Other Herbs With Potential For Oa And Ra Treatment
A few other medicinal plants have been investigated in preclinical studies using cellular and animal models, but have not been tested in clinical trials involving humans. Nevertheless, the mechanisms elucidated by these preclinical trials provide insight into the therapeutic potential of these natural medicines for OA and RA. Species of Angelica, Cinnamon, Glycyrrhiza, and Saposhnikovia have been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine and known for their anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects . These herbs diminish the expression of inflammatory mediators, such as IL-1, IL-6, TNF-, PGE2, and COX-2, via modulation of NF-B activation and kinase activity in in vitro and in vivo arthritis models . Furthermore, treatment with these herbs has been found to improve cartilage structure and texture, normalize bone remodeling, and inhibit osteoclastogenesis in animal arthritis models. Such findings suggest the beneficial use of these herbs for treating arthritis in human patients.
So Whats The Overarching Verdict So Far
Ambivalent at best. It will be very difficult and time consuming to eat enough ginger, green tea, black pepper, etc. to truly alleviate your RA symptoms in the most optimal way. By the time you ate enough cinnamon stiff joints might not be your only concern anymore. So, now what?
7. Lab Grade Turmeric + Lab Grade Boswellia SerrataThe combination of these trusted remedies is a ONE-TWO PUNCHYouve probably used turmeric while cooking before its a yellow spice that most people associate with curry dishes. Know what it reminds RA sufferers of? Relief. Its true that turmeric is another anti-inflammatory agent. But, what makes this remedy a little different is that youre not just ingesting turmeric. Its the lab grade organic turmeric CO2 extraction that is the key player here. Were talking about the extraction of pure turmeric into a pill or oil form.
Know whats great about this? You dont have to worry about the dosage of eating a bunch of curry. You can take a pill or rub some oil that has the optimal dose for relief of your RA pain. In its un-extracted form, were talking about the spice, the herb. The same thing you flavor your dishes with. And, truthfully, in this capacity, it probably has similar effectiveness to the other six natural remedies mentioned above. With CO2 extraction though, youre extracting the most pure form of turmeric , to aid in your relief.
My 4 Best Tips For Treating Arthritis
Bear in mind that more studies are needed to fully confirm the efficacy of using turmeric, ginger, willow bark, rosehip, and frankincense for treating arthritis.
Also, remember that it might be a good idea to consult your doctor or rheumatologist before using herbal teas. They might be able to give you some additional advice and take into account the possible contraindications with your medication.
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What Are The Symptoms
RA sufferers are familiar with the severity of the pain associated with stiff and sore joints. Some describe it as having sprained all the joints in their bodies at once. Now imagine that with simultaneous fatigue, appetite loss, and feeling feverish, and you can easily envision how they are apt to feel downright lousy. Then to add insult to injury, some suffer through those episodes it for years and years. The most common signs and symptoms are:
* Swollen joints* Pain and stiffness in the joints, especially after periods of inactivity * Extreme fatigue
Even though RA is not life threatening, you will feel pretty miserable. And thats no way to live your life. Youll be searching for relief and relief that works.
Dont Count Out Creams
I tell all my patients to approach their pain with a toolbox of options, depending on the type and location. Sometimes, alternating ice and heat is effective. For other ailments, medication is best. Topical pain-relief creams can be another great option.
For example, capsaicin cream, made from hot chili peppers, can significantly reduce joint pain. It decreases levels of substance P in your body, a natural chemical secreted by nerves and inflammatory cells that sends pain signals to your brain. The benefits of capsaicin cream have been studied extensively, showing a 50% reduction in pain after regular use.
Because creams are not systemically absorbed like oral supplements, only a small amount of the substance enters your body. This is especially beneficial to patients who experience side effects from certain supplements. Consistent use is key to reducing pain with creams over the long term theyre not an immediate fix.
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Oats And Dead Sea Salts
Applying an oat paste to your skin or bathing in an oatmeal bath may help relieve psoriasis symptoms, though theres no research to back these claims.
Options like Dead Sea salts have a little more evidence behind them.
The Dead Sea is located in Israel, roughly 1,300 feet below sea level. Its full of minerals and is very salty.
People have been soaking in the Dead Sea for centuries to improve the appearance of their skin and reduce inflammation.
Soothing a skin condition by bathing in mineral springs is known as balneotherapy. Only a few studies have looked at this remedy for psoriatic arthritis, but .
If a trip to the Dead Sea isnt feasible, you can purchase Dead Sea salts online.
Natural Supplements To Consider
1. Turmeric
A plant from the ginger family, turmeric is often used in South Asian cuisine, such as curry. It contains curcumin, the key ingredient that can help decrease inflammation. To be effective as either a supplement or food and not simply metabolized and excreted turmeric should be absorbed with fatty oils, such as avocado or olive oil, and black pepper, which most supplements contain.
