Arthritis is known to be a chronic disorder that has a negative impact on the joints of the body. Almost all types of arthritis are characterized with symptoms of pain as well as inflammation. It has been stated that there is no cure for this condition. The symptoms of this condition can only be kept under control by making use of several foods, herbs and over-the-counter medications. The pain and inflammation caused by this condition often makes it difficult to perform even the regular day-to-day activities.
Types of Arthritis
Arthritis is not a single condition itself. There are around 100 types of arthritis that are characterized by symptoms such as pain, inflammation and stiffness in the joints. Osteoarthritis is known to be one of the most common types of arthritis and is associated with the breakdown of cartilage of the joints of the body. This condition is known to occur mostly in those who are over 65 years of age; however, it is important to note that it can occur at any age. With time, this condition causes the joints to become deformed. Rheumatoid arthritis is known to be a type of arthritis that occurs as a result of the immune system attacking the cells that are around the joints. This condition is associated with pain, stiffness as well as inflammation. Research studies have shown that this condition mostly affects women rather than men and occurs in those who are in the age range of 30-60 years, although it can affect those of any age group. Bursitis is the type of arthritis that is known to affect the bursae, which are small sacs containing fluids and are present between the joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons.
Causes of Arthritis
Obesity is known to be the leading cause of arthritis. According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost 66 percent of adults who were diagnosed with arthritis by a doctor were obese or overweight. Obesity is known to be major reason behind the development as well as worsening of the symptoms of osteoarthritis. Genetics is also known to play a crucial role in the development of arthritis, especially rheumatoid arthritis. Although the role of genetics in the occurrence of arthritis is not fully understood by scientists, they believe that it plays a major role in the occurrence of this condition. Age is also known to play a crucial role in the occurrence of arthritis. As a person begins to age, the cartilage begins to wear out slowly and the fluids present between them starts to dry up. This causes the joint to become more susceptible to wear and tear.
Home Remedies for Arthritis
Turmeric is a herb that has been used widely in cooking as well as to treat several health conditions. Turmeric is helpful in treating the symptoms of arthritis as it contains curcumin, which possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. According to a research study conducted by Science Daily, it was observed that turmeric might prove to be beneficial in treating rheumatoid arthritis as it inhibits a substance known as NF-KB, which is responsible for causing the genes to exacerbate the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Health experts suggest that you consume around 400-600 mg of turmeric each day to treat arthritis. You can consume it in the form of a capsule, dividing the daily requirement into three doses. However, it is important to note that if you are taking any blood-thinning medications, you should avoid consuming this herb as it also thins the blood.
Cayenne pepper is widely consumed due to its spicy flavour. Cayenne pepper is also beneficial in treating the joint pain that is accompanied with arthritis. Cayenne pepper is also known to possess curcumin, which contains anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. When consumed, cayenne pepper is known to cause the release of endorphins that play the role of painkillers for the body. You can also apply cayenne pepper topically to effectively treat arthritis pain. To use cayenne pepper topically in order to treat arthritis pain, you must add around 1 ½ tablespoons of cayenne pepper to ½ cup of cocoa butter and apply it your skin. It is advisable that you avoid consuming this herb if you suffer from conditions such as GERD or gastric ulcers.
Willow Bark is known to be an effective remedy for treating conditions such as arthritis. This is due to the fact that it contains salicylin, which is an active ingredient that possesses anti-inflammatory properties. The University of Maryland Medical Centre has stated that willow bark might prove to be beneficial in treating the pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis. You should consult your doctor regarding the dosage of this herb as it can trigger side effects such as stomach irritation and bleeding, when consumed in high amounts. You should avoid consuming this herb along with NSAIDs such as ibuprofen as they may increase the risk of developing these negative side effects.
Ginger root is considered to be a powerful remedy to treat arthritis effectively. Ginger root is known to possess certain compounds known as gingerols, which are considered to be helpful in reducing the production of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are the chemicals that are responsible for triggering inflammation in those who suffer from arthritis. MSNBC health has stated that ginger is one of the best foods when it comes to treating conditions such as arthritis as it reduces the pain and inflammation associated with it. When compared to anti-inflammatory drugs, ginger root is not known to cause side effects such as stomach irritation and nausea. You can consume ginger in the raw form or as a capsule. You could also make a tea from this herb by steeping it for a few minutes in boiling water and then straining it. The daily requirement of ginger root to treat arthritis is around 2-4 grams. Consult your doctor before consuming ginger root along with blood-thinning medications, as it is known to thin the blood as well.
