10 Effective All-Natural Arthritis Treatments
Losing Weight
Not necessarily what you wanted to hear, we know. But losing weight will, of course, reduce stress on your joints, helping reduce pain. It doesn’t have to be super hard either. The easiest way to lose weight is to find the largest source of empty calories you’re eating, and get rid of it. Another simple trick is to buy smaller plates. It sounds silly, but it works.
Get Exercise
It can be tough, but exercise has been shown to help you keep your joints functioning longer. Good options are lower impact exercises, like water aerobics or swimming. Dancing is also another good option as it has shown benefits in many other areas as well. One study found it to be more effective as pushing back dementia than anything else.
Try Acupuncture
Acupuncture has shown to work in treating arthritis as well as allergies. Allergies are of course an autoimmune disorder just like arthritis. Be sure to find a reputable therapist though. Google is an excellent resource, so are the recommendations of friends.
Hot and Cold Therapy
Heat and cold can be very effective in treating arthritis. Heat is best for treating muscle stiffness and pain. Hot water bottles and hot baths or showers are a great way to get some heat and unwind. Cold is better at treating joint pain. Ice packs or even something like frozen peas are the best ways to get some cold on you.
Get Your Fatty Acids
Fatty acids are essential for maintaining joint health. If you're not getting them, you’re going to make your problem a whole lot worse. There are many good sources of fatty acids. Seafood is the best, as the omega three fatty acids found in seafood can be used as is by the body. The types in other foods have to be converted first. Other good sources include seeds and nuts.
Get a Massage
Massages are a great way to deal with sore aching muscles. They’ve also been shown to reduce stress, which is a welcome bonus. If you can’t afford massages from a fully licensed masseuse, the local massage college will generally offer discounted services at their student clinic. And really, it’s hard to give a bad massage.
Get Some Turmeric
Turmeric is another thing that’s been shown to have all kinds of positive effects on the human body. One of which is helping with arthritis. It can be hard to get a significant amount in your diet (unless you really, really like Indian food), but you can just mix it with water and drink it. You can also get pre-filled capsules. If you’re buying it it's a good idea to check the ethnic aisle of your grocery store, as it’s often way cheaper there.
Probiotics
You’ve probably heard about how probiotics help just about everything under the sun. But it’s because it’s true. And, they help arthritis too. Particularly if yours is an inflammatory type of arthritis. You can get probiotics through supplements or probiotic foods. Probiotic foods include things like yogurt, sour cream, keifer, cheddar cheese and unpasteurized sauerkraut or kimchi.
Thunder God Vine
With a name like that, how could it not help? Joking aside though, the Chinese herb has been shown to be an effective treatment for arthritis. One large government-funded study even found it to be more effective than sulfasalazine, a commonly prescribed drug to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Be sure to check with a doctor before use though. Women who are pregnant or at risk of developing arthritis should not use it.
Deep Breathing
Deep Breathing can help if you’re stressed. By breathing deeply into your belly you’re essentially telling your body that it’s all good and things are calm right now so it can turn off the stress responses. This is beneficial as when you're stressed you tighten up your muscles causing stiffness and pain. It is also basically meditation, so you’ll get the benefits associated with that as well.