For many, joint pain and stiffness is a daily struggle. It hurts to walk, to reach out and just to move in general.
A common condition of joint pain is arthritis, which is an inflammation of the joints. There are two types of arthritis – osteo and rheumatoid. Osteoarthritis is caused by the wearing down of the cartilage between bones until there is nothing left to cushion the bones from one another.
Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is caused by an autoimmune disorder that leads to inflammation in the synovial membrane, which is a soft tissue that protects the joints in the body.
Natural Treatments are Available
Fortunately, traditional medicines are not your only choice for arresting the progress of the conditions, and managing their symptoms. There are natural remedies to help treat both of these conditions.
A shared factor of these treatments is that they have anti-inflammatory properties, so they ease the pain and stiffness that arthritis brings.
For example, both turmeric and ginger are popular and natural anti-inflammatories, and have been shown to help treat both osteo and rheumatoid arthritis. You can take either of these in capsule form as a daily supplement, or use them to make tea.
Soak the Pain Away
Another proven alternative remedy is an Epsom salt soak.
This type of salt contains a mineral called magnesium sulfate, which is a pain-reliever due to its high levels of magnesium.
After adding some Epsom salt to a bowl of hot water, soak your hand in it for at least 15 minutes. If you have arthritis in your knees, ankles and legs, you can use an Epsom salt for a soothing soak.
Magnesium – an Essential Mineral
Magnesium is an essential natural compound for many of the body’s processes, including pain-relief. It contributes to more than 300 enzyme-powered actions that are vital for a number of physiological processes.
Magnesium helps to relax muscles and nerves, synthesize proteins and regulate blood pressure, and also helps assimilate other needed minerals into your bones.
A study conducted by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that people who had a diet that was high in magnesium, or took magnesium tablets on a daily basis, had a higher bone density and stronger bones than those who didn’t.
There are several ways to get magnesium into your body, such as supplements and oils, as well as adding it to your diet. Foods such as spinach, nuts, and beans have high concentrations of magnesium, and are natural health-boosters in other ways as well.
Applying certain oils topically to the afflicted joints also helps relieve arthritis pain. Olive oil, particularly cold-pressed, extra virgin olive oil (EVO), is most commonly used as it contains COX-1 and COX-2, both of which are inflammatory enzymes.
It’s important to note that it is crucial that the oil is not heated, as heat kills the compound oleocanthal, which contains COX-1 and COX-2. The oil can alternately be taken orally, replacing butter in many recipes.
Exercise Helps Relieve Joint Pain
While it may seem contrary to logic, exercise can help with joint stiffness and pain from conditions like arthritis. An excess amount of body weight can put more pressure on afflicted joints, so exercising daily can help keep your body weight under control.
Also, moderate exercise helps lubricate the joints, as well as encouraging necessary fluid movement to bring in nutrients, and facilitating the removal of waste, to avoid toxic accumulation.
Try going on a brisk walk for 15 to 30 minutes each day before moving on to joint-related exercises and stretches, and you might find it easier to get rid of stiffness and pain in your joints and muscles.
