Home Medications and Treatments for ArthritisArthritis is a disease that involves inflammation of one or more joints ("Arthr" refers to joints, and "itis" to inflammation). Fortunately arthritis is easily healed or controlled. It is, generally, a chronic disease process with the most common form being osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. In rheumatoid arthritis, the joints become swollen and painful and is a long-lasting autoimmune disease. This often begins in the smaller joints of the hands and spreads to other joints in the body, especially those in the feet, wrists, ankles, and knees. In severe case, rheumatoid arthritis can affect the eyes, nerves and skin, but more commonly affects the hands, wrists and knees. Although rheumatoid arthritis may show up at any time in a person's life, it usually first appears during the ages between 25 and 50. Osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease is a degenerative joint disease which usually occurs in old age. It is the most common form of arthritis affecting over 21 million adults in the US. The protective cartilage that cushions the ends of bones within joints gradually wears away and causes osteoarthritis.
Symptoms of Arthritis
The main symptoms of osteoarthritis are pain and stiffness in the joints. The pain usually increases after exercise. Rheumatoid arthritis is often called the 'cooked food disease'. 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.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. The cartilage can become damaged because of degeneration or age and may completely break the cartilage. Cartilage is a form of protection for the bones and its loss creates friction as the bones move, which will causes pain and swelling. Osteoarthritis results from structural changes in the "articular cartilage in the joints, usually those which are weight-bearing, such as the spine and knees.
 Rheumatoid arthritis is due to an inflammation of at the 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.
Causes of Arthritis Since there are over one hundred diseases that can be classified as arthritis, there is also a wide variety of causes. So their is no exact cause of arthritis, the following factors contribute to its development:
Age:
Age increases your chance of getting arthritis because the cartilage tends to become more brittle and the repairing mechanisms of the bone becomes weaker as the individual grows older.
Gender:
Women are more vulnerable than men in developing arthritis. Hormones changes can be a factor for the development of arthritis and women experience more hormonal changes than men.
Obesity:
Being overweight increases the risk of developing arthritis, the extra weight causes an additional pressure on the joints.
Injury:
People who have injured a joint have a higher risk of developing arthritis. Damage to the joints cause the smooth surface of the bones wear or break which causes friction.
Genetics:
The relationship between genes and arthritis has not been clearly proven but, genetic variation is believed to factor in the development of arthritis.
Nature of Work:
Repetitive use or stress on specific joints can cause an increased risk of injuring the joints and developing arthritis.
Treatment Of ArthritisDIET FOR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS:
1. An overall healthy diet – Use fresh foods as close to the natural state as possible, avoiding prepackaged and processed foods. Eat daily servings of leafy green vegetables, moderate amounts of whole grains (such as brown rice and rolled oats), fresh fruit, and proteins with a minimum of animal fat. Avoid sugars (such as pastries and candy) and refined carbohydrates (such as white bread and white rice). Drink at least 8 cups of fluids daily. For more information, refer to the article on healthy diet.
2. Eliminate foods that cause allergies, sometimes implicated in arthritis. Common foods that aggravate arthritis are citrus, milk products, wheat, meat, alcohol, and foods from the nightshade family (which are tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, peppers, and tobacco).
After eliminating all of those foods from the diet, and the symptoms have gone away, one food at a time can be reintroduced to see if the symptoms reoccur. A new food can be introduced each week. If you need more information, you may want to refer to the article on Food sensitivities.
3. Increase the consumption of cold-water fish such as mackerel, herring, sardines, and salmon to at least twice a week.
4. Eat a half a pound or more per day of cherries, blueberries, and other dark red or blue berries. This can aid in the repair and upkeep of bone cartilage.
5. Avoid caffeine found in coffee, tea, chocolate, and sodas.
6. Therapeutic fasting may prove beneficial but should be done under the supervision of a health-care practitioner.
Arthritis Treatment with Parsley
Add 1 teaspoon of fresh parsley to 1 cup of boiling water. Let steep 15 minutes. Strain and sweeten. Add 1/2 teaspoon of fresh ginger to the tea and drink hot. Drink at every meal.
Arthritis Treatment with Apple Cider Vinegar
Mix 4 cups of apple cider vinegar to 4 cups of hot water. Dip a cloth into the hot vinegar water and apply as a compress to the affected area. Put a heating pad over the compress and keep on for 30 minutes.
Arthritis Treatment with Barley Tea
Barley tea is an excellent way to treat arthritis. Make a tea by soaking 1 cup of unhulled barley in 8 cups of boiling water for 3 hours. Strain and keep refrigerated. Drink 1 cup twice daily.
