Arthritis is the general term used for any type of inflammation of the joints. The inflammation occurs when the cartilage breaks down. Since the cartilage serves as a protection between two bones that meet, when it thins out, the bones rub into each other causing several of the symptoms of inflammation. Pain, swelling, redness and stiffness of the joint will occur, and this is collectively called arthritis.

There are several causes of arthritis. It may be due to an autoimmune disorder when the body itself attacks the cartilage. It may also be due to wear and tear, in the case of older individuals who have severely used their joints. It may also be due to microorganisms that feeds on the synovial fluid of the joint and causes infection in the area. Immediate treatments are focused on relieving the inflammation. Long-term treatments are concentrated on the underlying cause of the disease. For instance, if it is due to bacteria, then patients are given high-doses of antibacterial medications. If it resulted from wear and tear, then the person is advised to have lifestyle changes, such as losing weight since increased weight puts more pressure on the knee joint, thereby increasing the chances of having arthritis. However, there are also other safer, natural and effective ways to manage arthritis using the following:

• Arnica

  Arnica’s leaves are soft and hairy. Some species of this plant had shown to have anti-inflammatory properties through the compound called helenalin. A study made in 2002 has shown that the gel made from parts of the plant is effective in reducing the symptoms of the disease, such as pain and stiffness, therefore increasing the function of the joint. Two years later, another study was made that compared the Arnica gel and the ibuprofen gel. The study showed that Arnica gel was evaluated by the patients as being way more effective than ibuprofen gel in decreasing the pain and in reducing the periods of morning stiffness of the joints. However, it must be remembered that Arnica gel must not be taken orally for it is a highly toxic substance that can cause anaphylaxis, paralysis, heart problems and even death.

• Broccoli

  There is an on-going rave about the benefits of broccoli in the reduction of the symptoms of arthritis. While broccoli is popular with the efforts to reduce cancer risks, broccoli has also shown potential in alleviating joint pains that can be categorized as arthritic pain. Broccoli contains the compound sulforaphane. This compound has the capability to block the enzyme that is responsible for plaguing the cartilage that protects the bones from rubbing together. By eating high amounts of broccoli, there will be increased amounts of sulforaphane in the blood. This therefore means that the risk of acquiring osteoarthritis, one of the most common types of arthritis, is reduced.

• Cayenne Pepper

  Popular in the kitchen, this dried, grounded, baked and sifted fruits of the cayenne pepper is also being used as medicine. The main component of cayenne pepper that is believed to have therapeutic effects is capsaicin. Several studies have been made about capsaicin and it was found out that it has pain-relieving effects, it offers benefits to diseases related to the cardiovascular system and it is effective in preventing ulcers. The studies for its pain-reducing effects are focused on headaches and pain due to arthritis. There are two ways to use cayenne pepper. One is to take the pepper orally by adding it to foods in tiny amounts. Specific for arthritis is to apply it topically on affected areas in the form of oil or liniment.

• Cherries

  This stone fruit is from the subgenus Cerasus of the genus Prunus. The rave on cherry being beneficial to arthritis sufferers started in 1950s. Since one type of arthritis is due to elevated levels of uric acid, which is medically called gout, studies were made regarding this precept. As it turn out, those who are eating a diet rich in cherries have lowered their levels of uric acid, therefore reducing the incidence of acquiring gout and the symptoms of arthritis. The component in cherries identified to be beneficial to arthritis sufferers are the anthocyanins, which is believed to be an anti-inflammatory and can help in the reduction of nitric oxide which is a potent compound responsible for the intensification of the symptoms of arthritis.

• Krill Oil

  Krill is a crustacean that is similar to shrimps. Krill feeds on planktons and is at the bottom of the oceanic food chain. But in spite of how lowly its position is in the animal hierarchy, it is beneficial to humans not just as food but as a relief in the symptoms of arthritis. The oil extracted from Krills is rich in omega-3, omega-9, EPA and DHA essential fatty acids. The oil has shown to be beneficial in strengthening the membranes of the cells of the human body. This will therefore contribute to the reduction of the causes of arthritis and the symptoms of arthritis itself, which is basically the inflammation of joints.

• Shea Tree Supplements

  The fruit of this native African tree is pulpy and can produce huge amounts of oil that is formed into shea butter. Shea butter is widely used as an ingredient in several cosmetic products. Not only does it have emollient property, it also keeps food and other products moist, and mostly, it has an anti-inflammatory property. Those who are taking supplements made from extracts of the Shea tree need not worry. A study was made showing evidences of how effective the extracts are in reducing the inflammatory symptoms of several types of arthritis, as well as its effectiveness in reducing the degradation of the cartilage that causes the disease called arthritis.

• St. John’s Wort

  This plant has several other names. But the common St. John’s Wort is the Hypericum perforatum. Traditionally it has been used to help in psychological depression. But it has been suspected to be effective as an anti-inflammatory too. In fact, there are several on-going studies to prove its effectiveness in relieving nerve pain, arthritic pain, menstrual pain and dental pain. To utilize this herb, the flower of St. John’s Wort is crushed and decocted as tea and applied externally to the affected area.

Sources
all4naturalhealth.com
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
arthritistoday.org