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Arthritis is the name given to a range of health conditions that are characterized by the inflammation of the joints and pain. A cure is yet to be discovered in the medical field which is unfortunate because it is a very painful disease.

There are more than 60 types of arthritis such as osteoarthritis (due to wear and tear of the joints), rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune disease that attacks the joints), gout (a complex arthritis that mainly affects the joints of the toe), etc. Every type of arthritis has its own unique characteristics and symptoms.

Arthritis most of the time affects those that are aging and overweight the most. Family history, diet, lifestyle, previous damage to a joint, environmental factors such as a job with repetitive movements, long standing hours, are all factors that increase the likelihood of developing this condition.

One of the best ways that one can manage and comfortably live with this condition is by devising a management plan or by adapting your lifestyle to suit and support this condition. Finding appropriate remedies that lessen the severity of the symptoms is also key in living with arthritis successfully.

Natural Remedies

Bitter melon

Botanical name: Momordica balsamina/momordica charantia

Bitter melon or bitter gourd is a medicinal plant/herb that recently became popular among natural healing practitioners, natural health enthusiasts, and the like.  Its leaves are very medicinal and are eaten as a vegetable and added in soups in some African and Asian cultures.

All parts of the plant have medicinal values but for today, we will only be discussing how it helps with arthritis in general

The bitter melon herb is related to other gourd plants such as cucumber, zucchini, squash, etc. It is very helpful for arthritis because of its strong anti-inflammatory property.

As inflammation is one of the symptoms of arthritis, this herb when taken as a supplement will significantly reduce inflammation and arthritis symptoms as proven in some studies.

This study showed that the use of bitter melon supplementation for 3 months improved the symptoms of the patients, reduced their pain, reduced the need for pain killers, and improved their overall arthritis symptoms

Caution: This herb is very potent hence, the dosage for an adult is a quarter teaspoon for every use; half a teaspoon should be used in a day. One of its side effects is, when taken in abundance is diarrhea among others. So be careful.

How to use:

• Boil a quarter teaspoon of the leaves powder in a cup of water
• Allow it to cool down and then sieve
• Take the water extract after meals. Twice in a day – in the morning and evening.
• If using capsules, take as prescribed on the herb pack

Colorful fruits and vegetables

A healthy diet that includes adequate fruits and vegetables can help in combatting almost every disease known to man.

In arthritis, colorful fruits and vegetables are especially known to contain antioxidants, flavonoids, polyphenols, and other useful compounds. These are very useful in fighting inflammation that triggers the cycle of arthritis.

An example of such fruits includes watermelon, roselle tea, blueberries, beetroot, dragon fruit, pomegranate, etc. These are all colorful fruits that are known to often stain one’s clothes if care is not taken.

You will need to include such varied and colorful fruits in your diet to keep your arthritis in check

Moringa leaves

Botanical name: moringa oleifera

Moringa as we know is a very nutritive and healthy plant. All parts of the plant are used in natural medicine for various illnesses.

Moringa is a common vegetable in many parts of the world and is regarded by many to be a superfood because it has such a rich nutritional profile. This vegetable is known to be rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, calcium, potassium, 4 types of vitamin Bs, contains all the amino acids we need, etc.

Moringa mainly helps arthritis by reducing the pain and inflammation which are the main symptoms of arthritis. Numerous studies have confirmed its amazing benefits for arthritis.

One is advised to frequently add this wonderful herb to their diet as a supplement to help balance and manage their condition. It is a safe plant that can be added to smoothies, soups, taken as tablets, etc.

Here is a testimonial of a man who was able to cure/put his arthritis into remission. After many years of trying different things, moringa did the magic for him. You can also find other testimonials on the internet.

This is a very good supplement for arthritis. It is very safe. As safe as a tomato if I can say. Do try it and you will see the significant difference.

Garlic & ginger

Garlic is known to be very effective for a range of health problems including colds, rashes, inflammations, etc. Its anti-inflammatory property is similar to ginger. Ginger is also a natural pain killer when used properly. It works in similar ways to pharmaceutical pain killers.

These two herbs or spices help in alleviating the symptoms of arthritis and there have been several studies that proved their effectiveness.

Healthline and other arthritis resource sites such as arthritis health also reviewed research publications that prove the effectiveness of these spices for pain, inflammation, muscle pain, and joint health

Arthritis foundation recommends garlic oil for those suffering from arthritis as it can help prevent cartilage damage

Garlic and ginger oil are also used for physical application or as ointments when you are experiencing joint pains. Beyond their use or arthritis, these two spices are serious immune boosters. In short, they improve your overall health.

How to use:

For oral use, they are best crushed and added to teas, soups or raw if you can. Feel free to incorporate them into your daily diet however you feel comfortable. You can also take them as capsules for 4-6 weeks to see how they are working for you.

For physical application, the oils from these spices are effective for pain relief.

Caution: Those taking blood thinner, should avoid using ginger until they are done with their medications. It can interact with the medicine. Stomach upset happens to some when they use ginger.

Garlic is a natural blood thinner so be careful when using it if you have such health issues.

Bermuda grass herb

Botanical name:  cynodon dactylon

Plant part used: Leaves

If I remember correctly, we studied this plant in our agriculture class during my second year of junior high school. It is a very common weed that grows in temperate countries but also a very very powerful analgesic.

The purpose of the application of this plant is for pain and inflammation relief. You can easily get this fresh herb in the neighborhood as it is a common weed. If you are unable to do that, then you can simply get the powdered herb from online health stores.

An aunt of mine (may she rest in peace) used to use this herb for pain relief whenever her arthritis symptoms begin such as joint pain.  

How to use:

• Pound about one single hand full of the fresh leaves of this herb
• You can also use a tablespoon or so of the dried leaf powder – just enough for the skin area
• Get some shea butter or some fresh butter from a cow.
• Mix the leaves and the shea butter just enough for application on the inflammed or pained area
• Apply whever you feel the need for pain relief

Arthritis Management:

You can use all the remedies and drugs in the world but if your lifestyle and behavior does not support arthritis, then you will constantly be in significant pain and your condition will continue to degenerate. Here are some useful tips that will help you:

• Avoid eating much of red meat such as cow, sheep etc. Instead, opt for fish, chicken etc.
• Exercise regularly to maintain the health of your bones and joints
• Try to lose weight if you are overweight. It will lessen the stress on your bones and joints hence the pain and symptoms will also improve.
• Use hot therapy by taking a very warm bath when your joints begin to stiffen.
• Cold therapies should be used to reduce discomfort at any time. Wrap some ice or a very cold object in a cloth and place it on the joints. Never place ice directly on your pained joints.
• Beware of foods that cause inflammation in the body such as fried foods, white bread and other white flour-based pastries, processed meast, sugary foods etc.. Try to eat them as little as possible
• Try learning some massage technics to ease your discomfort.
• Keep to a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, etc. to help balance acidity and the like in the body and prevent arthritis flairs.

Conclusion

Arthritis can be managed with the right lifestyle and effective natural remedies. It is especially important to focus on using supplements and a good diet that supports this condition such as foods rich in antioxidants, flavonoids, etc.

If you have your own unique methods of managing your arthritis successfully and naturally, do let us know in the comments section below. We are eager to learn from you.

I am quite confident in the effectiveness of these remedies for arthritis so use them and let me know how it worked for you.

Until we meet in another article, thank you for stopping by and reading till the end. Bye for now.

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