I recommend making turmeric a part of your daily diet for three to six months to gauge any benefits. Turmeric supplements can be expensive, and inflammation can be treated in other ways. So, if your pain hasnt decreased after this amount of time, we can try something else
2. Cherry juice extract
Anthocyanin supplies both the red coloring and anti-inflammatory benefits in cherries and other red fruits and vegetables. Most of my patients who say cherry juice helps relieve their pain drink about one glass a day, but you can eat a handful of cherries daily or take supplements that contain the pure juice extract cherries are high in anthocyanin. However, because of its high sugar content, I do not recommend cherry juice for diabetic patients.
3. Omega-3 fatty acids
Most patients I see have taken these supplements before without good results. For better absorption I recommend incorporating omega-3s into your diet through foods such as tuna, salmon, sardines, tofu, walnuts, and flaxseeds.
4. Collagen
5. Chondroitin and glucosamine
6. Boswellia
7. Cannabidiol oil
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Where To Buy Lab Grade Products
There are a lot of extremely inferior products on the market. Still worse, many of the cheap herbal supplements found in Amazon.com and on the shelves of local drugstores are not inspected by third party regulators with FDA oversight. The majority are selling weakly concentrated ingredients, and there is growing concern that many products are testing in the danger zone for toxic chemicals and fillers.
Below are two companies that weve tested and found to produce lab grade turmeric and boswellia serrata. Their cost is higher due to the quality of ingredients and their strict self-imposed testing standards. Still, the cost is small compared to prices of pharmaceuticals.
Metaanalysis Of Gla Effect Sizes
Table2 includes information about both individual and pooled or combined ESs related to the effectiveness of GLA. The pooled ES is the mean ES weighted for sample size. ESs for physician global assessment were not homogeneous and therefore not combined. Pooled ESs ranged from 0.225 for stiffness to 0.925 for tender joint count. Interpreting the pooled ES in terms of the binomial effect size display , the difference in the success rates’ of GLA compared with placebo was 68 vs 32% for pain, 71 vs 29% for tender joint count, 60 vs 40% for swollen joint count and 61 vs 39% for stiffness. Only the ES for swollen joint count failed to reach statistical significance.
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Meditation For Pain Management
Meditation is an ancient mind and body practice that goes back to Buddhism and other Eastern religions. It puts your focus and attention on the current moment and not letting lifeâs distractions get in your way.
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine, meditation can promote âcalmness and physical relaxation, improving psychological balance, coping with illness, and enhancing overall health and well-being.â And research shows meditation can be helpful for managing chronic pain associated with conditions like OA and RA.
A 2011 article in the medical journal Rheumatic Diseases Clinics of North America looked at the possible benefits of meditation on people with rheumatological diseases like RA and OA, which the author cites as the most significant causes of chronic pain.
The reportâs author further argues that while mind-body therapies can be effective for managing pain, only about 20% of people with chronic pain use them. This 2011 piece also discusses an older study that found only eight weeks of mediation therapy improved pain in people with RA.
Brewing The Perfect Cup Of Herbal Tea
Most of the herbs presented here are available in loose, dried form or as teabags. Many are available in tasty and flavorful prepared combinations .
One very enjoyable aspect of using herbs for healing is creating and enjoying flavorful herbal teas.
To brew the perfect cup of tea, follow these directions:
- 1. Use pure, fresh filtered water.
- 2. Bring the water to a full rolling boil and remove from heat.
- 3. Place tea bags or measured herbs into a warmed mug, and fill the mug with boiled water.
- 4. Cover the mug and allow the tea to steep for 5 to 15 minutes depending upon the type of herb you are using.
When using loose herbs, you can avoid mess by using a tea ball or infuser . Simply measure the herbs into the tea ball and steep the tea as you would when using a teabag.
If you are using an herb that must be steeped for a lengthy period of time, you may wish to put your cup in a warm place so that it will still be the right temperature to drink when it is fully steeped.
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Herbs For Arthritis Relief
Herbal remedies for arthritis can be a great alternative to prescription drugs because they are more affordable, have fewer side effects, are more accessible to people, and may work just as well as their prescribed counterparts. The lack of side effects alone may be reason enough to at least try some of the herbal remedies listed below. Note: if you are already on medication, do not stop taking it without consulting your doctor first.
Make A Ginger Poultice
Applying crushed ginger to a painful join can deplete the bodys stores of substance P, a brain chemical that carries pain messages to your central nervous system. One study of 56 people found that ginger eased symptoms in 55 percent of people with osteoarthritis and 74 percent of those with rheumatoid arthritis. To make, peel and finely mince a 3-inch piece of fresh ginger. Mix with just enough olive oil to form a paste, then apply to the painful joint. Depending on where the pain is, you may need to wrap the ginger in place with a gauze or ace bandage. Leave in place for 10-15 minutes.
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Ask Your Doctor About Complementary Medicine
As interest in herbal medicine grows, conventional doctors have become more willing to assess the benefits of alternative remedies.
When treating arthritis, some herbs may complement your current medications. But its important to understand that herbs can cause serious side effects.
