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Herbal Remedies for Arthritis
Herbs have long since formed the basis for many traditional medicine systems and remedies based on these cures from nature's bounty are gaining popularity as treatment options for health issues, including Arthritis.
Emerging trends in Arthritis treatment: herbal remedies and effectiveness
The skeptics may have questioned the effectiveness of herbal remedies for treating arthritis since herbs are non-regulated; their safety is sometimes under cloud. However, recent studies and patient feedback from relieved users have validated the claims of herbalists in using herbs for joint pains.
A painful disease that is very common, Arthritis affects the joints, skin and various internal organs. There are over 100 types of arthritis and it affects about 42 million people. Two most common forms of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, which affects the joints and though they have different risk factors, the common symptom in both is persistent joint pain. The joint pain of arthritis can appear as hip pain, knee pain, hand pain, or wrist pain, as well as joint pain in other areas of the body. Herbal remedies for treating this pain are aplenty but their effectiveness depends upon the condition of the sufferer too.
Some popular herbal remedies for Arthritis
Some of the popular herbal remedies for treating joint pain in Arthritis include ginger, Chinese Thunder God Vine, willow bark extract, feverfew, cat's claw and stinging nettle. Ginger and willow bark extract may relieve pain as they are believed to contain chemicals similar to conventional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory compounds (NSAIDs) like naproxen (Aleve) and ibuprofen (Advil). Chinese Thunder God Vine also relieves pain and inflammation, but users are cautioned against chronic use as it may cause weakening of the immune system and bones (osteoporosis).
Herbal remedies for arthritic sufferers may also include herbal juices and decoctions. The advantage of these are that they may be suitable than other forms of herbal medicine as they are easily absorbed by the body and capture the whole synergistic complex of healing ingredients locked in the plant.
- Boswellia is one herb that has a unique anti-inflammatory action, akin to the conventional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used for inflammatory conditions. Unlike NSAIDs, however, long-term use of boswellia does not lead to irritation or ulceration of the stomach-the dreaded side effects of NSAIDS.
- Cayenne Capsaicin has burning substance that is used topically to relieve pain from osteoarthritis.
- Devils claw is an analgesic that also has anti-inflammatory properties and a dosage of one to two grams, three times daily is considered safe for relieving arthritis related joint pain.
- Ginger acts as an anti-inflammatory product when the dosage is restricted to 0.5 to 1 mg of powdered ginger daily. It can also be taken in Ginger Tea by adding grated teaspoon of fresh ginger to a cup of hot water and taken twice daily.
- Horsetail has silicon content, believed to exert a connective tissue strengthening and anti-arthritic action in traditional medicine.
For those experiencing acute joint inflammation, the best herbal remedy in Arthritis is to slowly start with movement exercises and hot, moist fenugreek packs on the painful areas.