Arthritis can strike at any age—the condition doesn't reserve itself to the elderly. And the pain this condition causes can be considerable. Medications can help alleviate the suffering, but they tend to come with a host of unpleasant side effects, rendering the remedy worse than the cure.
Fortunately, there are natural and holistic treatments out there for alleviating the suffering associated with the various types of arthritis. From essential oils to certain yoga poses, it's possible to obtain relief without injections or pills. Here are eight methods to try if you're currently dealing with arthritis pain.
1. Eat To Control Inflammation
Your diet plays a major role in inflammation, so modifying what you eat can bring relief. There's a reason many of the medications used to treat arthritis do double duty in treating inflammatory bowel diseases as well.
Strive to cut out saturated fats, such as those found in red meat, and eliminate dairy products as much as possible. Some people also find they are sensitive to plants in the nightshade family. So if reducing meat and dairy consumption brings little relief, try cutting out tomatoes and potatoes.
2. Take A Deep Inhale
Aromatherapy can help ease arthritis pain, and it can improve your mood as well—talk about a win-win! If pain flares have you down, try adding a few drops of lavender essential oil to your diffuser.
If you get arthritis pain in your hands and wrist from working on a computer all day, try adding a few drops of clove essential oil to a base of coconut oil. Rub it on your hands and don a pair of gloves. Your body heat helps the healing oil to penetrate deeply, providing relief.
3. Get Your Body Moving
When arthritis flares, the last thing you feel like doing is exercising. However, getting moving can help alleviate pain by increasing blood flow to your swollen joints. You don't need to train for a triathlon, but taking 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily can ease your aches considerably.
If moving about on land proves difficult, try going for a swim or taking an aqua aerobics class. When you're chest-deep, the water supports 80 percent of your body weight, making movement easier. Tai chi or chair-based workouts offer additional ways to get moving without a lot of joint-jarring impacts.
4. Make Like A Yogi
Practicing yoga can help alleviate many aches and pains, and the agony stemming from arthritis is no exception. If you're new to practicing yoga, signing up for a live class proves beneficial, as the instructor will help you master the poses with proper form. If you're an experienced yogi, you can find a ton of free videos on YouTube to work out with, or you can sign up for a fitness streaming service to get your stretch on in the privacy of your own home.
5. Take Your Glucosamine
Glucosamine and chondroitin became all the rage a few years back for good reason. Glucosamine is found in the cartilage surrounding your joints, and taking additional supplements helps to ease the pain of arthritis.
Research also indicates vitamin E and sam-E may alleviate arthritis pain. Sam-E is an anti-inflammatory and vitamin E is an antioxidant. Too much vitamin E can increase bleeding, so exercise caution and check with your doctor before supplementing with the vitamin if you take blood thinners.
6. Use Healing Herbs
Certain herbal supplements have proven efficacious in treating arthritis pain. In particular, turmeric is a potent anti-inflammatory herb found in Indian dishes. The herb works as well as, if not better than, aspirin when it comes to relief.
Other herbs which may help include ginger, cinnamon, feverfew, and ginseng. Bromelain, found in fruits like pineapple, may also help to reduce inflammation.
7. Try Acupuncture
Experts disagree on exactly how old acupuncture is, but the practice has certainly existed for centuries. Any medical practice with that kind of track record must help, and many people swear by acupuncture to treat a host of health conditions—including arthritis.
The needles used in acupuncture are so tiny that you barely feel them. Many people report falling into a deep, dream-filled sleep while undergoing the procedure. Who turns down the opportunity to nap?
8. Massage It Out
Finally, many people find relief from arthritis pain through massage therapy. Various types of massage exist, from myofascial release to deep tissue to the standard Swedish massage. One major benefit of massage therapy is that you can learn to perform certain techniques on yourself.
The healing power of touch can do much to help remedy what ails us. Remember that you can't pour from an empty pitcher, so practicing good self-care is essential to being the best you can be.
Treating arthritis doesn't need to mean resorting to medications with a list of side effects a mile long. It's possible to treat the condition in natural ways which benefit your overall health. Follow the tips above to treat your arthritis the way nature intended and get back to feeling your best, quickly.
