Curing Arthritis: 10 Natural Remedies You Should Know

To relieve the pain of rheumatoid arthritis, we can practice gentle exercises, and alternate with hot and cold treatments.

Curing arthritis is a rather slow process. Arthritis is a chronic, degenerative disease causing inflammation of the membrane that covers and protects the cartilage in the joints.

This inflammation will then cause erosion of the bone. Arthritis is different from osteoarthritis, which in turn causes the surface of the cartilage in the joint to crumble.

This very painful disease mainly affects women over 40. In this article you will see how to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis

The main and most visible symptom of rheumatoid arthritis is inflammation of the joints, which is usually very painful for the person who has it.

It is also common for people with rheumatoid arthritis to have feelings of stiffness in the joints, especially in the morning.

The areas most affected by rheumatoid arthritis are:

• the wrists
• elbows
• shoulders
• the  fingers
• toes
• hips
• ankles
• knees

Rheumatoid arthritis can also become complicated and cause rheumatoid nodules to appear, most often on the hands and feet.

These are small, hard, painless bumps that arise from a deformity of the joints and appear during the course of rheumatoid arthritis.

Here are some other symptoms that people with rheumatoid arthritis may experience:

• fever
• feeling tired
• dryness of the mucous membranes (mouth, eyes, etc.)
• neck pain
• tingling in the hands and feet

Some tips for treating rheumatoid arthritis

Take food supplements that contain borage oil, which can provide you with the omega 6 fatty acids you  need to relieve pain caused by arthritis.

Practice a sport that respects the joints, and those that can aggravate inflammation should be avoided.

It is best for people with rheumatoid arthritis to practice activities that have a low impact on the joints, such as swimming, walking or stretching.

You are also likely to feel pain for the first few days, but don’t give up as this is quite normal.

When the body gets used to this new activity, it will seem much easier to you.

Get checked out to determine if you have a gluten or dairy allergy.

In fact, it has been proven that in many cases, the arthritis patient can relieve the symptoms of the disease by eliminating certain foods from their diet.

Choose foods whose properties can treat arthritis and the joint pain that goes with it:

• Oily fish (trout, mackerel, salmon, sardines) with omega 3 fatty acids with anti-inflammatory properties.

• Vegetable oils (olive, walnut, rapeseed, flax) just as rich in omega 3. 

It is also recommended to consume these foods raw in order to retain all their nutritional properties.

• Dried fruits (nuts, almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios, dates) while taking into account that these foods also contain a high caloric intake;

• Green vegetables (chard, lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cucumbers) with antioxidant properties neutralizing the effects of free radicals.

• Fruits rich in vitamin C (oranges, tangerines, kiwis, mangoes, strawberries)

Some natural remedies to treat rheumatoid arthritis

Apply ice packs

This will reduce the inflammation of the joints. It is recommended to use ice packs that you will apply directly to the painful area.

Keep them for a maximum of fifteen minutes and if necessary, wait half an hour to start the operation again.

Be careful not to burn your skin with the ice. This is why we advise you to use a cloth.

Apply a heat source to relax the muscles

For this you can use a thermal compress, or a heating pad to relax the muscles of the painful area.

You can also soak a towel in hot water and apply in the same way.

Some people also heat a cloth over the vapors of boiling water, or even soak their feet and ankles in a basin of hot water.

If pain is felt all over your body, take a hot bath and let the heat work for a few minutes.

Use therapy for both body and soul to cure arthritis

Symptoms can be significantly reduced by combining traditional medicine treatments with alternative techniques to control stress, become aware of pain, and improve sleep.

Breathe properly

According to the Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) good, slow, deep breathing from the abdomen can help relieve psychological changes caused by arthritis.

Indeed, better breathing reduces stress and tensions, and helps to better manage difficult situations.

Do progressive muscle relaxation 

For this, it is essential to concentrate well, and to relax all the muscles of the body, from the neck to the arms, including the back, chest, stomach, pelvis, hips, legs and finally the feet.

For this type of relaxation, you can sit or lie down (without falling asleep!). Always keep a slow, deep breath.

Meditate

This type of therapy reduces the heart rate and thus reduces pain. It also decreases depression, anxiety, stress and serves to increase concentration and awareness of one’s being.

The lotus flower position allows it to relax muscles and joints, such as the wrists which rest on the knees, or the shoulders which can relax and “let down”.

Do tai chi or yoga

Both of these oriental relaxation techniques are very effective for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

They are strongly recommended for the elderly who will be able to follow the soft and flexible movements of these two practices.

They also participate in increasing the flexibility of the body, and the strength of the mind, thus helping the patient to better manage pain.