Arthritis Treatment with Brewer's Yeast
Put 2 tablespoons of Brewer's yeast in a glass of milk or juice and drink every morning.
Home Remedy using Other Raw Juices:
One cup of green juice, extracted from any green leafy vegetable, mixed in equal proportions with carrot, celery, and red beet juices is good for arthritis. The alkaline action of raw juices dissolves the accumulation of deposits around the joints and in other tissues. A cup of fresh pineapple juice is also valuable, as the enzyme bromelain in fresh pineapple juice reduces swelling and inflammation in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Home Remedy using Copper:
Drinking water kept overnight in a copper container accumulates traces of copper, which is said to strengthen the muscular system. A copper ring or bracelet is worn for the same reason.
Bath Treatment
Bath Treatment for Arthritis with Epsom Salts
Put 1 cup of Epsom salts in your bath water (draw the bath as hot as you can stand it) and soak 20 minutes a day.
Bath Treatment for Arthritis with Sea Salt
Put several cups of sea salt in hot bath water and soak in the bath for at least 20 minutes every day.
Home Remedy using Calcium:
Studies have shown that calcium can help arthritis. Several patients have discovered that joint pains have either been relieved or have disappeared entirely after taking calcium. This mineral should be taken in the form of calcium lactate. Two teaspoons of calcium lactate, each teaspoon providing 400 mg of absorbable calcium, may be taken three times daily in water, before meals for at least four months.
Home Remedy using Garlic:
Garlic is another effective remedy for arthritis. It contains an anti-inflammatory property which accounts for its effectiveness in the treatment of this disease. Garlic may be taken raw or cooked according to individual preference.
Home Remedy using Bananas:
Bananas, being a rich source of vitamin B6, have proved useful in the treatment of arthritis. A diet of only bananas for three or four days is advised in treating this condition. The patient may eat eight or nine bananas daily during this period and nothing else.
Home Remedy using Lime:
Lime has also been found beneficial as a home remedy for arthritis. The citric acid found in lime is a solvent of uric acid which is the primary cause of some types of arthritis. The juice of one lime, diluted with water, may be taken once a day, preferably first thing in the morning.
Home Remedy using Alfalfa:
A tea made bum the herb alfalfa, especially from its seeds, has shown beneficial results in the treatment of arthritis. One teaspoon of alfalfa seeds may be added to one cup of water. Three to four cups of this tea should be taken daily by arthritics for at least two weeks.
Home Remedy using Green Gram Soup:
Another home remedy found useful in relieving pains in the joints is the use of green gram soup. This soup should be prepared by mixing a tablespoon of green gram in a cup of water, with two crushed garlic cloves. It should betaken twice a day.
Home Remedy using Coconut or Mustard Oil:
Warm coconut oil or mustard oil, mixed with two or three pieces of camphor should be massaged on stiff and aching joints. It will increase blood supply, and reduce inflammation and stiffness with the gentle warmth produced while massaging.
Arthritis Liniment with Turpentine
Mix together 1/2 cup each of apple cider vinegar, rectified turpentine, and either olive or vegetable oil. Rub on the affected joints each night before bed.
Arthritis Cocktail
Mix well 2 tablespoons of honey, 1 1/2 cups of water, and 1 ounce apple cider vinegar. Drink once a day. You should be free of symptoms after using daily for 1 month.
Arthritis Treatment with Cod-liver Oil
Put 2 tablespoons of cod-liver oil in a glass of warm milk and drink twice daily. This will reduce inflammation of the joint tissue, thus reducing pain.
Arthritis Treatment with Herbs
Mix 1 tablespoon each of corn silk, broom flowers, skullcap, and boneset. Pour 1 cup boiling water over 1 tablespoon of herb mixture and steep 15 minutes. Strain and sweeten. Drink with meals.
Home Remedy using Potato Juice:
The raw potato juice therapy is considered one of the most successful biological treatments for rheumatic and arthritic conditions. It has been used in folk medicine for centimes. The traditional method of preparing potato juice is to cut a medium-sized potato into thin slices, without peeling the skin, and place the slices overnight in a large glass filled with cold water. The water should be drunk in the morning on an empty stomach. Fresh juice can also be extracted from potatoes. A medium-sized potato should be diluted with a cup of water and drunk first thing in the morning.
Home Remedy using Sesame Seeds:
A teaspoon of black sesame seeds, soaked in a quarter cup of water and kept overnight, has been found to be effective in preventing frequent joint pains. The water in which the seeds are soaked should also be taken along with the seeds first thing in the morning.
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