Knee pain is a very common medical condition which is happening due to constant wear and tear of our knee joint. This condition can be experienced by children, young adults, and older adults. It is a known fact that women have more chances to have knee pain compared to men. The exact location of your knee pain can vary. This pain can originate in any of the bony structures compromising the ligaments and cartilage (meniscus), the kneecap (patella), and the knee joint (femur, tibia, and fibula).
This type of pain can be diffuse or localized throughout the knee. The severity of the knee pain can vary from a minor ache to severe and disabling pain. In most cases, pain in the knee can be caused by weakened bone structure and wear and tear which is happening with aging. But also there are other common causes of knee pain such as lupus, dislocation of the knee joint, stiffness in the joint due to arthritis, meniscus injuries, ligament injuries, and fractures. In addition to pain, you can also feel other symptoms such as difficulty walking or standing, numbness in the affected leg, redness, noticeable swelling, and stiffness in the knee. You should not let the pain take control of your life. There are many simple and easy home remedies which can help you to take proper care of your knee. These home remedies are most helpful for mild to moderate knee pain which is caused by improper training, lack of use, and overuse.
Also, these home remedies can help you with knee pain which is associated with conditions like arthritis and aging but you need to talk with your doctor about the best natural treatment for you and the proper dosage. You should keep your legs in an elevated position because this will help you to reduce pain and swelling. Also, you should drink more water to soften cartilage and to keep your body hydrated.
8 Home remedies for knee pain
Contents
Lemon
This is one of the best home remedies which can be used as a natural treatment for knee pain that is caused by arthritis [1,2]. It has citric acid which is working as a solvent for uric acid crystals which is the cause of some types of arthritis. You should cut 1 or 2 lemons into small pieces. You should tie these pieces in a cotton cloth and then you should dip them in warm sesame oil. You should place this cloth on the affected knee and let it stay there for 5 – 10 minutes. You should do this natural treatment two times per day until the knee pain is gone completely. Also, you can drink the juice of one lemon diluted in a glass of warm water early in the morning on an empty stomach. This also works as a great natural treatment for knee pain.
Turmeric
This is a very effective natural cure for giving you relief from knee pain. It is a known fact that this natural cure has a chemical that is known as curcumin which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which can help you to reduce the pain [3]. Also, there are some studies in which is said that turmeric can slow the progression of rheumatoid arthritis which is one of the main causes of knee pain. You should add ½ teaspoon of turmeric and ½ teaspoon of grounded ginger to one cup of water and you should boil it for ten minutes. You should strain it and add honey to the taste. You should drink this home remedy two times per day.
Also, there is another option which you can use as your natural treatment for knee pain. You should boil one teaspoon of turmeric powder in one glass of milk. You should sweeten it with honey and you should drink this home remedy once per day. Also, there is a third option which you can use as your natural treatment for knee pain and that is to take 250 – 500 mg turmeric capsules, 3 times per day but talk with your doctor about the proper dosage. You should follow these home remedies every day until the pain is gone completely. People who are taking blood-thinning medications should not take turmeric as their natural treatment because it can thin the blood.
Ginger
Ginger is a very effective home remedy that you can use as your natural treatment for knee pain that is caused by injury, muscle strain, or arthritis. It has anti-inflammatory compounds and this is a reason why it is an effective home remedy for knee pain [4]. This natural cure can reduce knee pain and swell on the knee. You should crush a small piece of ginger root and add it to one cup of water. Boil it for ten minutes. Strain it and add a lemon juice and little honey. You should drink 2 – 3 cups of ginger tea every day until the knee pain is gone. Also, you can massage the affected knee with ginger oil, 2 or 3 times per day until you are satisfied with the results.
Cayenne pepper
This natural cure has capsaicin which is working as a pain reliever. This element has natural pain-relieving and analgesic properties which can produce a warm sensation and it can reduce the pain in the affected knee [5,6]. You should prepare a mixture by adding 2 tablespoons of cayenne pepper to ½ cup of warm olive oil. You should apply this natural cure to the affected area two times per day for at least one week. Also, you can mix ¼ or ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper powder in one cup of apple cider vinegar. You should soak a clean washcloth in this natural cure and apply it to the aching area for about twenty minutes. You should do this natural treatment once or twice per day until the inflammation and pain are reduced. Also, you can apply a gel which has 0.0125% of capsaicin topically because it can help you to reduce knee pain.
