10 Best Natural Herbs and Supplements for Arthritis
Here are some of the best natural herbs and supplements that are used to treat arthritis pain.
Most of these products are commonly used in the kitchen for cooking but they surprisingly have some high medicinal benefits when it comes to treating your joints.
Aloe Vera, Image credits needpix
⦁ Aloe Vera
The aloe vera juice has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties.
The anti-inflammatory compound present in aloe vera is called anthraquinones and it helps reduce swelling.
It can help reduce pain from a burn, sunburn, or even joint pain from arthritis when applied topically. It also helps increase the healing process- making it one of the best herbs for arthritis.
What to do:
Take a fresh aloe vera, straight from the plant if possible, and extract the purple from it. Put the pulp into a blender or electric mixer for a more liquid consistency.
Turmeric, Image credits Pixabay
⦁ Turmeric
Turmeric possesses an ingredient known as curcumin which has anti-inflammatory properties.
This is why turmeric has been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for centuries.
It is used to treat various arthritic conditions including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Such conditions cause inflammation, pain, and stiffness in the joints and turmeric helps reduce or prevent these symptoms.
What to do:
Boil 1 cups of water or milk with 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder.
And 2-3 pinches of black pepper.
Let it boil for 10 to 15 minutes.
Add lemon, honey, or sugar to taste.
⦁ Green Tea
Green tea contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
This is because it contains the most powerful type of polyphenols or catechins, an antioxidant that reduces inflammation and slows down the rate of cartilage destruction and joint damage.
What to do:
Boil some green tea leaves with water.
Add matcha powder for making any milk or smoothie based drink.
Boswellia, Image credit: Pixabay
⦁ Boswellia
It is used to treat conditions like arthritis and other joint problems. The herbal extract is also available in the form of resin, pill, or cream.
It has three important features:
Effective anti-inflammatory
Effective painkiller
Prevent the loss of cartilage
This is because the acid present in Boswellia prevents the formation of leukotrienes, the molecules that cause inflammation reaction in the body.
⦁ Cat’s Claw
Although there has been no scientific evidence, the cat’s claw is a herbal remedy that has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
It effectively treats the symptoms and pain of rheumatoid and osteoarthritis with only minor side-effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
What to do:
The herbal supplement is available and is commonly taken to reduce joint pain. The recommended intake is 60-80 mg per day.
Eucalyptus, Image Credit: Pixabay
⦁ Eucalyptus
This herb has multiple benefits. They include:
Lowering blood pressure
Reducing inflammation
Relieving pain
Promotes and aids sleep during times of stress and pain
Thus, this is a herb for joint pain and is very suitable for treating the symptoms of arthritis.
What to do:
Eucalyptus inhalant: Add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to hot water and deeply inhale the steam vapor for five to 10 minutes
Eucalyptus inhalers are also available in the market.
The oil can also be used in warm baths and showers.
Ginger, Image credits Pixabay
⦁ Ginger
Ginger has high anti-inflammatory properties which could even be comparable to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
It is commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and any other condition that causes pain in the joints and muscles.
Ginger does not only help, manage, or reduce symptoms but could also prevent bone destruction.
What to do:
Grate some ginger while you are boiling your everyday tea.
Grate ginger into your salads.
Boil some ginger water for 20 minutes.
⦁ Fish oil: Omega-3 fatty acids
The Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish oil and contain eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These two acids help in the following:
Reducing inflammation
Reducing swelling, pain, morning stiffness, and tenderness
Increase blood flow
What to do:
Eat foods rich in fish oil or consume Omega-3 fatty acid supplements. The recommended dietary intake (RDA) is 2.6g per day.
Fish Oil, Image credits Pixabay
⦁ Vitamin D
Arthritis is a condition related to the bones and cartilages.
Vitamins D helps with symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis as it helps the body absorb calcium, which is essential for building strong bones.
Deficiency in this vitamin could cause the bone and cartilages to become brittle, soft, weak, and increase the symptoms and pain of arthritis.
What to do:
Consume vitamin D rich foods like fatty fish, beef, egg yolk, mushrooms, etc
Consume vitamin D supplements.
The recommended dietary intake is 600 IU per day.
⦁ Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate
Glucosamine and chondroitin are naturally found in human cartilage. This is why most supplements are aimed at treating arthritis pain and symptoms contain glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.
They mainly help relieve symptoms and help rebuild the worn-out cartilage that is damaged or disintegrated.