Arthritis is a medical term that refers to more than 100 distinct rheumatic illnesses that cause pain, stiffness, and swelling in joints or connective tissue. Arthritis affects 50 million individuals in the United States, and it is the leading cause of disability among those aged 65 and over.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease that affects athletes and elderly persons who have worn out their joints due to excessive wear to the cartilage between joints. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune illness, which means that the immune system of the body fights itself, producing pain and inflammation. At any age, RA can affect any joint, no matter how much or how little it has been used.
Herbalists use alternative herbs to promote the kidneys’ and large intestines’ natural cleaning activities, improve blood flow, and help lymph drainage.
Here are a few of the greatest herbs for arthritic pain relief.
- Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
Turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory and pain reducer. It includes two compounds that help to reduce inflammation (curcumin and curcuminoids) (and are very much like the oft-prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs). Turmeric is frequently prescribed for the treatment of cancer, cataracts, and Alzheimer’s disease due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
While you may easily incorporate turmeric into your regular diet, you’ll need to take it as a supplement to reap the full therapeutic advantages. To help activate turmeric, add black pepper or dried ginger to your dish. To alleviate discomfort, the herb can also be administered topically.
- CBD
CBD oil derived from hemp (Cannabis sativa) is well-known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Anecdotal evidence supports its potential to reduce pain and inflammation. Cannabis plants contain a variety of cannabinoids, which are potent plant chemicals with a variety of therapeutic effects.
CBD is produced in our bodies as well as in the cannabis plant. Endocannabinoids are the ones we create (endo meaning coming from within). The well-known runner’s high is generated by an endocannabinoid that rises in the bloodstream during aerobic activity, then crosses the blood-brain barrier, and binds to cannabinoid receptors in the brain. Certain herbs, such as ginger and Boswellia, can boost your body’s endocannabinoid system naturally, resulting in decreased pain and inflammation.
- Boswellia
Boswellia (Boswellia serrata), often known as frankincense, includes boswellic acids, which assist to reduce inflammation in the body through a variety of methods. Several herbal treatments, including Boswellia, were compared to the supplement glucosamine and the arthritis medication celecoxib in a 2013 research published in Rheumatology. The botanicals, like the medication and glucosamine, decreased knee discomfort and increased knee function. Take 500 mg of Boswellia extract standardized to 30% boswellic acid each day.
It’s possible that combining Boswellia with other herbal anti-inflammatories will be even more effective. Researchers gave patients with OA either 100 mg of Boswellia, 450 mg of ashwagandha, 50 mg of turmeric, and 50 mg of a zinc complex each day, or a placebo, for three months, according to a study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology. The herbal mixture considerably decreased the intensity of OA-related pain and impairment.
Conclusion
A diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, vital fatty acids, and fiber is the greatest treatment for arthritis, aside from herbal regimens (and reducing or eliminating foods that cause an inflammatory response such as fried foods, animal fats, dairy, and anything else which might cause an allergy sensitivity). By opening joints and promoting the dispersion of synovial fluid, which lubricates joints, yoga (particularly Yin Yoga) and moderate stretching go a long way toward arthritis prevention and pain alleviation.