Approximately
43 million Americans suffer with the pain of some form of arthritis. Merriam-Webster
defines arthritis as: “a disease that causes the joints of the body to become
swollen and painful.” Symptoms may vary depending on the type
of arthritis; pain and stiffness of joints is common; swelling,
redness and a decreased range of motion are also possible. An article I read
online claims that there are more than 100 different types of arthritis with
the two most often seen being:
- Osteoarthritis (most common), a condition often seen as people age or have a joint injury, and
- Rheumatoid arthritis that occurs when your body’s immune system goes amiss and misreads signals, then attacks the body.
Gout, another form of a
potentially crippling type of arthritis occurs when there is too much uric acid
in the system; it is an extremely painful form of arthritis commonly occurring
in the big toe first. Gout can initiate stiff joints, pain, heat, swelling and
redness of the affected part. As well as the large toe, it can affect your
ankles, insteps, heels, wrists, fingers and elbows. These attacks can occur
from having alcohol, drugs, an illness or sometimes stress. The first few
attacks can improve within 3-10 days, possibly without treatment and you may
not have any more attacks for possibly even years. Psoriatic arthritis is a
joint problem that often occurs with a skin condition called psoriasis. Lupus is
an extremely cruel form of arthritis with inflammation, swelling, and damage to
joints, lungs, blood, skin, heart and kidneys
Arthritis Pain relief During Cold Weather
If you have any form of arthritis, dress warmly when the weather is cold—hat,
gloves leg warmers, warm pants—whatever it takes to maintain a comfortable body
temperature.
- Exercise indoors
- Swim in a heated pool
- Take warm baths
- Use Vitamin D as a supplement
- Wear solid, supportive shoes if you live where it freezes
- Try a glucosamine-chondroitin supplement (if you are allergic to shellfish, be cautious as many of these supplements are made from shellfish. Glucosamine by itself is safer if you have these allergies.)
- Add Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil
- Have a massage
- Take NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) such as aspirin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, etc.
- Try acupuncture for pain
Home Remedies to Help Ease the Pain of Arthritis:
While there are currently no known cures for arthritis, there are some simple things you can do to ease the pain of many types of arthritis:
- Cayenne Pepper has been found to have pain-relieving properties when eaten or used in a lotion or ointment and applied to sore muscles or joints. If you mix it into a lotion or ointment and apply it to a painful area of your body, be sure to use it sparingly. There are commercial products with Capsaicin (the pain-relieving ingredient in Cayenne Pepper) in them that I have tried, and when I put the cream on too thickly it burned my skin. Try it, but be cautious. Cayenne pepper can also be beneficial in treating high blood pressure and a cough.
- Raw, unprocessed Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) can add essential nutrients to your diet such as magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and calcium. These nutrients can help relieve joint pain. The potassium in the ACV helps prevent calcium from building up in the joints; a condition associated with arthritis. Take 1 TBSP of ACV mixed in 8 Oz of water and sweetened with honey (if desired) before meals to aid digestion and relieve arthritis pain. It may also be used topically. Mix 2 TBSP of ACV with 1 TBSP of Coconut Oil or Olive Oil for a soothing joint rub.
- Curcumin, found in turmeric, and resveratrol, found in grapes, wine, berries, peanuts, and chocolate are nutritional supplements that seem to benefit people with osteoarthritis of the knee. They have been used in traditional Hindu medicine for at least a thousand years for various health problems, including joint disorders and arthritis.
- Omega-3 fatty acids also appear to be beneficial for cardio-protective effectiveness.
- Leeks, scallions, shallots, garlic, onions and other members of the allium family help to prevent joint pain.
- Dr. F. Batmanghelidjf, in his book, “You’re Not Sick, You’re Thirsty!”, says that dehydration is a major trigger for rheumatoid arthritis—drink LOTS of water!
- Women who eat a lot of vegetables from the cabbage family (cruciferous vegetables) have a lower risk for early arthritis.
- Exercise is important, but begin gently at first and keep communication lines open with your doctor concerning the type of exercise and how much to do.
- Keeping your weight at a desirable limit is important; too much weight stresses the knee joint.
- A warm shower may ease pain.
- Keep up on current information regarding your condition. There are various websites that may give you information on arthritis; if you do not have a doctor and don’t know where to start, try contacting the Website: http://www.arthritis.org. The Mayo Clinic distributes a newsletter with tips to help you manage your arthritis symptoms
Links for Other Conditions:
Rashes and Allergies:
Home Remedies For EczemaHome Remedies For Allergies
Respiratory Conditions / Colds and Flu
Home Remedies for a Cough Related to Asthma or ColdsHome Remedies For Flu
Home Remedies For Sinus Infections
Cardiovascular / Gastric Conditions
Home Remedies for High Blood PressureHome Remedy For Heartburn
Home Remedies For Bloating
Sore Throat Remedies
You've probably heard throughout your life that Vick's VapoRub (or a similar herbal concoction) stops coughs when applied to your chest, or used in the dispenser area of a humidifier, but did you know that applying it to the soles of your feet and wearing socks over it can help coughs too? I like this approach because sometimes I really don't want Vick's around my face or on my chest or back, and it's a nice alternative to that. Simply slather the Vick's on the soles of your feet and put on some socks (make sure you don't care if the socks get grease stains) right before going to bed. This treatment is best for a cough due to a cold, as asthma attacks can sometimes be triggered by the smell of Vick's.
Elderberries have the reputation of being great at treating the flu. There is a homeopathic treatment called Sambucol that comes in pill form and you can buy at the health food store. 
