There are many different issues which can cause joint pain such as bursae or tendons surrounding a joint, sprain or other injury affecting the ligaments, tendinitis or a strain, bursitis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. This pain can happen on any part of your body but mostly commonly is in hips, shoulders and knees. The joint pain can range from mild to severe and it can be accompanied by stiffness and swelling in one or more joints. Severe joint pain, especially when this type of pain is caused by degenerative conditions such as arthritis, needs proper diagnosis and treatment prescribed by your doctor. Also you need to talk with your doctor if your joint pain is accompanied by tenderness, redness, swelling or it lasts more than 3 days. If you have mild joint pain, then you can get a relief from it with these mentioned home remedies.
Home remedies for joint pain
Cayenne pepper: This natural cure has one element which is known as capsaicin which has pain – relieving or analgesic properties. There was one study in 2010 in which is said that when you apply gel that has 0.0125% capsaicin, help women who suffer from knee osteoporosis to get a relief from mild to moderate pain [1]. You should slightly heat ½ cup of coconut oil. You should mix it in 2 tablespoons of cayenne pepper. You should apply it on the affected area. Leave it on for twenty minutes and then you should rinse it off. You should do this a few times per day until you get a relief from the joint pain. Also you can apply capsaicin cream on the affected areas topically. Cayenne may initially cause you a burning sensation. You should not apply this natural cure on wounds or open skin.
Epsom salt: Baths with this natural cure are facilitating easy absorption of magnesium through your skin [2]. Joint pain is often associated with low levels of magnesium. This element helps reduce inflammation and also it aids in detoxification of cells. You should mix 2 cups of Epsom salt in warm bath water. You should soak your body in it for about twenty minutes. You should repeat 3 times per week until you get a relief from the joint pain.
Ginger: This is one of the best natural cures for treating joint and muscle pain because it has anti – inflammatory properties. There are some studies in which scientists were studying effects of this natural cure on osteoarthritis patients with knee pain and they have noticed encouraging results [3]. You should drink ginger tea or you can include fresh ginger root or dried ginger powder in your daily diet. To prepare the ginger tea, you should cut a small piece of ginger root and you should boil it in one cup of water for ten minutes and then you should strain it. To improve the taste of this tea, you can sweeten it with honey. Also there is another option and that is to mix equal amounts of ginger, turmeric and fenugreek powder. You should take one teaspoon of this natural cure in the morning and evening until you are satisfied with the results.
Apple cider vinegar: This natural cure helps to reduce joint pain by eliminating accumulated toxins from your joints and connective tissues [4]. This natural cure has alkalizing effect and it is beneficial for people who suffer from arthritis. Also it is rich in minerals such as phosphorous, potassium, calcium and magnesium. You should mix one to 3 teaspoons of organic apple cider vinegar and a small amount of honey in a cup of warm water. You should drink this natural cure 2 or 3 times per day, preferably before your meals. You can continue using this home remedy on a regular basis because it can help you to get a relief from the joint pain but also it is good for your overall health. Also you can massage the affected area with a mixture of one tablespoon of olive oil and one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. You should do this natural cure at daily basis until the joint pain is gone.
Stinging nettle: There are some studies in which is said that this herb can be used as natural cure for joint pain without causing you any major side effects [5]. This herb has active compounds which can reduce the inflammation. Also it is rich in boron which is a mineral that is required for healthy joints and bones. You should steep 2 – 3 teaspoons of dried nettle leaves in one cup of hot water for ten to fifteen minutes. You should strain and drink this tea. You should repeat this natural treatment 3 times per day until you get positive results. Also you can place fresh nettle leaves on the affected area for thirty seconds. You should do this natural treatment once per day in a period of one week or more. This natural cure can cause you initial discomfort but it can help you to take your pain away.
Garlic: This natural cure is rich in selenium and sulfur. It is beneficial for people who suffer from joint pain and arthritis [6,7]. Selenium may have an antirheumatic effect and sulfur helps relieve joint pain and inflammation. Also people who suffer from arthritis have low levels of selenium in their blood. You should include cooked or raw garlic in your diet. You can consume 2 or 3 garlic cloves every day and you should not be worried about it because it is safe natural cure. If you do not like the taste of garlic, then you can try using garlic supplements but you need to talk with your doctor about the proper dosage. Also you can fry 2 garlic cloves in 2 tablespoons of sesame or mustard oil. When the garlic cloves turn black, then you should turn off the heat and you should strain this oil. You should allow the oil to cool until it is comfortably warm and then you should massage this oil into your skin around the affected area. You should leave it on for about 3 hours before you wash it off. You should do this natural treatment 2 times per day until you see improvements in your condition.
