Arthritis – Treatment with Folk Remedies
Arthritis is an inflammatory joint disease. Pain in the joint, swelling, heat and burning sensation, redness of the skin around the joint, deformation, and limited mobility—these are all symptoms of arthritis. Treatment with folk remedies, alongside traditional medical methods, can alleviate symptoms, reduce their severity, and in some cases, completely cure the disease.
Symptoms of Arthritis
There are about a hundred different types and forms of this disease, each with its own characteristics. If the disease starts suddenly and presents with clearly visible symptoms, it is acute arthritis. It is usually accompanied by high fever and general malaise.
In cases where the disease develops gradually, it transitions into a chronic form.
Common symptoms of arthritis in all its forms include: • Pain
• Fever
• Inflammation
Main Causes of Arthritis: • Infectious processes
• Acute injuries or their consequences
• Metabolic disorders
Home Treatment for Arthritis
Joint inflammation in arthritis begins with its inner lining. As the disease progresses, the inflammatory process affects other joint components: cartilage, capsule, and surrounding tissues. Treatment for this complex disease should start immediately after the first symptoms and suspicions appear. The disease is diagnosed through X-rays and other medical examinations. A doctor diagnoses and prescribes treatment. The treatment process begins by identifying the cause that led to arthritis and, if possible, eliminating it. Symptomatic therapy is also applied.
Home remedies aimed at reducing inflammation and relieving pain symptoms can be used as auxiliary treatments after consultation with a specialist. Arthritis of any type requires prolonged treatment.
Main Types of Arthritis and Their Treatment Features
- Rheumatoid Arthritis affects the joints of the feet and hands, with the damage being symmetrical. This is an autoimmune disease with a chronic form. If detected in the early stages, intensive therapy may lead to a full recovery. In other cases, treatment is prolonged, focusing on reducing symptom intensity and preventing further joint damage.
Herbal teas with anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, and analgesic effects can help alleviate the condition of arthritis patients. Examples of such herbal mixtures:
- Black elderflower flowers – 1 part
- Birch leaves – 4 parts
- Willow bark – 5 parts
Crushed ingredients are mixed, and 1 tablespoon of the mixture is poured with a cup of boiling water. The infusion is covered and steeped for half an hour. It should be taken in half a cup four times a day before meals. - Birch leaves
- Nettle
- Tri-colored violet
All ingredients should be taken in equal amounts and mixed. The infusion is prepared and consumed in the same way as the previous recipe.
- Rheumatic Arthritis begins sharply, usually two to three weeks after an episode of angina or pharyngitis. It affects the elbow, knee, and ankle joints, and rarely the hip, wrist, and other joints.
Useful herbs for rheumatic arthritis:
- Burdock root
- Naked borage
- Butterbur
- Coltsfoot
- Yarrow
You can use one of these herbs or any combination. 2 tablespoons of dry material are poured with boiling water and boiled for about 10 minutes on low heat.
- Reactive Arthritis begins and develops simultaneously with any infection or immediately after its end. Most commonly, the infection that leads to reactive arthritis is localized in the throat, gastrointestinal tract, or urinary system. The treatment of this type of arthritis involves timely suppression of the infection.
For body cleansing, a detox diet or therapeutic fasting is recommended, followed by herbal treatment. Mixtures recommended for rheumatic and rheumatoid arthritis can also be used.
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Infectious Arthritis results from viral, bacterial, or fungal infections. A rice diet is recommended to cleanse the body from the infection: 50g of rice is boiled in 1 liter of water until it softens completely. This liquid soup is recommended to be consumed for one to three days.
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Deforming Arthritis is characterized by joint deformation. This is a serious disease, and treatment must be comprehensive, including both medication and folk remedies. You can use an alcoholic tincture made from a golden mustache (50g) and propolis (1g). This amount of raw materials is poured with 500ml of alcohol and steeped for 2 weeks. It should be taken 1 tablespoon, diluted with water, twice a day before meals.
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Traumatic Arthritis develops as a result of joint injuries: dislocations, sprains of joint ligaments, fractures, etc. In these cases, local heating agents are used, such as applications with warm sand. The procedure should start with moderate temperature and gradually increase it. The procedure lasts about an hour, and the course of treatment is 25-30 days.
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Post-traumatic Arthritis is common in athletes and people who experience physical overloads after injuries. During flare-ups, physical activity should be limited, and local treatment should be applied to the joint. Clay applications, warm clay baths, or rubbing the affected joint with therapeutic clay are good options for treatment.
