What Is Arthritis?
Arthritis is a common disease that occurs mostly in adults over age 65 and can also develop in teens, younger adults, and children. It’s inflammation of the joints and can affect one or multiple joints. There’re more than one hundred various types of arthritis with various causes and treatment methods. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) are two common types of arthritis.
Symptoms Of Arthritis
The most common symptoms of arthritis include joint pain, swelling, stiffness, limited movement in the problem body part.
Rheumatoid arthritis: It’s a systemic disease that affects the joints of the fingers, wrists, knees, ankles, and feet. Joint symptoms may consist of morning stiffness, pain, chest pain, loss of motion of joints, itching, eye burning, numbness in the feet and hands, and sleep difficulties.
Osteoarthritis: It is a result of tear and wear of the joints. It affects some joints such as the right or left knee, wrist or shoulder. People with osteoarthritis may suffer from the symptoms such as stiffness and pain in the joints, morning stiffness, crackling or rubbing sound when one joint is moved, pain causing sleep disturbances
Causes Of Arthritis
The reasons for arthritis rely on its form. Causes include hereditary factors, metabolic abnormalities (such as pseudogout and gout), injury (leading to osteoarthritis), the indirect and direct effect of infections (viral and bacterial) and a misdirected immunity with autoimmunity (such as in systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis).
Treatment
Treatment for arthritis targets to soothe pain, lessen the joint damage, and maintain or improve quality or function of life. Lifestyle strategies and medications can help you attain this aim and give joints protection from further damage. Treatment might include medications, non-pharmacologic therapies, occupational or physical therapy, weight loss, assistive devices for the joint, surgery and patient education and support.
Medication
Medications will rely on the types of arthritis. Drugs are often used to treat arthritis including:
- Analgesics: these soothe pain, but have no impact on inflammation. Examples are tramadol (Ultram), acetaminophen (Tylenol), and narcotics having hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab) or oxycodone (Percocet, Oxycontin).
- Counterirritants: some ointments and creams contain capsaicin or menthol. Rubbing these over a painful joint help to adjust pain signals from the joints and minimize pain.
- Corticosteroids: cortisone and prednisone ease inflammation and curb the immune system.
- NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs): these aid in reducing both inflammation and pain. OTC NSAIDs include naproxen sodium (Aleve) and ibuprofen (Motrin IB, Advil). A few NSAIDs are available as gels, patches or creams that can be applied to particular joints.
- DMARDs (Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs): Drugs treat RA. Examples include hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) and methotrexate (Trexall).
- Biologics: They are used with DMARDs. Examples include infliximab (Remicade) and etanercept (Enbrel).
Natural Remedies
- Diet
Generally speaking, there is no particular diet to combat arthritis. However, some types of foods can help you soothe inflammation. They include fish, nuts and seeds, beans, fruits and vegetables, whole grains and olive oil. These foods can provide you with many nutrients and are also good for joint health. On the other hand, people with arthritis need to avoid some foods such as dairy products, nightshade vegetables, sugar, fried foods, meat, coffee, and alcohol, etc.
- Exercises
Doing exercise regularly will keep the joint flexible and strong. At-home workouts you can try include:
- thumb bends and finger bends to relieve pain in your hands
- the neck rotation, head tilt, and other exercises to ease the pain in your neck
- hamstring stretches, leg raises, and other simple exercises for treating knee arthritis
Natural Home Remedies
There are a few active home remedies that can help you alleviate the pain and discomfort caused by arthritis.
- Ginger
Ginger can increase the circulation of blood. Plus, this spice comes with natural anti-inflammatory effects that can eliminate arthritis. You can use it to combat this condition as follows:
Option 1:
Take some ginger oil and apply it on your affected area on a daily basis. This method can lower inflammation, pain, and stiffness.
Option 2:
Another option is drying grind a mixture of six teaspoons each of caraway seed powder and dried ginger along with three teaspoons of black pepper powder. After that, you take ½ tsp of this combination together with water three times every day.
Option 3:
You can also eat raw ginger on a daily basis. This way helps improve blood circulation to relieve pain. Simply peel and slice the fresh ginger. After that, eat it with each meal.
- Cherries
The potassium in cherries works as a diuretic while the magnesium in them serves as a natural painkiller. These minerals help ride the tissue fluid, thus reducing inflammation. It also aids in curing arthritis particularly gout. To treat arthritis with this fruit, follow the ways below:
Option 1:
Eat about 8-10 cherries every day. Take it frequently in the form of frozen, tinned, or fresh
Option 2:
Drinking cherry syrup is also an excellent way to treat arthritis. Take some cherries and boil them in water for a couple of minutes until it forms a sweet, strong syrup. Consume this syrup daily for several months.
- Apple Cider Vinegar
Due to its high magnesium, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus, apple cider vinegar is effective at eliminating the joint pain. Apart from that, it also is useful in fading the toxin build-up in the connective tissues and joints. For this treatment, take one cup of warm water and add one teaspoon each of honey and ACV to it. Then, drink this concoction every day in the morning. By the way, not only humans but dogs also suffer from arthritis and apple cider vinegar is the best remedy for them too. It’s a real wonder elixir for man and dog!
- Jojoba And Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus oil helps you ease joints and muscle pains because it’s a natural anti-inflammatory property. Moreover, it is also excellent for curing the joint aches caused by muscle sprains. Moreover, it also helps lower the stiffness caused by arthritis or regular tear or wear of muscles. For this purpose, add ten drops of eucalyptus oil and one-half cup of jojoba oil in one empty spray bottle. Close the lid and then shake well to combine all the ingredients. Take enough amounts of the solution and slightly massage for several minutes. Let the application dry entirely. For visible effects, repeat this application regularly.
- Turmeric
Turmeric holds a powerful compound named curcumin that is helpful in healing the inflammation. Particularly, turmeric is good when treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Furthermore, this yellow spice can calm the swelling and pain caused by arthritis.
Option 1:
Simply consume fresh turmeric juice. Also, mix a teaspoon of turmeric powder with a glass of warm milk. Then, enjoy it daily before sleeping.
Option 2:
Taking 500-1000 mg turmeric capsules three times a day is also effective for arthritis treatment.
- Burdock Root
Burdock root is a natural and traditional medicine that is often used by herbalists in China, India, and Europe for fighting joint pains and detoxification. Besides, it possesses essential fatty oils with tannins and sterols which come with anti-inflammatory abilities. For this purpose, boil two cups of water and add two tablespoons burdock root to it. Simmer for fifteen minutes and then remove from the heat. Strain the tea with the aid of a sieve and consume it warm. Try this remedy three to four times daily.
- Cinnamon
Cinnamon is full of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristics so that it is helpful for relieving arthritis pain.
Option 1:
Prepare ½ teaspoon of cinnamon powder along with one tablespoon of honey. Mix them in one cup of warm water. Consume this mixture on an empty stomach. Follow it daily for a few days to notice the improvement.
Option 2:
Alternatively, mix some cinnamon and honey to make a paste. Gently massage it on your painful area.
- Flaxseed Oil
This oil can relieve the symptoms of RA (rheumatoid arthritis), lubricate the joints and decrease the joint pain and stiffness. Along with that, thanks to its proteins, potassium, magnesium, B vitamins, and zinc, the oil is excellent for curing the inflammation and pain in the joints. Simply consume two to three tablespoons of flaxseed oil every day. For fast results, you should repeat the treatment for one month.
Hopefully, this post is helpful for all of you. Tell us about your experience with this condition. Also, if you have any recommendation or question, share with us in the comments box.
