Your arthritis can flare up for a variety of reasons. You may have been using the affected area more frequently, you may have performed an exercise or activity that irritated it, or even something as simple as cold weather can cause flare-ups. Regardless of what caused it, you may be experiencing swelling, stiffness, tenderness, sharp or intermittent pain, or decreased range of motion due to your arthritis. Since there is no known cure for this medical issue, you will want to focus on reducing your symptoms. If you are looking to reduce these symptoms, but don't want to take prescription medications, there are a few ways you can treat your condition naturally. Here are three natural arthritis treatments.
Epsom Salt Soak
One of the ways you can naturally treat arthritis is by soaking in warm bath water in which Epsom salts have been dissolved. Epsom salt is a combination of magnesium and sulfate. When mixed in the bath water, it can be absorbed through your skin and transferred into your body. The magnesium in the mixture possess anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties which help to reduce swelling and pain. And the warm bath water helps to increase circulation, which also helps to reduce swelling in the body. Some brands of Epsom salt are diluted, while others are not, so always read the package you buy to determine how much salt to add to your bath water.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Extra virgin olive oil helps to prevent the pro-inflammatory COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes from forming. These enzymes cause inflammation in the body, which is a major symptom of arthritis. Preventing these enzymes from forming is exactly what many medications, such as aspirin and Tylenol do to keep inflammation low. However, while these medications can have side effects, olive oil does not. Many experts recommending incorporating 3 1/2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil into your diet daily to keep arthritis symptoms at bay. You can use the mixture to saute vegetables or lightly fry breaded chicken or fish. However, do not heat the oil to over 400 degrees or you will kill the properties that prevent the enzymes from forming.
Dandelion Leaves
Dandelion leaves are high in vitamin A and C content, helping to repair damaged tissues and clear toxins out of the blood. This helps to reduce the pain you are experiencing from arthritis and keep that pain away for prolonged periods of time. You can pick dandelion leaves from dandelions you have growing in your backyard, buy them at whole or natural food stores, or buy dried tea versions as most natural food stores or vitamin stores. Fresh dandelions leaves can be eaten in a salad, sauteed and eaten as a side, or steeped in warm water to create a tea. Eating one serving of dandelion leaves per day every day can decrease the frequency with which you have flare-ups and reduce the pain you experience when you do have one.
Natural remedies, such as Epsom salts, dandelion leaves, and extra virgin olive oil may help treat the pain you experience when your arthritis acts up. However, if these remedies do not help you, you will want to schedule an appointment with your doctor. You may need prescription medications or other medical intervention to help improve your symptoms and control the pain you are experiencing.
Share16 January 2017
One day I was playing a game of basketball with a friend, and the friend I was playing ball with tripped and took a hard fall to the ground. He hit his head hard, but he insisted he was okay and just wanted to go home and take a nap. I knew in my heart that he was not thinking clearly, and I didn't feel right letting him go home. I talked him into letting me take him to the hospital, and after some tests, it was determined he had a bad concussion. The doctors told me that if I had let him go home and sleep, things could have taken a turn for the worse. I created this blog to remind everyone to look out for each other after injuries. Not everyone thinks clearly after a head injury, and just being a good friend could save a life.