Cat's Claw is considered to be another effective remedy for treating arthritis as it possesses anti-inflammatory properties. According to " Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine", a research study conducted on a group of individuals showed that those who used Cat's Claw extract experienced greater pain relief as compared to those did not consume this herb.
Licorice is considered to be effective in treating arthritis due to the fact that it possesses anti-inflammatory properties and helps in blocking the inflammation receptors. This herb has been used extensively to treat conditions such as arthritis, allergies as well as other conditions that are accompanied with inflammation. It is important to note that long-term usage of this herb can trigger undesirable side effects such as high blood pressure. Health experts recommend that you consume around two capsules each day of this herb to treat inflammation.
Alfalfa is considered to be a traditional remedy that is used to treat the symptoms of arthritis effectively. Health experts suggest that you consume this herb in the form of a tea rather than in the powdered form, as it can be easily assimilated by your body. In order to treat arthritis by making use of alfalfa, you can prepare the tea by adding one ounce of alfalfa in a pot containing one quart of water, allowing it to boil. Allow it to boil for around 30 minutes. Strain and consume it as many times as required, throughout the day. It is important to note that when using alfalfa tea to treat arthritis, you should consume this tea for around three weeks and then stop it for one week, repeating the cycle as required.
Yucca is an herb that is widely used to reduce the pain that is associated with arthritis. It has also been scientifically proven that this herb is effective in treating this condition. This is due to the fact that the root of the yucca plant is known to possess anti-inflammatory saponins as well as polyphenolics that are helpful in destroying the free radicals in the body. Health experts suggest that you should consume around 1,000 mg of this root each day to treat arthritis. There are no known side effects of this herb.
Flaxseed is known to be one of the best food sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are considered to be effective in treating the inflammation and pain that is accompanied with arthritis. In order to treat arthritis using flaxseed, aim at including at least two tablespoons of flaxseed oil in your diet. You could consume the flaxseeds in the whole form as well; however, if you are suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, it is advisable that you avoid flaxseeds as they can worsen the symptoms of this condition. It is important that you do not heat or cook the seeds or oil as it destroys the nutritive value.
Green tea is known to be a good source of polyphenols as well as antioxidants that may prove to be beneficial in protecting the body against the harmful free radicals, thereby proving to be effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis. However, it is important to note that green tea possesses caffeine, which is known to cause nervousness, insomnia as well as jitteriness. If you begin to develop these negative symptoms, use the decaffeinated variety of green tea.
Large Leaf Gentian
Large leaf gentian, also known as qin jiao in Chinese medicine, is a herbal remedy that is effective in treating the pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis. This herb is known to contain gentianine, which is an alkaloid that possesses anti-inflammatory properties. According to a research study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, it was found out that the extract of large leaf gentian was helpful in reducing the inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis and its efficiency in treating this condition was at par with the steroid named prednisone.
Black cohosh is a herb that has been used extensively to treat arthritis. The effectiveness of this herb in treating arthritis is due to the fact that it contains salicylic acid in the root.
Strawberries are known to contain high amounts of vitamin C, which is helpful in treating arthritis, as it possesses anti-inflammatory properties. Vitamin C is known to be helpful in protecting the body against damage from harmful free radicals.
Olive oil is known to be a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which is beneficial in the treatment of arthritis. Omega-3 fatty acids are known to play the role of an antioxidant that is helpful in reducing the inflammation associated with arthritis by subduing cytokine and other enzymes that might destroy the cartilage. Try to use olive oil instead of butter, margarine and vegetable oil in cooking.
Other Home Remedies for Arthritis
- You can massage the affected area with warm olive oil in order to reduce the pain as well as inflammation accompanied with arthritis.
- You could also consume bananas for three to four days in order to treat the symptoms of arthritis effectively.
- Hot body massage is also considered to be beneficial in reducing the pain and inflammation associated with arthritis.
- Take the juice of one potato and mix it with equal amount of water and consume it.
- Have a bath by adding two tablespoons of Epsom salt to the water. This will help in reducing inflammation as well as pain.
- Consume the soup prepared from green gram and add some garlic to it. Consume the soup two times each day.
- Massage emu oil into your skin in order to reduce the pain and inflammation associated with arthritis.
- Consume castor oil along with some orange juice in the morning. Consume this juice for nine weeks and stop it for 6 weeks, repeating the cycle again.
- Consume few flakes of raw garlic in order to treat arthritis effectively.
- Soak black sesame seeds overnight and consume it as you wake up in the morning. This remedy is helpful in preventing the occurrence of joint pain.
- Add a pinch of guggul powder to a glass of warm water and consume it. This remedy is helpful in reducing pain in the joints.
