Arthritis is a general term that describes a family of medical conditions that present the symptoms of joint inflammation, pain, and stiffness.
Natural remedies, medical treatments, as well as, regular exercise, and proper nutrition can help people manage arthritis symptoms.
According to the Arthritis Foundation, over 50 million adults and 300,000 children in the United States suffer from this condition, and 21.6 percent of the global population suffers from arthritis in Nigeria, as researched by Science Direct.
Although there are anti-inflammatory drugs to ease the pain, there are plenty of other home measures that sufferers can adopt to live pain-free days.
In this article, News Round The Clock (NRTC) highlights some home remedies to try.
- Ginger
Research reveals that ginger roots increase blood circulation, which relieves arthritis pain, and thus transports inflammatory chemicals away from painful joints.
It is recommended to take 200mg a day, and increase the dosage gradually.
Note: Do not take more than 4,000 mg a day. Take in divided doses of food, as concentrated doses may cause heartburn and diarrhea.
Avoid ginger if on blood thinners, have low blood pressure or are pregnant.
- Seek heat relief and cold comfort
Applying heat to a painful joint can provide significant relief.
Use electric blankets, hand warmers, heating pads, or hot packs as heat sources.
Warming the achy joints or simply taking a hot bath can also be soothing.
Cold comfort curbs joint swelling and inflammation. Apply an ice pack to the affected joint during a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) flare-up for 15 minutes at a time; take a 30-minute break between treatments.
Do not overdo it!
- Wear gloves
Wear a snug-fitting pair of gloves if you usually have stiff, swollen hands in the morning.
However, stop wearing gloves to bed if it worsens stiffness in the morning.
- Oil aching joints
Eat food rich in Omega-3 fatty acids (mackerel, pilchards, salmon, cod liver oil, and sardines).
Research scientists at Cardiff University discovered that the Omega-3 fatty acid in cod liver oil may slow, turn off, or even reverse the destruction of cartilage leading to osteoarthritis.
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Omega-3 fatty acids also help lessen pain and stiffness, thereby discouraging inflammation in the body.
However, consult your doctor if you are on blood thinners, have high cholesterol, or are diabetic.
- Rub on Eucalyptus or Capsaicin relief oils
Apply a few drops on the affected area and massage into the skin.
Eucalyptus oil can be effective while Capsaicin ointment is a counter-resistant, irritating the nerve endings, thus distracting the brain’s focus on the arthritic pain.
While you need to consult your doctor for a prescription of Capsaicin ointment, do not use Eucalyptus oil under a heating pad or compress.
- Exercise the joints
Begin a gentle exercise regimen— swimming, cycling, yoga, or walking.
Shoulder stretch, knee exercises, finger exercises, ankle exercises, thumb exercises, etc., are some do-it-yourself healing for arthritis.
Consult your physiotherapist about how to build strong muscles that’ll help support your joints.
Note: Do not work through the pain if joints are swollen or inflamed. Take a day off!
- Maintain a healthy weight
Maintaining a healthy weight and reducing fat stores in the body helps reduce joint pain and overall inflammation.
Research has shown that obesity can activate and sustain body-wide, low-grade inflammation, amplifying and aggravating autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), lupus, and their associated comorbidities (heart disease, etc).
Vary the walking area as this keeps the same joints from being stressed the same way.
Invest in good walking shoes with flat, supportive, and softer heeled shoes; vitamin C, and Zinc supplements.
While vitamin C prevents the breakdown of the bone by destroying harmful oxygen molecules that cause damage, Zinc supplements reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis.
Recap
To recap, arthritis can be a challenging condition, but with the right approach, pain and discomfort can be managed effectively.
From natural remedies like ginger and eucalyptus oil to lifestyle changes such as exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, these strategies can help improve mobility and overall well-being.
By adopting these simple yet effective remedies, arthritis sufferers can enjoy more pain-free and active days.
However, always consult your doctor or healthcare professional before trying new treatments, especially if you have underlying health conditions.
