For those who suffer from arthritis, it can be a painful and debilitating condition. The degeneration of the joints causes pain, stiffness, and inflammation, and is a daily struggle. For some, they turn to traditional medication such as painkillers, but they can sometimes have other side-effects. If you are looking for a natural alternative, then here are some other ways you can get relief from your arthritis symptoms.
Losing Weight
For those with arthritis in their legs or feet, carrying additional weight can make your symptoms worse. By actively trying to lose weight, you can dramatically lessen the pain and help to limit further damage to your joints. There are also certain foods that you should avoid to help prevent aggravating arthritis. Along with that, you also need to up your intake of omega-3 fatty acids which you can get from fish or supplements.
Exercise
You might think that using your painful joints would be the last thing you should be doing. However, there is a lot of evidence to show that exercise can help people suffering from arthritis. Not only will the exercise help your joints, but it will also contribute to your weight loss which is also important. You can try any type of exercise, though swimming and water aerobics are the best because they support your joints.
Natural Remedies
There are some natural remedies that can ease the pain and inflammation without any of the side-effects you can get from traditional medicine. For example, rose hips and concentrated ginger are among those that have been found to offer relief. Another natural remedy is marijuana, which is becoming a more popular alternative to painkillers. Companies such as The Green Earth Farmacie provide marijuana for recreational and medicinal use.
Hot and Cold Therapy
One of the most basic therapies can also be the most effective. Heat and cold can often help to ease the pain and the inflammation of arthritis, though this is usually an only temporary relief. For heat, having a morning shower or bath can help to ease your joints when you wake up, plus, you can also use an electric blanket at night to keep your joints warm as you sleep. For cold treatment, placing ice packs around the joint is a good idea, as are freeze sprays, although sprays can cause irritation to the skin.
Acupuncture
The ancient Chinese medical treatment, acupuncture involves placing thin needles into the skin around the area where you are in pain. The idea is that it restores the energy in the body to help maintain the right balance. There is a lot of research that has shown acupuncture can help with a variety of conditions, and the World Health Organization recommends it for over 100 different conditions.
Trying to cope with your arthritis by using natural remedies can be better for you overall. Not only will it reduce the likelihood of side effects, but it also prevents dependence on more traditional painkillers.
