Osteoarthritis is the more common of the two, effecting 10% of the population whereas rheumatoid arthritis affects about 1%. Rheumatoid arthritis can be identified as usually affecting both sides of the body equally – it is said to be symmetrical – whereas osteoarthritis effects joints that have had the most wear.
You should check with your medical practitioner to diagnose which type of arthritis you have. It is most likely to be osteoarthritis, and particularly so if you have reason to believe that the joint in question has had excessive use over a period of time. “Conventional” medications for osteoarthritis are still pretty primitive. They basically consist of analgesics or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen or celebrex and these are certainly not without their undesirable side effects.
What are the herbs for arthritis and joint pain? There are a number of herbs that have anti-inflammatory properties, such as
Devils Claw,
White Willow - which acts like aspirin but without the associated gastric problems,
Grape Seed,
Nettle and
Ginger. But probably the most commonly used and generally accepted herbal anti-inflammatory comes from extracts from the gum of the
Boswellia Serata tree. Boswellia appears as an ingredient in half of the products we have selected on this page.
Other ingredients include
Alfalfa, a great all round detoxifier and tonic, and
Black Cohosh, a potently therapeutic herb more usually associated with relieving menopause symptoms.
In the realm of alternative medicines for arthritis, other than herbal medicine, that is, there is no doubt that
Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulphate are having an enormous impact in the treatment of arthritis.
This writer is also a great believer in the need to include fish oil in our diet and, unless you are an extraordinary consumer of fish, capsule form is a great substitute.
Other herbs for arthritis and joint pain included in the supplements on
this page are
Ginkgo Biloba,
Burdock Root,
Licorice,
Parsley and
Curcumin (the active component of Turmeric)
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Herbs commonly used for Arthritis/Joint Pain
commonly used herbs for joint pain :
BoswelliaSerata,
DevilsClaw,
White willow,
Ginger
Some recommended products | |
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Arthritis is a disease related to inflammation of joints in the body. This name is derived from Greek language in which arthro means joint and itis refers to inflammation. It also affects the supporting tissues and adjoining muscles. As a result mobility is greatly affected and thus makes it difficult to perform simple activities. It can be easily identified by swelling and pain in the joint along with appearance of reddish and shiny skin around the joint. It also results in reduced ability to move the joint and warmth around the joint. There are millions of people suffering from arthritis worldwide and US alone has 40 million people suffering from this problem. It is caused by many factors predominantly being age and heredity. As we grow older cartilage wear and tear puts us at high risk for this disease. Injuries afflicting joints could also lead to Arthritis in due course of time. Obese people are at higher risk as weight puts a lot of pressure on joints It could also be due to occupation where same set of physical activity is performed over a longer period of time or due to infections due to virus or bacteria affecting other parts of the body. A healthy lifestyle and nutritious diet supplemented by regular exercise routine can help you a long way to avoid or maintain your health while suffering from arthritis. Here are some herbs to assist you in this process 1. Dandelion- Since ages it has been used in the treatment of arthritis. Due to its mild diuretic effect, it improves kidney functioning along with digestion .It prevents constipation and acts as a very good liver tonic. 2. Ginger It is a very effective anti inflammatory agent and is known to be very effective in relieving joint pains and inflammation of muscle tissues. Thus it acts as a very important herb for treating arthritis. 3. Turmeric It acts as a strong anti inflammatory agent so it assists in reducing inflammation along with combating other infections. It also increases bile production and proper functioning of gall bladder. A simple application of turmeric paste on the joints can help protect them due to its anti oxidant action. 4. Burdock It acts as an excellent blood purifier and diuretic It helps alleviate joint swelling due to water retention and also leads to break down of calcium deposits. 5. Garlic It is regarded as the best health tonic available to mankind due to its anti inflammatory and anti bacterial properties. Daily intake of one clove of garlic improves the immune system and alleviates joint pain. As a word of caution try to avoid lifting heavy objects and follow an exercise routine Thus, to avoid this illness or cure oneself make healthy choices and lead a self disciplined life.
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