What is Arthritis?
Arthritis is a disorder related to the joints of our body. Its symptoms are joint pain and stiffness and also include redness, swelling, warmth and improper movement of joints. The most common types of arthritis are Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis occurs in fingers, knees and hips with age and rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that usually affects hands and feet.
What Causes Arthritis?
Here are some of the common reasons leading to arthritis.
1. Obesity
People who are overweight have more chances of arthritis. Excessive weight contributes to more stress on joints, commonly hips, spine and knees. It impacts the joints causing inflammation, destroying the tissues of joint.
2. Family History
Family history really plays an important role in arthritis. Some types of arthritis run with the family, so if your parents have the disorder then you are more likely to be affected by it. Family history can increase the risk of some kinds of arthritis including rheumatoid arthritis.
3. Age
Risk of many arthritis increases with age including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout. Cartilages become brittle in old age, not having the capacity to repair. It often starts in the 40s and 50s but can also occur early.
4. Previous Joint Damage
Previous damage to the joints can also lead to arthritis. Arthritis of wrist is really common due to previous damage in joints or cartilages that happened due to an injury or compression. Tibial plateau fracture can also cause arthritis when broken cartilage enters the knee joint.
5. Occupational hazards
Some occupations require repetitive motion and can stress some joints of the body. Constant stressful movements and heavy load can often deteriorate the bones. Even regular pulling or pushing can damage cartilage and bones after a period of time.
6. High-Level Sports Activity
Often, arthritis can be caused due to forceful action during sports activity. Long distance running can also lead to joint problems. Injuries during playing sport can also lead to arthritis in the long run.
7. Infections
Certain infections can also cause arthritis because of the damage of cartilage around the joint, through bacteria and virus or lesions formation entering the skin and synovial membrane. People with experience of septic joint infection and recurrent staph infection have a high risk of arthritis.
How To Treat Arthritis at Home?
Natural cure for arthritis is really efficient and very easy to get rid of arthritis pain. Here are some beneficial natural treatments for arthritis.
1. Turmeric
What You Will Need
- 2 cups of water
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Milk and honey according to taste
What To Do
- Boil water and add turmeric powder and black pepper to it.
- Let it simmer for 15 minutes.
- Add milk and honey according to taste.
How Often To Do
You can consume it daily.
Why This Works
Curcumin present in turmeric suppresses enzymes and proteins that promote inflammation. It also protects joint and bones from erosion and prevents thickening of synovial fluid. Consuming turmeric tea regularly reduces the severity of arthritis and also reduces pain.
(Turmeric has a tonne of benefits for the skin. Read some benefits of turmeric masks which is a great way to use this natural common ingredient for your face.)
2. Ginger
What You Will Need
- A small piece of ginger.
- A cup of water
- Honey
What To Do
- Grate the ginger.
- Add ginger to one cup of boiling water.
- Let it steep for 15-20 minutes.
- Add honey to it.
How Often To Do
Consume one cup per day.
Why This Works
Ginger is a helpful remedy for treating pain during arthritis. It lowers the prostaglandins level in the body and calms arthritis. It also significantly reduces pain and inflammation during arthritis.
3. Cinnamon
What You Will Need
- A small teaspoon cinnamon powder
- 1 cup of water
- 2 teaspoon honey
What To Do
- Warm the water
- Add cinnamon powder and honey to it and mix
How Often To Do
You can drink it twice a day, once in the morning and once in the night.
Why This Works
Regular consumption of this solution can cure even chronic arthritis. Cinnamon reduces inflammation of joints and also effectively lowers the pain of arthritis. Cinnamon’s benefits can be leveraged very well by using its extract, the Cinnamon oil. Read here all about Cinnamon oil’s benefits and uses.
4. Green Tea
What You Will Need
- Few green tea leaves
- One cup of water
- Honey
What To Do
- Boil a cup of water.
- Add green tea leaves to it and let it steep for 20 minutes.
- Add honey to it.
How Often To Do
Drink it one to two times a day.
Why This Works
Green tea suppresses epigenome and reduces inflammation. It can also produce some chemical changes to DNA and histone proteins to reduce the chances of arthritis in the offspring.
5. Licorice Tea
What You Will Need
- 1 tablespoon licorice root
- 1 cup of water
- Honey
What To Do
- Boil one cup of water
- Steep the licorice roots for 20 minutes in it.
How Often To Do
Drink it one to two times a day.
Why This Works
Anti-inflammatory effect of licorice tea lowers inflammation and reduces the pain of arthritis.
6. Mustard Oil
What You Will Need
- 3-4 drops of mustard oil
What To Do
- Gently massage the area of pain with mustard oil.
How Often To Do
Do it every night before going to bed.
Why This Works
Massaging mustard oil stimulates blood flow and reduces pain and inflammation.
7. Eucalyptus Oil
What You Will Need
- 3-4 tablespoon eucalyptus oil.
What To Do
- Apply the oil on affected areas.
How Often To Do
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Why This Works
Applying this on the affected areas significantly reduces pain and inflammation. It is a really good arthritis cure at home. That is just one of the benefits of Eucalyptus oil, one of the most popular and oldest used essential oils.
8. Garlic
What You Will Need
- 1-2 cloves of garlic.
What To Do
- Roast and eat fresh garlic.
How Often To Do
Consume 1-2 garlic cloves daily.
Why This Works
Garlic is a natural cure for arthritis that helps in treating pain, reducing inflammation and also reduces the production of pre-inflammation cytokines.
9. Make Your Own Heat Pad
What You Will Need
- A cotton sock
- Uncooked rice
What To Do
- Fill the sock with uncooked rice
- Put it in a microwave for 2-3 minutes.
- Leave it for few minutes.
- Apply it on the joints when it is still warm.
How Often To Do
You can use it whenever you feel pain.
Why This Works
Heat from this heat pad will reduce inflammation and pain. It will stay warm for half an hour and provide relief.
10. Capsaicin Cream
What You Will Need
- Few dashes for ground cayenne
- 2 teaspoon olive oil
What To Do
- Mix both the ingredients properly.
- Apply it on the joints.
How Often To Do
You can do it several times a day to get relief from the pain.
Why This Works
The first few applications can cause a burning sensation, but it helps you to reduce pain. It relieves from a compound known as ‘substance P’ that transmits pain signal to the brain. It is an effective remedy for arthritis
Also, read:
Like Eucalyptus oil, there are several extracts from nature, called Essential Oils, which serve a variety of purposes for our beauty and wellness. Look through the list of these essential oils and their uses and decide the ones which are best for your natural wellness needs.
Almond oil serves as a great choice for massage. Read here for all the benefits of sweet almond oil for your beauty and health.
