When the cartilage in the joints wears away, bone rubs against bone, resulting in osteoarthritis. Does that sound painful? It is.
It is also known as "degenerative joint disease" or "wear and tear" arthritis. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis. Over 32.5 million Americans are affected.
Because osteoarthritis is so disabling, painful, and common, numerous unproven "cures" are available, ranging from shark cartilage to copper jewelry to snake venom.
However, research suggests that the following natural remedies may help relieve arthritis pain.
1. Weight Loss
Because there is no cure for osteoarthritis, symptoms are treated with a combination of therapies, according to the CDC.
One of the most effective treatments is maintaining a healthy weight and, if necessary, losing weight.
Still, every pound you lose reduces the pressure on your knees by 4 pounds. In addition, some people's symptoms will disappear if they lose 10 to 20 pounds.
2. Exercise
People used to believe that exercise aggravated arthritis, but the opposite is true—unless you're pounding the pavement. Physical activity is critical for people suffering from osteoarthritis.
This could include walking around your apartment or swimming laps if you have access to one.
Aerobic exercises, such as walking, swimming, or biking, and strengthening exercises, such as isometric and isotonic exercises, should be included in exercise programs.
Runners suffering from knee osteoarthritis should consult with a doctor or physical therapist, pay close attention to pain, back off when it appears, and take rest days.
3. Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been shown to help relieve pain and disability caused by arthritis in many people. A 2019 study published in the journal Medicine concluded that acupuncture might have some benefits in treating knee osteoarthritis, but more research is needed. A Cochrane review of studies evaluating acupuncture for hip osteoarthritis published in 2018 concluded that acupuncture has little or no effect on reducing pain or improving function in people with hip osteoarthritis.
4. Glucosamine
Some evidence suggests that glucosamine—a naturally occurring component of cartilage—relieves arthritis pain, but the type of glucosamine is important.
For people with knee osteoarthritis, taking glucosamine sulfate orally for at least four weeks can provide some pain relief and improve function. However, glucosamine hydrochloride-containing products do not appear to work as well unless combined with other ingredients.
Patients in the studies that found benefits for glucosamine sulfate were given 1,500 milligrams once a day, which resulted in better absorption in the body than splitting the dose.
5. Chondroitin
Chondroitin is a naturally occurring structural component of cartilage, the tissue that cushions the joints. It can also be purchased as a dietary supplement.
According to the NCCIH, research indicates that chondroitin is not beneficial for knee or hip pain. Nonetheless, no serious side effects have been reported in large, well-conducted studies involving people who took chondroitin for up to three years.
They're actually quite safe. The one advantage they have is that they have no significant side effects. They're tolerated fairly well.
Nonetheless, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) recommends chondroitin sulfate or combination products containing glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate for people with knee or hip osteoarthritis.
6. Other Supplements
Other supplements have shown promise, but the evidence isn't conclusive.
There is preliminary evidence that avocado/soybean unsaponifiables (ASU), which are supplements made from avocado oil and soybean oil extracts, may have modest benefits on osteoarthritis symptoms. However, adequate safety information has yet to be made available.
7. Topical Remedies
Strong-smelling mentholated rubs and creams may tingle your skin, but many are ineffective for osteoarthritis.
Counterirritants are topical medications that contain menthol or camphor. These remedies "work" by creating a cooling sensation that distracts the user from the pain. They have no effect on pain or inflammation. Although menthol or camphor topicals have few side effects, pain relief may fade after the cooling sensation wears off.
8. Capsaicin Cream
Capsaicin cream, which is available without a prescription, can also relieve osteoarthritis pain. It's made from the compound that gives chili peppers their spiciness.
According to the National Library of Medicine, capsaicin affects pain-related nerve cells in the skin, resulting in decreased activity of these nerve cells and a reduced sense of pain.
9. Electricity
Arthritic joints can benefit from electrical energy to reduce pain and swelling. Transcutaneous electrostimulation, or TENS, is a technique used by physical therapists that involves placing electrodes around the affected joint and delivering electromagnetic pulses through the skin.
There's also electroacupuncture, in which the practitioner uses needles at acupuncture points attached to electrodes to pass an electric charge through the needles.
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