15 Easy Remedies for Arthritis and Joint Pain

in Body, Men, Women

If you have any kind of arthritis, you know how painful it can be. Living with chronic pain and discomfort makes every part of your life more difficult. It can limit your movements, disturb your sleep, and make you feel isolated and helpless.

The good news is that arthritis is treatable, and you do not have to rely on expensive prescriptions and repeated visits to the doctor. Natural remedies and treatments abound. Before we talk about the specifics of those remedies, let’s talk a little bit about arthritis and what causes it.

Causes of Arthritis

There are several different kinds of arthritis, but they all have one thing in common. Arthritis is a chronic disease which causes inflammation and pain in one or more of your joints. As a rule, the pain and stiffness of arthritis tend to worsen with age, but they can sometimes affect very young people, as well.

The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is most typically found in older people. It causes the cartilage that protects the ends of your bones to break down. That, in turn, causes your joints to stiffen. Rheumatoid arthritis is different. It is an autoimmune disease which causes your body’s immune system to attack your joints as if they were foreign bodies. Other, rarer forms of arthritis may be caused by underlying disease such as lupus or psoriasis.

The symptoms of arthritis may vary from person to person, but some of the most common ones are:

Pain
Stiffness
Swollen joints
Redness
Decreased range of motion

Determining the cause of arthritis is dependent upon first identifying the type of arthritis you have. If there is an underlying disease such as those mentioned above, the cause of the arthritis will be clear immediately.

Some of the most common causes of osteoarthritis include:

Being overweight or obese
Aging
Injuries to the joints
Joint stress from doing a particular job or playing a sport
Genetic defects in the joints

Rheumatoid arthritis, as stated above, is an autoimmune disorder. The causes are more difficult to pinpoint, but potential culprits may include:

If you have a parent or other close relative with rheumatoid arthritis you are more likely to get it yourself.
Some researchers feel that all autoimmune disorders have their origins in inflammation caused by certain foods.
Virus or bacteria. While no particular viral or bacterial agent has been identified, some people believe it is possible they disease has its origins in something of this nature.
Environmental factors. Some people appear to be more sensitive than others to environmental contaminants. One theory is that such contaminants may weaken the immune system, thus making it more susceptible to autoimmune diseases.

Typical treatments for arthritis include prescription anti-inflammatory medications and creams.

Easy Remedies for Arthritis and Joint Pain

Home remedies for arthritis abound. Some involve topical applications, while others involve making teas. There are also foods you can add – or subtract – from your diet that can help to relieve the pain and stiffness associated with arthritis. Let’s take a look at some of the best.

Soak in Epsom salts. This is an old remedy, but a very effective one. Epsom salts are high in magnesium sulfate, which can be absorbed through the skin and is an effective pain reliever. If you have arthritis in your hands or feet, you can add ½ cup of Epsom salts to a bowl or pan of warm water, and soak the affected areas. If your arthritis is in larger joints such as your knees or hips, add 2 cups of Epsom salts to a warm bath and soak in it.

Make a turmeric and ginger tea. Both turmeric (the bright yellow spice that gives curry powder its color) and ginger are natural anti-inflammatories. To make the tea, boil two cups of water and add ½ teaspoon each of ground ginger and ground turmeric. Let it sit for at least fifteen minutes, then strain it, sweeten it with honey (another natural healer) and drink it. This makes two servings.

Cake with chain and padlock, diet concept.

Eliminate inflammatory foods from your diet. This is an especially good thing to try if you have rheumatoid arthritis. Some common foods that cause inflammation include sugar, trans fats, monosodium glutamate (MSG,) dairy, nuts, seeds, and wheat. Not all of these foods will be inflammatory for all people, but MSG and trans fats are common culprits. You may need to experiment with things like dairy and wheat to determine if they are a problem for you.

Half walnut kernel and whole walnuts on a wooden background closeup

Add Omega-3 to your diet. Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid found in cold water fish like salmon and mackerel. If you don’t like fish, other options include flaxseed oil, walnuts, edamame (soy beans) and chia seeds.

Take blackstrap molasses. Blackstrap molasses is a time-honored home remedy for arthritis because it is high in potassium, calcium and magnesium. To take it, mix 1 tablespoon of molasses into 1 cup of water and drink it. A note of warming: blackstrap molasses can be a gentle laxative, so don’t overdo it.

Try meditating. Meditation is all about strengthening the connection between your body and mind, and can be especially effective for people who have both depression and arthritis. Stress and anxiety can worsen the pain of arthritis, so taking a few minutes out of your day to meditate can help to ease the pain.

Get some exercise. When your joints are really hurting, exercise may be the last thing you want to do, but it is important to keep moving. Regular exercise will help to keep your joints lubricated, this relieving stiffness and pain. Not only that, but carrying extra weight can exacerbate arthritis, and exercise may help you shed those extra pounds.

Take magnesium. Our bodies need magnesium, but we can’t make it ourselves. Magnesium helps to relax muscles and ease pain. The best way to get magnesium is to eat foods that are rich sources of it, including dark leafy greens, legumes and nuts.

Do an olive oil massage. Olive oil is a natural anti-inflammatory. Take a small amount of olive oil and massage it into painful joints. You can also take olive oil by the spoonful to help lubricate joints – just be careful to make note of the calories involved if you are trying to lose weight.

Drink aloe vera juice. Aloe vera is another natural anti-inflammatory, and it is now available as a juice in many supermarkets and natural food stores.

Take frankincense. While many of us think of frankincense as being simply an aromatic, it also has anti-inflammatory properties and is widely available as a nutritional supplement. It is also known by the name boswellia.

Cool down your joints with peppermint. Peppermint and eucalyptus oils have analgesic properties that can help to relieve arthritis pain. To use them, mix 5-10 drops of each with 2 tablespoons of almond oil or grapeseed oil. Mix, and massage the oil into affected joints. Make sure to store leftovers in a dark bottle to avoid light damage.

Make juniper berry tea. Juniper berries contain a compound called terpinen-4-ol, which can be particularly effective against rheumatoid arthritis. To make it, pour hot water over 1 tablespoon of dried juniper berries. Let it steep for about 20 minutes, then sweeten with honey and drink. Note: do not drink this tea if you are pregnant.

Eat watermelon or drink watermelon juice. Watermelons are packed with antioxidants, which help to fight inflammation. If you juice watermelons along with blueberries, you’ll have an antioxidant powerhouse.

Make a cayenne paste. Hot peppers contain a compound called capsaicin, which works to suppress a neurotransmitter responsible for regulating the body’s response to pain. To make the paste, mix 3 tablespoons of cayenne with one cup of grapeseed oil. Heat on medium for 5-10 minutes, then stir in ½ cup of grated beeswax. Stir until melted, then refrigerate for 10 minutes, stir, and refrigerate for another 10 or 15 minutes. Whip it together one more time, then transfer it to a glass jar and store it into the refrigerator. Make sure to wear gloves while applying it, and avoid touching your eyes.

Treating arthritis does not need to be expensive, and you don’t have to rely on prescription medications with potentially dangerous side effects. The home remedies listed here will help to ease the pain and inflammation associated with arthritis, and have you feeling better in no time.

Causes of Arthritis

Easy Remedies for Arthritis and Joint Pain

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