Living with the pain and inflammation caused by any form of arthritis can be a debilitating experience. The condition affects both men and women, although women are three times more likely to develop arthritis than men. While osteoarthritis tends to develop as we age, in fact arthritis can affect you at any age with children also the vulnerable to juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
While medication can be prescribed to reduce the inflammation and ease the joint pain, many sufferers look for natural remedies that can stop them popping the pills quite so readily.
Diet is important – certain food products can act as a trigger for inflammation while others are known for their anti-inflammatory properties. For example, cutting out meat such as beef, pork and bacon may reduce your propensity for inflammation. Other trigger foods include potatoes, peppers, dairy, eggs, white sugar and tomatoes. Cut back on the amount of fat you consume, eat less sugary products, avoid caffeine and try to quit smoking if you are a smoker.
Good things to add to your diet include cherries, omega 3-rich foods such as oily fish and walnuts, fresh pineapple and brown rice. Take supplements that include magnesium, copper and zinc. Glucosamine is renowned for its positive effects on your joints while curcumin (a compound of the spice cumin) and found in turmeric can boost the immune system.
An old-fashioned but effective homemade remedy you could do, is a castor oil pack. Rub 1-2 tablespoons of castor oil on to the inflamed area for around 15 minutes, then pour more castor oil on to a towel and place around your joint. Cover the whole area with plastic and then another towel before placing a hot water bottle or heat pad on to the area for at least an hour or until it starts to cool. Do this on at least three consecutive occasions until the pain and inflammation eases.
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