Arthritis refers to a body of ailments that cause pain and inflammation in the joints. Medical solutions are undeniably the best for treating arthritis; however, there are some effective homemade remedies for arthritis and can reduce symptoms.
Verified stats have revealed that over 50 million adults and 300, 000 children have arthritis in America.
Although there are above 100 types of arthritis, the commonest is osteoarthritis, a disease that causes the cushioning between joints to erode, thereby resulting in pain, stiffness, and swelling.
Another typical class of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This condition occurs when the immune system attacks the joints and other parts of the body, hence leading to uncontrolled swelling.
No category of arthritis should be taken for granted. Be it osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or any other type; arthritis can cause severe pain and permanently harm the joints.
In this blog, we, at this moment, take a look at five productive homemade remedies to slow down the progression of arthritis as well as treat the symptoms.
Aquatic Exercises
Research has shown that aquatic exercises can be beneficial to the treatment of arthritis. Water helps the body to resist, thereby alleviating joint pressure. Likewise, water provides buoyancy, which supports body pressure, also helping to lessen pain in the joints.
Scientific research conducted in 2015 revealed that adult osteoarthritis patients who partook in an aquatic exercise procedure experienced the benefits below:
- Enhanced joint coordination
- Reduction in body fats
- Better range of motion
- Enriched moods and quality of life
And, although it was often short-lived, there was as well a reduction in arthritis discomfort.
As it stands, researchers recommend 40–60 minutes of aquatic exercises three times per week for pain relief. You can carry out these exercises in the pool.
Cold and Hot Therapies
These are two distinct but effective systems of lessening arthritic pain.
Cold therapy constricts blood vessels, and by so doing, numbs pain, reduces inflammation, and slows circulation. On the other hand, heat therapy encourages blood circulation, thereby soothing aching muscles and stiff joints.
Patients can switch between both therapies, although it is critical to scrutinize the skin while using. In case of damages or side-effects, you are advised to discontinue this remedy.
Cold therapy should be restricted to just 20 minutes in a session. Here are recommended treatments:
- Place a bag of ice on painful spots.
- Soak the affected joints in cold water.
- Wrap an ice pack in a towel before applying to affected areas.
Heat therapy should as well not exceed 20 minutes, you may:
- Rub paraffin wax on painful joints.
- Place a bottle of hot water or heating pad on swollen areas.
- Begin the day with a warm shower or bath to relieve stiff joints.
You can buy the remedies to be used in a store or order online.
Consciousness Meditation
Being conscious is a form of meditation. Practicing this type of meditation helps you to pay attention to your feelings as well as present body state.
A typical mindfulness meditation strategy is Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR). This is a program that uses consciousness to help people control stress and pain, two factors that can negatively affect the immune system.
In 2014, a study was directed at establishing if mindfulness meditation helps to lessen the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis in affected patients by boosting the immune system.
The study was conducted on 51 patients, 26 of whom underwent the MBSR program for eight weeks while the remaining 25 did not.
In the end, the 26 that received MBSR treatment reported a lessening in symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, some of which are joint inflammation, pain and rot, and early morning stiffness. These improvements continued for six months after the treatment.
Moderate-Pressure Massage
The Arthritis Foundation advises regular massage of arthritis patients to relieve pain caused by arthritis.
Health specialists say that massaging the body lessens the secretion of the neurotransmitter substance P and stress hormone cortisol, both of which are attributed to pain. Regular massage also stimulates the secretion of serotonin, a hormone responsible for enhancing positive moods and emotions.
In 2013, a study was conducted on a group of people who have rheumatoid arthritis in their upper limbs.
The participants were classified into two segments. The first group received moderate-pressure massage while the second received light-pressure massage. Every participant was massaged by an expert masseur once a week for one month, and later on, the participants learned to do so daily.
At the end of the stipulated period, patients in the moderate-pressure group experienced lesser pain levels, increased range of motion, and improved grip strength than those who received the light-pressure massage.
Another study in 2015 posted similar results, although the focus was on patients who had RA in their knees.
Earlier this year, the American College of Rheumatology and the Arthritis Foundation stated that there was insufficient evidence to suggest that massage reduces the symptoms in an osteoarthritis patient. Regular, expert massage can, however, help to relieve pain and ache in joints.
Increased Consumption of Vitamin D Supplements
Vitamin D aids in building strong bones and maintaining a healthy immune system.
An investigation in 2016 discovered that people with weaker levels of Vitamin D were more likely to have rheumatoid arthritis than those with higher levels. It was as well found that people with low Vitamin D levels suffered the most diseases.
Nonetheless, Vitamin D has not been medically certified as a remedy for arthritis, and, as such, current guidelines do not yet endorse Vitamin D as a cure for osteoarthritis.
You can augment your body’s Vitamin D levels by exposure to sunlight and specific foods, such as fish and orange. Vitamin D supplements are available for purchase in physical and online medical stores.
Bottom Line
As mentioned already, there are nearly 100 types of arthritis. After the precise class is diagnosed, a doctor or physical therapist is in the best position to prescribe a form of treatment. However, arthritis can be faced with specific home remedies, the best of which we have covered above. If you have one or two questions about using home remedies to tackle arthritis, you can see an expert.