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Psoriatic Arthritis occurs with inflammation of the interphalangeal joints of the hands and feet against the background of psoriasis. It is a chronic disease and usually progresses rapidly, even with adequate treatment.
A good folk remedy for inflammation is a carrot compress. Raw carrots should be grated and applied to the affected joint. To increase effectiveness, a little sunflower oil and a few drops of turpentine can be added.
- Gouty Arthritis is caused by metabolic disorders in the body, leading to the deposition of uric acid salts in the joints. The most characteristic symptom is the damage and deformation of the big toe. Treatment involves a strict diet excluding salty and fermented foods and a course of antibiotic therapy.
For this condition, dandelion is useful for normalizing metabolic processes. Both the roots and leaves of the plant are used. A tablespoon of the raw material is poured with boiling water, steeped for an hour, and taken in a quarter cup 3-4 times a day, half an hour before meals.
- Chlamydial Arthritis occurs after or simultaneously with chlamydia. Treatment must include a course of antibiotics. To boost immunity, tinctures of Eleutherococcus and Aralia are recommended. Baths made from a decoction of oats, walnut leaves, and juniper berries are beneficial.
Treatment with herbal teas is recommended to be combined with applications of anti-inflammatory agents.
Arthritis in Children
Arthritis in children most often develops after severe infectious diseases. Genetic factors, as well as injuries, hypothermia, and a weakened immune system, can also play a role.
Childhood arthritis is treated comprehensively, including: • Medication therapy
• Physiotherapy
• Special massage courses
• Therapeutic gymnastics
Treatment with folk remedies is possible, but it must be strictly monitored by a doctor. Common home remedies for treating arthritis in children include: • Rubbing with tinctures of anti-inflammatory herbs
• Paraffin baths
• Applications with therapeutic mud and clay
• Oil and plant compresses
Treatment Methods for Arthritis Depending on Its Localization
Most folk methods of treating arthritis can be applied to all its forms. However, certain treatments are preferred for specific types of arthritis:
• To reduce pain in hip arthritis, warm baths with herbs are used. Possible ingredients for the decoctions include: burdock root, celandine, oak bark, chamomile, young pine needles, and pine cones.
• Knee arthritis is treated with rubs and applications. A useful recipe for arthritis: mix turpentine, olive (sunflower, sesame) oil, alcohol, and add a bit of camphor or camphor oil. The joint should be rubbed with this mixture several times a day, especially before bedtime.
• For finger arthritis, a mixture of honey, black radish juice, and vodka is used, with all ingredients taken in equal parts (150 ml each). Add 20 grams of kitchen salt. The resulting mixture should be rubbed into the affected joints while warm.
• For shoulder arthritis, tinctures made from the leaves of common hazel, burdock root, elecampane root, and dandelion root are used. Any of these plants or their combination is poured with alcohol at a ratio of 500 ml to 150 g of raw material. Steep for two weeks in a dark place before using it for rubbing.
• Ankle arthritis can be treated by soaking in a mustard (1 tbsp per liter) and cinnamon (1 tsp per liter) bath.
• For toe arthritis, tincture of propolis and fir oil is used for rubbing. Propolis tincture can be bought in a pharmacy or prepared by yourself: pour 100g of vodka over 10g of propolis and steep for two weeks.
• Foot arthritis can be treated with compresses made from fresh young fern or burdock leaves. Wrap the foot with several leaves, then put on a cotton sock and a woolen one on top. Leave the compress overnight.
• For temporomandibular joint arthritis, various compresses and applications are used. Warm compresses with therapeutic mud or paraffin are effective. They relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
• Jaw joint arthritis is treated with warming applications made from dry mustard, pine resin, camphor oil, and turpentine. Vinegar compresses are useful for reducing inflammation, with apple cider vinegar being the best option.
Effective Arthritis Treatment
Folk remedies for treating arthritis should be used for several months. Typically, herbal treatment lasts from 8 to 12 months. Afterward, therapeutic courses should be regularly repeated to prevent relapses. Situations in which a preventive course of treatment must be conducted, even if the disease has long receded, include:
• Any infections in the body
• Colds
• Surgeries on any organs
• Transitional periods: autumn and spring
• Any situations that weaken immunity and negatively impact the body
In all forms of arthritis, a light diet is recommended: • Exclude salt, all canned products, fats, oils, spicy and sour foods.
• A third of the diet should consist of fresh vegetables and fruits.
• Whole grain cereals and bread are useful.
• Dairy and meat products should not be fatty.
To maintain joint mobility, light physical exercises are recommended. There is special gymnastics for arthritis patients, which yields good results.
