Arthritis is an extremely common challenge that millions of Americans struggle with. And, contrary to popular belief, arthritis doesn’t only happen to the very old. Anyone can get arthritis at any age.
While we tend to call any condition that causes joint stiffness and pain “arthritis,” there are actually over 100 specific types of arthritis including bursitis, fibromyalgia, lupus, Lyme disease, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and tendinitis.
Fortunately, the traditional treatment for arthritis – taking steroids for the rest of your life – isn’t the ONLY treatment for this condition. In fact, there are many natural ways you can relieve arthritis pain.
Natural Arthritis Pain Relief
The most common arthritis pains include swelling, joint pain, stiffness, and a reduction in your range of motion. These can be eased and can even vanish when using natural remedies. Finding the right solution for your body is the primary challenge. Here are several natural alternatives you can use instead of the traditional arthritis pain management systems:
1. Anti-inflammatory Diet
Arthritis pain often stems from inflammation. But cutting out foods that cause inflammation from your diet, you can significantly increase your overall comfort.
- Some simple rules for keeping up an anti-inflammatory diet include:
- Eating plenty of fruits and veggies
- Consuming lots of gluten-free fiber
- Limiting saturated fats like those found in junk food
- Munching foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids like flax meal, walnuts, legumes, and cold-water fish
- Avoiding refined sugar or foods high in sodium
- Trying to use different spices in place of salt
2. Treat Any Food or Seasonal Allergies
Seasonal or food allergies can cause additional and unnecessary inflammation. You can treat food allergies by avoiding the foods to which you are allergic. Seasonal allergies can get a bit more tricky though. Take a look at our previous article on naturopathic solutions for seasonal allergies and be sure to come on in to Flow Natural Health Care for more tailored solutions.
3. Ginger/Ginger Tea
Ginger has been found to act within your body in a similar way as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). You can eat and drink ginger by adding it to recipes, sipping on ginger tea, or enjoying pickled ginger with your sushi.
Another great way to use ginger is to crush fresh ginger and apply it as a poultice to an achy joint. The heat of ginger and some of its elements can help you ease pain on an immediate basis. Think of it like nature’s Icy Hot.
4. Use Turmeric and Cloves in Your Cooking
Turmeric is an excellent spice that not only tastes good but helps to inhibit inflammation. It tastes great on rice, veggies, meat, and even when used in place of mustard in some recipes. Another anti-inflammatory spice that you don’t often hear about is cloves. This rich spice is perfect for those of you who love the smell of the holidays. You can add cloves to your coffee or tea, mix it in with honey, or add it baked apples or pears.
5. Consume more Omega-3s
Omega-3 fatty acids is another natural anti-inflammatory that is found in many foods including fish, flaxseeds, chia seeds, walnuts, soybeans, cooked spinach, and more. It can also be taken as a supplement,
6. Don’t Forget the Vitamin D
It may be springtime here in Oregon, but we can almost bet you that you are not getting enough vitamin D from the sun. That’s a shame because vitamin D not only helps your bones absorb calcium, it can help inhibit inflammation too! So, be sure to take vitamin D supplements – and get out in the sun as much as you possibly can. Enjoying the outdoors and fresh air is its own therapy.
We treat arthritis and arthritis pain as one of our many naturopathic services. Find out more about how you can avoid arthritis medication with natural solutions by making an appointment here at Flow Natural Healthcare. We look forward to helping you find the perfect treatment for your needs.