Arthritis is the inflammation of a joint or joints of the body. In this article we will be exploring some of the best natural treatments for arthritis.

The inflammation occurs when the autoimmune system is affected, and it attacks the joints instead of repairing the body, hence the ligaments and tendons in the joints become inflamed. .

There are many types of arthritis, and this depends on the causes, but the most common ones are rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune disorder and osteoarthritis which happens when the cartilage wears down.

The common symptoms of arthritis are stiffness, joint pain, and swellings of the affected joints. The symptoms are mostly noticed in the morning after resting the bones for the whole night.

The treatment of arthritis varies, as one can visit a doctor, and can also use natural herbal medicines, etc.

The natural ways that you can use when you have arthritis will help one to reduce the pain, inflammation, and stiffness. Some of the best natural ways include:

1. Exercising

 

Exercises are important for our daily lives, and they are great for arthritis patients.

Exercises help control the amount of weight that you have, lubricates the joints, and strengthens the joint muscles hence you can move around more easily.

When you are not exercising, the synovial fluid in the joints changes and becomes a thick gel, hence making the joint stiff, but exercising makes the fluid viscous thus lubricating the joints.

You don’t have to exercise much, but can take a walk for about 15-30 minutes each day, do joint exercise or stretches to help get rid of the stiffness  You can  also cycle.

2. Lose weight

How much one weighs really matters as it is related to the amount of pain you feel in the joints. You can lose weight through various ways such as taking natural herbal medicines, exercising and also dieting.

Losing weight reduces the pressure that is exerted on the hips knees and ankles.  For some people the symptoms of arthritis are reduced once they start losing weight,  thus preventing further damage to the joints. as they become more mobile

3. Acupuncture

This is an old method that was used by the Chinese more than 2000 years ago and it is a helpful way to relieve pain, reduce inflammation and prevent disability in people who have arthritis.

It involves the insertion of very fine needles into the skin at specific acupuncture points, and they release endorphins chemical which is a natural painkiller and also serotonin a brain transmitter that deals with moods.

Experienced acupuncturists are best since they are experienced in where to place the needles hence relieving the arthritis pain.

4. Taking herbal supplements

Natural herbal medicines are very safe to use, and various types of them can help reduce joint pain.

Some supplements contain anti-inflammatory properties which assist in reducing the inflammation in the joints by disabling the white blood cells that cause swelling hence the tissues shrink.

These supplements can be in the form of medicine or even added to your food as spices.  Always get a doctor’s advice if you initially used conventional medicine and you would like to switch to taking herbal supplements.

5. Topical remedies

These come in the form of ointments and creams that help relieve pain. They contain properties that when applied on the skin they will penetrate into the joint and cause the skin to tingle.

They also have anti-inflammatory properties that help ease  the pain and stiffness, and they work by reducing the pain transmitting chemicals on the nerve endings known as “substance P” and calcitonin gene-related protein.

6. Hot and cold therapy

This method is used by many doctors to treat arthritis. The cold therapy reduces the inflammation and joint swellings, and you can do this by placing an ice pack on the affected joint for fifteen minutes relaxes the muscles and increases the blood flow to the joints, and you can do this by placing heating pads or hot towels on the joint.

A hot shower also helps in easing the pain.

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