Arthritis pain can be truly debilitating. Having your joints ache while you are trying to do anything can make even the simplest task a challenge. While there are of course many medications that can ease pain, people often look for other techniques that can help give them a little extra relief. The website Rolling Paper lists many of them, such as surgeries, lifestyle changes, and the subject of our article today: natural remedies.
A lot of people turn to natural remedies, hoping they will help them find some comfort. While not everything will work for everyone, there are a few tricks and treatments that even doctors agree can help ease your pain.
1. Ginger
Studies have found that ginger can help curb pain by activating the body's anti-inflammatory response without the side-effects like some medications have. You can use raw, powdered or cooked ginger in your food or drink a ginger tea. Any way you digest it will help ease your pain.
2. Anti-inflammation foods
A study found that a Mediterranean diet consisting of fruits, veggies, fish and olive oil helped lower the levels of inflammation in the body, helping patients regain some physical abilities.
3. Essential oils
Aromatherapy can be extremely beneficial in a variety of ways, including pain relief. Lavender can help reduce the stress hormone cortisol, which helps you be less aware of your pain. Other scents that can help you feel less pain include marjoram, rosemary and peppermint.
4. Wash dishes by hand
Even though it sounds like it's the last thing you would want to do, holding your hands in hot water can actually help soothe pain. Not only that, the motion of actually cleaning the dishes will help keep your hands and fingers mobile.
5. Chamomile tea compress
Chamomile tea isn't just for drinking! If you put four tea bags in a cup of water and let it steep for twenty minutes, you can then use that strong tea to help relieve your achy joints. Soak a clean cloth in the tea and apply it to the joint that hurts and it'll help it feel better.
6. Hot-cold treatment
Get yourself two containers and fill one with ice water and the other with hot water that you can still stand to touch. Start by submerging the aching joint for one minute in the cold water, then switch to the hot water for 30 seconds. Repeat this for about 15 minutes, switching temperatures every 30 seconds. At the end of the 15 minutes, hold the joint in the cold water for a full minute.
There are more simple tricks you can use to help ease your arthritis pain...
7. Swimming
Swimming is by far the best low-impact exercise you can get. The water helps reduce the impact on your joints but you still get a good workout. Keeping your joints moving is an important way to handle the pain, so make sure you find a pool to swim in.
8. Green tea
If you want to experience the pain relief of green tea, you'll have to drink four cups a day, but it'll significantly reduce the cartilage damage caused by arthritis so it's well worth it.
9. Music
Whatever music you love the most can actually help you experience less pain. Researchers ran a study with three groups: one who were assigned a playlist, one who got to pick their own music, and one without any music. Both groups who listened to music experienced pain relief, but those who picked their own playlists had the most impressive reduction of pain.
10. Walk barefoot
Walking without shoes on can ease pain by 12%. If you do need to wear shoes, make sure you pick ones that mimic the natural arch and heel of your foot and avoid anything that lifts your heel up higher.
11. Add turmeric to your food
Turmeric is highly effective at reducing pain and swelling in arthritis patients. You only need less than a teaspoon per day to get the same results as 800 milligrams of ibuprofen. You can mix it in to your veggies, rice or other foods or even just keep some mustard packets around, apparently they have the perfect dose inside.
