Arthritis is a joint pain that causes pain, reduced range of motion, swelling, and stiffness. It happens due to inflammation of one or more joints. The worst part about this health condition is it tends to worsen over time if not paid attention to and taken care of. Different types of arthritis can happen due to wear and tear with age.
Osteoarthritis (OA) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) are the two types of arthritis.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a wear and tear disease. This type of arthritis causes protective cartilage bones to rub together, resulting in inflammation and damage to the body. The symptoms are manageable to an extent, but the joint damage is difficult to recover.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), on the other hand, is an autoimmune disease. It happens when the immune system of the body attacks the joint tissue by mistake. In a severe health case, it also attacks internal organs. If not treated or taken care of on time, the health condition may become worse. The inflammation may cause bone erosion and joint deformity over a while.
You can consult a nearby doctor for medication or visit a naturopath for natural ways to cure and relieve joint pain. In most cases, doctors often recommend natural ways to overcome pain and stiffness in the joints.
Also, as an expert, we recommend you consult your doctor before practicing any remedy for arthritis. You can also book online naturopathy counseling sessions to connect with health professionals.
Do you know extra weight has many health disadvantages? For arthritis patients, putting on extra weight may add more pressure to the joints. As a result, you may feel more pain in your joints, including knees, hips, and feet.
As per the American College of Rheumatology and Arthritis Foundation (ACR/AF), a person must keep control of their weight if suffering from OA. The health experts recommend you to involve in extra-circular activities that help lose weight.
You can practice diet therapy or visit a doctor that can help design a program to lose overweight. By managing your diet and lifestyle changes, one can lose weight and reduce the stress applied to the joints. Also, by losing weight, you may:
– reduce the pain associated with arthritis
– improve your mobility
– maintain body strength to prevent any future damage.
Exercising keeps your body moving and fit. If you are dealing with arthritis, one must be exercising as it can help you:
– Keep control of your extra weight
– help maintain flexible joints
– make your muscles around the joint stronger. Thus, add more support to the body.
If you truly want to overcome arthritis pain, join an appropriate exercise program or connect with a trainer who can motivate and make you practice the different exercises.
We have also listed a few low-impact exercises, including:
Practicing hot and cold water for treating arthritis is a great solution. This practice will help relieve pain and inflammation.
Hot water therapy involves a warm shower or bath in the morning. Stay underwater for long to ease stiffness in the body. Also, one can use an electric blanket or moist heating pad overnight to reduce discomfort.
Under cold water therapy, wrap an ice pack or hold a bag of frozen vegetables in a towel and place it on the painful joint. The cold water treatment helps reduce swelling and inflammation. Furthermore, the practice helps relieve joint pain and quick relief. Make sure not to place the ice or bag pack directly on the skin.
Acupuncture is an old traditional practice that involves using thin needles to reroute energy and restore balance in the body. The practitioners insert the thin needles into specific points on the body to relieve pain, stimulate the body’s natural healing abilities, boost blood flow, and balance vital energies of the body.
This form of naturopathy may help reduce arthritis pain. If you are willing to try acupuncture for arthritis, make sure you find a licensed and certified acupuncturist to conduct the treatment. Studies and research show there is not enough proof to confirm its benefits, but the risk level is low in the treatment. You can also find an acupuncturist here by submitting your query online.
Your body needs to be relaxed to reduce the stress level. Stress is bad for health and is a major cause of many health problems. If you keep control of your mind and body, you may overcome many health diseases and conditions. Meditation and relaxation techniques are old-school practices that may help relieve arthritis pain, lower inflammation, and reduce stress. Thus, enabling you to cope better and faster.
Tai Chi and Yoga are some of the recommended techniques by ACR/AF that combine exercising meditation, relaxation, and breathing techniques. National Institutes of Health (NIH) states, practicing meditation by RA patients is helpful in a few conditions.
Our body can fight the disease if we start working on reducing anxiety, stress, and depression, as they complicate our health condition, especially when we deal with chronic pain, such as arthritis.
Learn more about how naturopathy help in Stress, Detox, and Anxiety.
Intake of a balanced diet that involves fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole foods is good for your health. Food rich in nutrients, vitamins, and minerals can help boost immunity and overall health. Dietary choices can play a vital role in managing both health conditions RA and OA.
Adopting a plant-based diet, rich in antioxidants may help lower inflammation levels in the body. This diet helps eliminate free radicals from the body and improve health conditions.
Whereas, on the other hand, a diet plan that involves the intake of red meat, processed foods, saturated fat, and added sugar/salt may exasperate inflammation and cause other health problems. As a result, you may notice a rise in inflammation and arthritis pain. These foods may also influence other health conditions, such as obesity, high cholesterol level, high blood pressure, risk of heart disease, and more.
Thus, it is crucial to be sure what to eat or not, to stay healthy with arthritis.
Consult an expert who will pen down foods one must avoid with arthritis.
Also, as per OA guidelines, avoid intake of vitamin D or fish oil supplements for your treatment. Stick to a diet that contains foods rich in nutrients and may contribute to better health and overall well-being.
Turmeric comprises a chemical called curcumin, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties good for health. Turmeric is a yellow-colored spice common in Indian dishes that helps your body heal and recover faster. Studies also reveal it may help relieve arthritis pain and inflammation in your body.
There is not enough proof that it is the best solution to overcome joint problems, but, is likely to be a safe option as the anti-inflammatory properties can work wonders.
Turmeric also has other health benefits and is one of the best natural remedies for various health diseases. So, visit a nearby grocery store or grab some online today.
Massage Therapy is one of the best treatments to relax your body, reduce stress, and boost blood flow in the body. Practicing massage therapy may help relieve joint pain, discomfort, and an overall sense of well-being.
ACR/AF do not recommend massage as a treatment for arthritis as there is not enough proof. But, it may indirectly help reduce stress, which is also a cause for inflammation.
We recommend consulting a doctor before practicing massage as a treatment for arthritis. Also, you can try self-massage sessions by visiting a physical therapist to help release stress and reduce anxiety.
There is no evidence that herbal supplements can treat arthritis, but many such supplements have the power to reduce the symptoms of joint pain.
Here is a list of herbal supplements that are good for arthritis patients:
Make sure to buy from a reputable source. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) does not monitor herbal supplements for quality, purity, or safety.
Consult your doctor before trying any of the above-listed supplements, as they may cause side effects. We recommend talking to your doctor before practice.
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