Turmeric: This is one of the best Ayurvedic remedies for joint pain. Also it has an active ingredient known as curcumin which has antioxidant and anti – inflammatory properties. There was one study in 2009 in which scientists have compared the effectiveness of this component and they have found that curcumin was effective as ibuprofen for pain relief in patients who suffer from knee osteoporosis [8]. You should mix one teaspoon of turmeric powder and a small amount of honey in one glass of warm milk. You should drink this natural cure at daily basis at least for a few days. Also there is another option to take 250 – 500 mg turmeric capsules 3 times per day until you are satisfied with the results. You need to talk with your doctor before you include any of these mentioned home remedies in your daily routine. This natural cure can interfere with some medications such as blood thinners and also it can worsen gallbladder problems.
Fenugreek: This is a very popular home remedy for joint pain because it has anti – inflammatory and antioxidant properties [9]. Also it is very beneficial for people who suffer from arthritis. You should swallow one teaspoon of finely ground fenugreek seeds followed by one glass of lukewarm water. You should do this natural treatment once per day, in the morning until you get positive results from it. Also you can soak one teaspoon of fenugreek seeds in water overnight and you should eat them the next morning.
Hot and cold compress: Alternating hot and cold compress also can help you to get a relief from the joint pain. Cold therapy can help you to reduce the inflammation and numb the areas around the affected areas and the heat therapy helps decrease pain, increase blood flow and also it relaxes joints and sore muscles. You should wrap both compresses in separate towels before you use them. You should not apply them directly on your skin. You should place the hot compress on the affected area for about 3 minutes. Then, you should remove this compress and immediately you should put a cold compress in its place for about one minute. You should repeat this process for 15 – 20 minutes a few times per day until you get a relief from it. You should not use heat therapy if the affected area is irritated, hot and red. You should not use cold therapy if you suffer from circulatory problems.
Massage: Massage therapy can help you to get a relief from the joint pain by improving circulation and soothing inflammation. There are some studies in which is said that the regular massage can improve stiffness, pain and range of motion in the affected joint [10]. To massage the affected area, you should use warm oil such as garlic, castor, mustard, olive or coconut oil and you should apply gentle pressure while you are massaging your body.
References:
[1] Kosuwon W, Sirichatiwapee W, Wisanuyotin T, et al. Efficacy of symptomatic control of knee osteoarthritis with 0.0125% of capsaicin versus placebo. Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand. 2010;93(10):1188-95.
[2] Gröber U, Werner T, Vormann J, Kisters K. Myth or reality – Transdermal magnesium? Nutrients. 2017;9(8):813.
[3] Bartels EM, Folmer VN, Bliddal H, et al. Efficacy and safety of ginger in osteoarthritis patients: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 2015;23(1):13-21.
[4] Chiro-Med Rehab Centre. Apple cider vinegar can relieve arthritis and joint pain. Retrieved from www.chiro-med.ca/article/apple-cider-vinegar-can-relieve-arthritis-and-joint-pain/
[5] Randall C, Meethan K, Randall H, Dobbs F. Nettle sting of Urtica dioica for joint pain — an exploratory study of this complementary therapy. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 1999;7(3):126-31.
[6] Salimzadeh A, Alipoor E, Dehghani S, et al. The effect of 12-week garlic supplementation on symptom relief in overweight or obese women with knee osteoarthritis. International Journal of Clinical Practice. 2018;72(6):e13208.
[7] Williams FMK, Skinner J, Spector TD, et al. Dietary garlic and hip osteoarthritis: evidence of a protective effect and putative mechanism of action. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2010;11:280.
[8] Kuptniratsaikul V, Thanakhumtorn S, Chinswangwatanakul P, et al. Efficacy and safety of Curcuma domestica extracts in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2009;15(8):891-7.
[9] Younesy S, Amiraliakbari S, Esmaeili S, et al. Effects of fenugreek seed on the severity and systemic symptoms of dysmenorrhea. Journal of Reproduction & Infertility. 2014;15(1):41-48.
[10] Atkins DV, Eichler DA. The effects of self-massage on osteoarthritis of the knee: A randomized, controlled trial. International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork. 2013;6(1):4-14.