Apple cider vinegar
This is also a very effective home remedy for reducing knee pain. It has an alkalizing effect which helps dissolve the mineral build-ups and harmful toxins in the knee joint. Also, it can help to restore the natural lubricants to promote mobility and reduce pain. You should mix 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in 2 cups of filtered water. You should sip this mixture throughout the day. You should drink this tonic every day until you get complete relief. Also, you can add 2 cups of apple cider vinegar to a bathtub of hot water. You should soak the affected knee in this natural cure for thirty minutes. You should do this natural treatment once per day for a period of a few days. Also, you can mix together one tablespoon of olive oil and one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. You should use this natural cure to massage the affected knee once or twice per day until the knee pain is gone.
Cold compress
One of the best natural cures which you can use to reduce knee pain and swelling is to apply a cold compress to your painful knees [7]. The cold will reduce the swelling, reduce the blood flow to the affected area and it will constrict the blood vessels. Also, you will get relief from knee pain. You should wrap a handful of ice cubes in a thin towel. You should apply the compress to the affected knee area for ten to twenty minutes. You should do this natural treatment 2 or 3 times per day until the knee pain is gone. Also, you can use a bag of frozen peas as your cold compress. You can opt for alternating hot and cold compresses as well for chronic pains.
Epsom salt
This salt has magnesium sulfate which has been shown to give you relief from knee pain. Magnesium is working as a natural muscle relaxant which can help you to remove excess fluid from your tissues which in turn is reducing pain, swelling, and inflammation. You should add ½ cup of Epsom salt to a hot bath and you should stir it well. You should soak the affected knee in this warm natural cure for fifteen minutes. You should do this natural treatment a few times per week until you get complete relief from the knee pain. People who suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure or heart problems should not use Epsom salt as their natural treatment for knee pain. [8]
Mustard oil
In the Ayurvedic medicine, it was said that a gentle massage of the painful knee with warm mustard oil relieves pain, improves blood circulation, and eases inflammation [9]. You should heat 2 tablespoons of mustard oil. You should fry one chopped garlic clove in it until it turns brown. You should cool it and strain it. You should massage your knee with lukewarm oil in a circular motion. You should cover your knee with plastic wrap and you should use warm towels to apply heat for a few minutes. You should do this natural treatment two times per day for about one or two weeks.
References:
[1] Tag HM, Kelany OE, Tantawy HM, Fahmy AA. Potential anti-inflammatory effect of lemon and hot pepper extracts on adjuvant-induced arthritis in mice. The Journal of Basic & Applied Zoology. 2014;67(5):149-57.
[2] Caturla N, Funes L, Perez-Fons L, Micol V. A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study of the effect of a combination of lemon verbena extract and fish oil omega-3 fatty acid on joint management. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2011;17(11):1051-63.
[3] Daily JW, Yang M, Park S. Efficacy of turmeric extracts and curcumin for alleviating the symptoms of joint arthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Journal of Medicinal Food. 2016;19(8):717-29.
[4] Altman RD, Marcussen KC. Effects of a ginger extract on knee pain in patients with osteoarthritis. Arthritis & Rheumatology. 2001;44(11):2531-8.
[5] Chung M-K, Campbell JN. Use of capsaicin to treat pain: Mechanistic and therapeutic considerations. Pharmaceuticals. 2016;9(4):66.
[6] Anand P, Bley K. Topical capsaicin for pain management: therapeutic potential and mechanisms of action of the new high-concentration capsaicin 8% patch. British Journal of Anaesthesia. 2011;107(4):490-502.
[7] Block JE. Cold and compression in the management of musculoskeletal injuries and orthopedic operative procedures: a narrative review. Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine. 2010;1:105-13.
[8] Satralkar SP, Dhudum B. Effectiveness of application of warm compress with epsom salt to reduce knee joint pain among women. International Journal of Science and Research. 2018;7(5):319-22.
[9] Mohan R, Renuka K. A comparative study to evaluate the effect of warm mustard oil vs. warm mustard oil with camphor on relief of knee joint pain among rural women in selected areas of puducherry. IOSR Journal of Nursing and Health Science. 2014;3(5):35-38.