Treat Arthritis Symptoms Naturally

This condition affects many of us and, as we get older, we worry about the symptoms causing more pain and discomfort.

What are those symptoms of arthritis?

Arthritis is the swelling and tenderness of one or more of your joints with the main symptoms being joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age.

The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis causes cartilage — the hard, slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones where they form a joint — to break down while rheumatoid arthritis is a disease in which the immune system attacks the joints, beginning with the lining of joints.

Uric acid crystals, which form when there's too much uric acid in your blood, can cause gout. Infections or underlying disease, such as psoriasis or lupus, can cause other types of arthritis.

Stiffness in the joints is a common symptom especially in the morning. While morning stiffness associated with osteoarthritis usually wears off within thirty minutes of getting up in the morning, the time frame for rheumatoid arthritis usually lasts longer than half an hour and can be as long as two hours.

How can you help to alleviate these symptoms?

Treatments vary depending on the type of arthritis but the main goals of arthritis treatments are to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.  

If you suffer from arthritis and you live a sedentary lifestyle, it can lead to increased pain, more inactivity and further disability. Plus the psychological benefits of exercise such as less stress, fewer symptoms of depression, improved coping and well-being and enhanced immune functioning all contribute to greater overall health.

Stretching, strength and endurance, and aerobic are the three types of exercise that arthritis sufferers should include in their fitness regimen. 

How to help with the pain and discomfort of arthritis

There are lots of different ways in which help is available to alleviate the pain and discomfort cause by arthritis.  And massaging the feet, hands or knees is just one of them, helping by easing stiff muscles, increasing the range of movement and reducing pain. Put a small amount warm lotion or oil in your hand and smooth over the area to be massaged. 

A few drops of H-Arthritis Formula makes the perfect massage oil. 

Of course, regular and daily use of our own H-Arthritis Formula is another way to relieve arthritis symptoms.  This natural product when applied topically can provide rapid relief from arthritis pain and even help to prevent arthritis symptoms.

 

What are other ways to help relieve arthritis symptoms

• Many are often surprised to hear that exercise can actually be so beneficial for arthritis.  It can reduce joint pain and stiffness while at the same time increase flexibility, muscle strength, cardiac fitness and endurance.  One of the best ways of exercising with arthritis is yoga. This is because yoga is associated with a wide range of physical and psychological benefits that can be especially helpful for anyone living with a chronic illness such as arthritis.

• Another is swimming. A heated all-weather indoor pool is ideal for the arthritis sufferer as the warmer the water, the more the joints can loosen up. Those with arthritis receive greater health benefits from participating in hydrotherapy, swimming or just gently exercising in water than any other activities. This is because water-based exercise improves the use of those affected joints and decreases pain (whichever type of arthritis) by putting the body through a broad range of motion that helps joints and ligaments stay loose and flexible. 

• Fish consumption has been noted to have many beneficial health effects for those with arthritis along with turmeric and flax seed oil. 

• Apart from the fish above, there are several healthy foods to include in our diets to combat arthritis including extra virgin olive oil, broccoli, green tea, citrus fruits, beans (including red beans, kidney beans and pinto beans), cherries and nuts.

• Turmeric comes with more than two dozen anti-inflammatory compounds and is said to be as effective as 14 different pharmaceutical drugs (including combating inflammation) but of course with none of the side effects or high costs.  You can take turmeric in supplement form or use in a paste format set out here:  the paste can be kept in the refrigerator for 2 or 3 weeks in a glass air tight container and you take a teaspoon twice a day either on its own or mixed into a drink, remembering that turmeric is a strong yellow color and can stain your clothes and other items if not handled with care.  You will need 1/4 cup turmeric plus 1/2 cup pure filtered water.  Pour most of the water into a pot on the stove top and gently heat, gradually stirring in the turmeric so that it mixes into a paste. Keep stirring and adding water for about 10 minutes. You might find you need extra water to keep it at a creamy paste consistency. When finished, leave to cool before storing in the glass jar.  Take a teaspoon twice a day with some coconut oil or butter to aid absorption.  

 

Sources

A Complete Guide to Managing Gout (zocdoc.com)

The benefits of omega-3 fatty acids for arthritis. (n.d.).
blog.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/omega-3-fatty-acids-arthritis/

Bernstein S. (n.d.). Benefits of massage.
arthritis.org/health-wellness/treatment/complementary-therapies/natural-therapies/benefits-of-massage

How stress affects arthritis. (n.d.).
arthritis.org/health-wellness/healthy-living/emotional-well-being/stress-management/how-stress-affects-arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis: In depth. (2019).
nccih.nih.gov/health/rheumatoid-arthritis-in-depth