Diet for Arthritis
Omega-3 fatty acids are known to be helpful in reducing the inflammation as well as pain that is accompanied with arthritis. Consuming fish is helpful in reducing the inflammation associated with arthritis as it is one of the leading food sources of omega-3 fatty acids. The types of fish that are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids include mackerel, salmon, herring and sardines. You could also include fish oil in your diet to meet your daily needs of omega-3 fatty acids.
Vegetables such as sweet potatoes, pumpkin and carrots are known to be rich in carotenes as well as antioxidants, thereby proving to be helpful in the treatment of arthritis. They are also known to contain beta-cryptoxanthin, which is known to be helpful in the prevention of rheumatoid arthritis.
Avoid Nightshade Vegetables
Vegetables such as tomatoes and brinjal are known to be nightshade vegetables. Nightshade vegetables are known to possess alkaloids that are responsible for triggering arthritis flare-ups. In order to meet your daily requirements of vitamins and minerals, you should include vegetables such as cabbage, spinach, lettuce and broccoli in your diet as they are not nightshade vegetables.
Health experts highly recommend that you avoid consuming milk or dairy products if you suffer from arthritis as it can worsen the symptoms. The Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine states that dairy products are known to cause inflammation as well as pain in those who suffer from arthritis. They suggest that you consume soymilk in order to treat the inflammation and pain accompanied with arthritis.
Whole grains are known to possess high amounts of fibre, antioxidants, vitamins as well as minerals. Whole grains are considered to be good sources of selenium, which is known to be helpful in treating the symptoms of arthritis. The whole grains that contain a high amount of selenium include oatmeal, white rice, brown rice, oats as well as quinoa. When you purchase a whole grain product, it is highly recommended that you check if it contains whole grains in high quantities.
Control Your Weight
If you are overweight or obese, you are at an increased risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, diabetes as well as some types of cancer. In addition to that, excess body weight is known to place great stress on your joints. This constant pressure on the joints is known to increase the risk of developing arthritis. In order to keep your body weight in control, you must reduce the number of calories in your diet. Avoid foods that contain high amount of calories such as deep-fried foods, desserts, refined foods and processed foods. You should try to consume foods that contain high amount of fibre, as it will keep you full for a longer period of time, thereby preventing binge eating.
Regular exercise is known to be beneficial in preventing the occurrence of osteoarthritis as it keeps the joints flexible and strong. You should train with moderate weights, along with a few sessions of medium-intensity cardio exercises each week for around 30 minutes. It is important that you avoid performing high-intensity exercises, as it will place great stress on the joints.
Michigan.gov states that smoking is known to increase the risk of developing arthritis. Cigarette smoke is known to cause damage to the joints as it accelerates the breakdown of cartilage, thereby leading to the development of osteoarthritis. Smoking is also known to cause damage to the blood vessels, thereby worsening the symptoms of pain as well as inflammation and increasing the risk of suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.
Other Treatment Options for Arthritis
The Arthritis Foundation has reported that deficiency of vitamin C may lead to the development of rheumatoid arthritis. According to an article published on the Arthritis Today website, researchers from Great Britain observed that those who did not consume adequate amounts of vitamin C in their diet were three times more likely to suffer from rheumatoid arthritis as compared to those who consumed their daily requirement of vitamin C. Citrus fruits are known to be one of the best food sources of vitamin C. Vitamin B6 is also known to be effective in reducing the inflammation that is accompanied with arthritis. Vitamin E is also beneficial in treating arthritis as it protects the joints from damage caused by the harmful free radicals.
Ibuprofen is considered to be NSAID, also known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is used to treat inflammation and pain. NSAIDs are known to interfere with the inflammatory chemicals to reduce the inflammation associated with arthritis. There are also certain side effects associated with ibuprofen and they include stomach upset and nausea.
Aspirin is known to be one of the oldest NSAIDs that has been used extensively to treat moderate pain. However, it is important to note that there are certain side effects associated with taking this medication and they include ringing of the ears as well as stomach upset.
Capsaicin is known to be a component of chilli peppers and is available in the form of a topical cream for treating muscle pain as well as arthritis. Capsaicin is known to be helpful in decreasing substance P, which is a chemical responsible for sending pain messages to the brain. If your skin is very sensitive, it is advisable that you avoid using this cream as it can cause irritation and burning to the specific area.
Salicylate creams are known to be one of the most commonly used over-the-counter remedies for treating arthritis. The salicylate is easily absorbed by the skin and helps to reduce inflammation associated with arthritis. Some salicylate creams are known to contain menthol, which helps in warming the joints of the body, thereby providing relief and comfort.