Natural Treatment for Arthritis Symptoms

The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, though there are actually more than 100 different types in all. The simplest description of arthritis is the inflammation of two joints when they rub together due to a breakdown of cartilage. It can be caused by an injury or infection, among other things.

Symptoms of Arthritis

Symptoms include joint swelling and pain, hindered movement, redness around the joint, stiffness, especially in the morning, and sometimes heat at the joint.

Arthritis Treatment

Your osteoarthritis is best treated with both medication and non-drug treatment. For natural, or non-drug treatment, consider the following:

1. Physical therapy. Attending physical therapy and doing the prescribed exercises has been shown in studies to reduce pain and improve motor function. This builds up the muscle around the joint, which relieves pressure. Devices can also be provided by physical therapists to make things easier.

2. Education. Learn everything you can about the illness, and what can be done about it. Taking a can-do approach will help you cope in many ways.

3. Get exercise. Several types of exercises help, including low-impact aerobics, range of motion exercises, water exercise, and strength training. Making sure you get 30 minutes a day of exercise each day will ease pain, improve range of motion and mobility, and build the muscles around the joints, which relieves the stress on the affected area..

4. Weight loss. Your joints won't have to work as hard if they don't have as much pressure on them. Try to maintain a recommended weight for your height. If you don't feel that is possible, any weight loss, even 10 pounds, will help.

5. Assistive devices. These can include canes, crutches, wheeled walkers, and knee braces for knee pain. Other times, special footwear and insoles will help to reduce pain and improve motion.

6. Heat and cold. A warm bath, hot tub soak, heat pack or capsaicin rub can provide arthritis pain relief. Cold packs can also reduce pain.

7. Movement. Don't stay in one position too long, and avoid positions that put pressure on the affected joints. As reported by Arthritis Today, arthritis specialist Cynthia Harrell states that "short bouts of exercise can strengthen muscles and relieve pain and stiffness due to arthritis. And even two minutes can be broken up into smaller chunks of different types of exercise that can give your whole body a boost." Read more about two minute workouts for arthritis.

8. Eat a healthy diet. Eating more fruits and vegetables will give your body a firm, healing foundation. Also, eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as cold water fish (salmon, herring and mackerel), canola oil, soybeans, soybean oil, walnuts and pumpkin seeds.

Discover the options available today for arthritis pain relief, including foods that help and hurt, exercises, home remedies, vitamins and minerals, in the Arthritis Relief Guide.