Obesity, genetics, as well as any injury to your bones, can increase the risk of developing arthritis. Arthritis is the swelling or inflammation at the joints of your bones. The exact cause of this condition is unknown. The people who are above 40-years-of-age generally suffer from this type of condition but it can affect all ages.
It can happen at any joint of your body, but the joints that are mostly affected by arthritis are hands, feet, and weight-bearing joints (back, hips, knees, and ankles). Symptoms range from pain, stiffness, tightness in the joints, cracking in the joints, etc. Most people suffer from these symptoms while engaging in physical activities.
In arthritis, the tendons, ligaments, cartilage, synovial lining gets affected, resulting in thinning of the cartilage and inflammation of that area. Synovial membrane surrounds the movable joints. Inside this membrane, synovial fluids lubricate the joint tissues, such as cartilage. The cartilage tissues are tough and slippery coverings on the ends of the bones allowing smooth bone movement. Some other causes of arthritis are:
Osteoarthritis
It is a common type of arthritis that involves wear-and-tear damage to cartilage tissues in joints. Damage results in the direct grinding of the bone causing pain and restriction in movement. It also leads to deterioration of the connective tissues present in the bones and sometimes inflammation of joint lining.
Rheumatoid arthritis
In this type of arthritis, the capsule of the joint that covers the entire joint and keeps it intact is attacked by the immune system of our body. Due to this, the synovial lining becomes swollen and inflamed.
Home remedies
There is no permanent cure for arthritis. The remedies which we will be discussing below are the ones to control the pain as well as minimizing its different symptoms. Some home remedies that are considered to be the natural cure for arthritis are as follows:
Lose weight
Weight-bearing joints such as hips, knees, ankles, and feet mainly suffer when you have put up excessive weight. Losing weight helps in getting rid of further damage to your joints. Regular exercising not only helps in losing weight but also helps in making your bones flexible. Make sure you don’t go for running or jogging as they will impart more damage to your joints.
Aerobic exercises
Aerobic exercises that are of low impacts, such as water exercises, helps in making your joints flexible without imparting much stress into it. Water supports a lot of your body weight, which relieves your weight-bearing joints from carrying the weight of your body. These exercises also impart both weight loss as well as stronger bones.
Hot and cold therapy
Take warm showers or tie up warm pads or packs to the painful joint to ease the stiffness in your joints. You can also sleep under an electric blanket, as it helps in making your joints lose. Cold therapies help in soothing pain and inflammation of the joints. Use ice packs to the affected joints. You can also wrap frozen vegetables in a towel and use them as cold therapy.
Meditation
Different meditation and relaxation techniques also help in getting rid of arthritis pain. As per the research, meditation not only helps you to get rid of anxiety and stress but also helps in getting rid of pain due to inflammation and swelling.
Omega-3 fatty acids
Start consuming foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and fish oil supplements. It helps in reducing the stiffness and pain in the joints. Some foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids are Chia Seeds, Brussels Sprouts, Algal Oil, Hemp Seed, Walnuts, Flaxseeds, Perilla Oil, Mackerel, Salmon, Cod Liver Oil, Herring, Oysters, etc.
CBD oil
As per the study, CBD oil soothes the symptoms caused by Osteoarthritis and helps in curbing the inflammation of the joints. You can wholeheartedly use CBD oil for arthritis.
Turmeric
Turmeric possesses the anti-inflammatory properties, which help to curb the inflammation of joints. Apart from this, certain herbs have arthritis fighting properties such as Boswellia, bromelain, ginkgo, stinging nettle, and thunder god vine.
Acupuncture
It is one of the best natural treatment processes in China. Needles are inserted at specific points of the body to reroute the energy for restoring balance in the body. This treatment option has the potential to reduce arthritis pain.
Massage therapy
Massaging the joints where pain exists helps in reducing pain and stiffness of bones. Book an appointment with the massage therapist or hire a personal massage therapist in your home and do massages regularly.
Keep in mind that you need to take doctor’s advice before taking these supplements and remedial measures as some may cause side effects as well as dangerous reactions in your body.