Buying herbal treatments from a reputable source is also essential.
The FDA doesnt monitor herbs for quality, purity, packaging, or dosage, so theres no way of knowing if a product is contaminated or contains inactive ingredients.
Discuss all arthritis treatment options with your doctor and dont stop taking prescribed medications unless they recommend it.
Causes And Symptoms Of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis’ is often called the ‘cooked food disease’. Rheumatoid arthritis most common type of arthritis caused by malfunctioning immune system. It usually develops gradually over several months, with persistent pain and stiffness in one or more joints. Ultimately the whole body is affected. Symptoms include anaemia, colitis, constipation, deformed hands and feet.
Rheumatoid arthritis is due to an inflammation of the synovium or lining of the joints. This is accompanied by swelling and eventually leads to deformity. The condition may be caused by hormonal imbalance, physical and emotional stress, infection, severe fright, shock, and injury. Hereditary factors may also be responsible for the onset of this disease.
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What Is The Best Herbal Tea Recipe For Arthritis And Joint Pain
When you are making herbal tea to treat arthritis and joint pain, I recommend including turmeric and ginger. These are the 2 herbs that have the most science-backed evidence related to reducing arthritis symptoms.
You should also include a pinch of black pepper to improve the absorption of curcumin, which is the most important effective compound of turmeric.
You can also add rosehip, Boswellia, or willow bark to make the tea even more effective.
If you dont like the taste of the tea, add other herbs, like peppermint and licorice root, to improve the taste.
If you are suffering from arthritis, I really hope that this article provided you with some useful information.
One of the easiest ways of making an effective herbal for treating arthritis is to use tea bags with a ready-made blend.
My favorite option is Buddha Teas Turmeric Ginger Tea. It tastes delicious and includes black pepper to increase the absorption of curcumin.
Want to share some additional tips based on your own experience? Please post them in the comments section below.
All the best!
-Joonas
Ps. Go ahead and share this article so others can also use these tips to treat their arthritis symptoms. Thanks!
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Sip Ginger Tea For Arthritis Pain Relief
Numerous studies have found that ginger can mimic NSAIDs, the front-line drugs for arthritis pain relief. It seems to work by curbing pain-causing chemicals that are part of the bodys inflammatory response without side effects of medication. Use powdered, raw, or lightly cooked fresh ginger liberally on food. Make your own ginger tea by simmering slices of ginger for 15 minutes in a few cups of boiling water, or buy ginger tea bags at the supermarket.
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Osteoarthritis And Rheumatoid Arthritis
Arthritis literally means joint inflammation. According to the Arthritis Foundation, there are more that 100 different diseases that produce joint pain and inflammation everything from the flu to certain cancers. But when people say arthritis, they usually mean osteoarthritis.
Also known as degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis is the most prevalent of more than a dozen different kinds of arthritis. Some 16 million Americans have it. The hips, knees, spine and tiny joints of the hands and feet are most frequently affected. Osteoarthritis usually develops gradually, beginning with minor aches that eventually lead to extended pain, stiffness, swelling and limited range of motion. Symptoms sometimes, but not always, subside with gentle physical activity.
Rheumatoid arthritis , another form of arthritis, has a nasty reputation because it can cause crippling joint deformity. But many of the 2.1 million Americans with RA approximately 75 percent of whom are women have milder, non-crippling cases that flare up and subside mysteriously.
Frequently both hands are affected, but RA can strike other joints, as well. In addition to joint pain, swelling and warmth, possible symptoms include fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, enlarged lymph nodes, lumps under the skin and muscle stiffness after sleep or inactivity. Stiffness usually subsides with moderate activity.
Up Your Calcium Intake
Getting too little calcium raises the risk of osteoporosis, a brittle-bone condition that accelerates if you have rheumatoid arthritis. All women should get about 1,200 milligrams a day after age 50. Dairy is the most famous source of calcium, but cooked foods made with milk can be a surprisingly good source . Calcium is also found in such veggies as cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kale, kohlrabi, broccoli, and turnip greens. These foods have less calcium than dairy products, but contain a form thats easier for the body to absorb.
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Stir In Some Turmeric
The yellow spice found in curries and ballpark mustard contains a powerful compound called curcumin, which inhibits enzymes and proteins that promote inflammation. Several studies have found that turmeric specifically reduces pain and swelling in arthritis patients. In one study of people with knee osteoarthritis, those who ate just 2 grams a day had pain relief and increased mobility equal to those who took 800 milligrams of ibuprofen. Sprinkle ½ teaspoon on rice or in vegetables daily. Or keep some packets of ballpark mustard in your pocket theyre the perfect dose for arthritis pain relief.
Best Herbal Teas For Arthritis
In addition to the treatments listed above,there is science-backed evidence that herbal teas can help with relieving the symptoms of arthritis.
I think it makes sense to combine as many effective methods as possible to get the best results.
Based on my research, here are the 5 best herbal teas for treating arthritis:
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