arthritis affects more than 20 million Americans. It is a degenerative disease whose symptoms worsen with time. Proper treatment plays a significant role in slowing down the progression of the disease.
Ginkgo
This is a very popular health supplement. Ginkgo is suitable as a natural arthritis medication because it boosts circulation. Increased circulation helps reduce joint pain and swelling.
Comfrey
This is a lesser-known herb that has a wide range of functions. Comfrey is used to treat arthritis in many ways. First, it helps stimulate blood circulation, which facilitates healing of joints and muscles. Secondly, it is a natural anti-inflammatory agent. Finally, it boosts the body’s immune system.
Glucostamine and Chondrotin
The two are natural arthritis medication often sold in combination. Glucostamine helps in healing worn out cartilage in arthritis patients. Chondroitin increases the amount of fluids in the joints. The extra fluid makes joints more shock absorbent.
Omega-3
This nutrient is highly effective in reducing joint pain and inflammation on arthritis patients. Foods rich in omega-3 include walnuts, flax seeds and salmon among others. Patients can also buy omega-3 capsules in local health food stores.
Eat lots of fruits and vegetables
These foods contain natural antioxidants that have healing effects on joints damaged by arthritis.
Knee Arthritis Treatment
Do you suffer from knee arthritis and think that you can do nothing about it? Do you feel that knee arthritis treatments are complicated and expensive irrespective of what your health condition is? Think again. Knee Arthritis treatment begins with the basic things to do daily but it is only when your condition is worse, the treatment possibly involves surgery.
It is to be noticed that different patients have different health requirements and according to the patient’s condition the treatments differ. Hence, it is very important to discuss your problems with your doctor in order to determine the most appropriate treatment in your case.
There are things that you can do on your own daily, so as to make life a little easier for you. Apart from that, there are some medical options that your doctor might suggest you.
Let us first discuss the things you can do on your own to improve your knee condition:
1. Lose weight:
Weight loss acts as a knee arthritis treatment because losing weight not only makes you look better, but also reduces the stress and weight that your hips and knees carry. More weight leads to more pain, irrespective of the type of arthritis that you’re suffering from. Therefore, exercise regularly and work towards shedding off those extra pounds!
2. Protect yourself when in the sun:
One of the most effective knee arthritis treatments is to wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as and when you step out in the sun. Some medications can make you vulnerable to the harmful rays of the sun. In fact, some kinds of arthritis make you very sensitive to sunlight and trigger flares of pain. Hence, cover up in a way that helps keep you away from the direct sunlight.
3. Stretch:
This is the best knee arthritis treatment when it comes to instant and temporary pain relief! Without having any medicine you can decrease your pain by stretching your legs more often. Stretching is an inexpensive and simple method to keep your muscles and joints flexible. It would help you in doing your daily activities with more ease and keep you on the move! Try searching for simple stretching exercises on video sharing websites and practice to stretch out for a few minutes throughout the day.
4. Eat a healthy breakfast:
Eat a breakfast which is full of fibre (such as oats) and a big glass of water, instead of your regular coffee. If you don’t eat a proper breakfast you’ll keep feeling hungry throughout the day and eventually eat something which does you no good. Junk food worsens all kinds of arthritis conditions as it increases the cholesterol levels and decreases the energy levels.
5. Pamper yourself:
A warm bath before going to bed relieves muscle stress and eases pain in the joints. Not just that. It will also give you a sound sleep! Look for a certified therapist and give a treat to your joints by taking a massage once in a while. Massages that are specifically meant for arthritis patients decrease the stiffness in the joints and muscle spasms. And of course, the right kind of massage will make you feel good too!