Alternative Natural Medicine for Arthritis
When you visit the doctor for your arthritis pain, you may be prescribed medications to help with the symptoms and any other discomforts. The downside to most drugs for arthritis is that they can be harsh on your system, causing other physical discomforts in spite of your arthritis pain.
For those who wish to avoid upset stomachs, dry mouth, and other unpleasant side effects, there are natural medicines to try that can help with your arthritis while being gentle on your system.
Alternative medicine practices are those that treat the whole person, instead of just the condition or its symptoms and they can be used in conjunction with other modern medications.
It is useful to learn more about these natural medicine options so you and your doctor can create a new treatment plan that will help you feel better, manage your symptoms successfully, and improve your quality of life.
What Is Arthritis?
If you’re unsure whether or not you have arthritis, it is important to understand exactly what this condition entails. Arthritis is defined as an inflammatory disease that targets the joints, or where two bones meet.
While this definition of arthritis is accurate, the type of arthritis you have may vary. There are more than100 different forms of arthritis that can plague the body.
Many people think of arthritis as only affecting the joints in the hands and making writing driving, and many other activities difficult. In actuality, however, arthritis is also common in the knees, shoulders, elbows, ankles, and other major joint areas.
Natural Medicines and Remedies for Arthritis
In addition to natural medicines, there are many natural remedies and practices you can do to help alleviate the pain associated with arthritis. These include the following:
Lose Weight
For many Americans, their arthritis pain can become exacerbated when they’re carrying a lot of weight. Women often carry their weight around their midsection and thighs while men tend to carry theirs in their torso and midsection. Due to the distribution of weight, they may be adding strain to certain joints and causing pain and prolonged arthritis symptoms. By exercising for at least 20 minutes a few times a week, you can combat the pain naturally and help yourself get into shape.
Hot and Cold Therapy
The pain of arthritis can be alleviated with temperature. Similar to relaxing sore muscles with a warm bath, taking a warm or cold shower can help ease the pain in your joints using nothing but temperature. Warm showers and baths can ease stiffness in the morning while cold treatments are exceptional for relieving stubborn joint pain.
Acupuncture
This ancient Chinese treatment includes gently pressing thin needles into certain points on the body. Usually situated at pressure points, acupuncture is designed to help re-direct energy in your body to restore balance.
Meditation
This medicine takes the idea of “mind over matter” and puts it to work. By meditating you are practicing mindfulness, which helps you to redirect your focus from the pain to something more relaxing. While this is helpful for some patients, it might not be for everyone. This medicine is best practiced alongside other modern medications.
Massage Therapy
Massaging arthritic joints regularly can help to reduce the pain and stiffness associated with arthritis. Massage therapy can also help you to improve your flexibility and range of motion. Investing in a massage therapist can work wonders on your body and alleviate your pain so you can get through your day and your week without being weighed down by your symptoms.
Herbal Treatments
Stiffness, pain, soreness and other symptoms of arthritis can be combated with certain herbal supplements. Some people may be deficient in some herbs, vitamins, and minerals, so adding these back into your diet can help stop the pain and discomfort of arthritis. Visit your doctor to get more information on what herbs you may need to naturally aid your symptoms.