Osteoarthritis or ‘wear and tear’ arthritis as some would call it is the most common type of arthritis, affecting around 32.5 million adults in the US. Medical solutions are sometimes necessary but not always super effective or safe. In this article, we discuss natural and herbal remedies for osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis or OA is a degenerative joint disease that happens when the tissue protecting your joints on the ends of your bone breaks down or becomes inflamed. In effect, there’s less padding between your bones which causes pain, swelling, and inflammation. It can be very painful and affect any joint in your body. Though it commonly affects the wrists, hip, and knee areas.
There are 4 stages of OA. In the first stage, there isn’t any noticeable pain or discomfort because there is very little wear on the joints. In stage 2 of OA, there is still normal joint fluid and motion and no loss of cartilage. However, people may experience pain after certain activities, stiffness if they haven’t moved around for hours, and tenderness when bending. In stages 3 or 4 of osteoarthritis, there is noticeable damage to the joints and a person may experience more frequent pain and stiffness.
Now let’s take a look at the risk factors, causes, and natural remedies for osteoarthritis.
Causes and Risk Factors for Osteoarthritis
Although OA is more common for individuals over the age of 50, it can happen to anyone! This condition occurs when your joints are breaking down or deteriorating. The cartilage thins, leaving less padding for the bones. OA is very common for the wrists where people use their hands for various types of work whether that be typing all day or manual labor.
Other causes and risks for osteoarthritis include,
- Age – individuals over 50 are more likely to suffer from osteoarthritis
- Gender – women are also more likely to suffer from osteoarthritis
- Obesity – extra weight creates inflammation and adds more stress on your joints, especially the hip and knee areas.
- Injuries – if you’ve had a sports injury or been in any type of accident, this increases your chances of developing osteoarthritis.
- Stress on joints – constant stress associated with a job or sport can result in a later diagnosis of osteoarthritis.
- Metabolic diseases such as diabetes have also been linked to osteoarthritis.
Common Symptoms of Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis can affect daily activities and eventually cause disability. Symptoms typically develop slowly and over time while pain worsens.
Some symptoms include:
- Pain typically presents in the hands, hips, knees, and lower back or neck.
- Stiffness in joints
- Tenderness when any pressure is applied to the joint area.
- Swelling where the joint cartilage is deteriorating
- Popping or crackling sound from joints when moved
- Limping
- Bone spurs or a bony outgrowth that doesn’t typically cause pain, typically on hands and feet.
- Loss of flexibility
- Sleep disturbances
- Mood disorders such as anxiety or depression.
Symptoms and pain associated with osteoarthritis usually worsen over time. It is a leading cause of disability in the United States, but there are ways you can help prevent osteoarthritis if you are at risk or ease symptoms if you have it.
6 Natural Remedies for Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is typically treated with over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen, NSAIDs, creams, gels, or patches. Medications are also sometimes prescribed to help manage symptoms such as steroids or anti-depressants. As always these medications only cover and manage the symptoms instead of addressing the cause. Here are some effective real health remedies for osteoarthritis.
1. Anti-inflammatory Nutrition
For any condition that may cause pain and swelling, it is important to reduce inflammation in all areas of your life and this includes what you eat. Cutting out foods such as processed food, sugar, and some dairy will help to keep your inflammation down. The Livingood Daily Lifestyle can help you with a place to start, meal plans, shopping lists, and delicious anti-inflammatory recipes.
2. Omegas + Turmeric
Instead of reaching for over-the-counter medications when it comes to joint pain, try omega-3 fatty acids. Studies have shown that Omega 3s are highly effective in reducing pain and inflammation. They can be just as effective as any ibuprofen or acetaminophen, plus they address the cause of your inflammation by putting in the nutrients needed. Livingood Daily Omegas + Turmeric combined omega-3 fatty acids with highly absorbable turmeric for a super-powerful supplement.
3. Lose weight
1 pound in the belly can create an extra 3 to 4 pounds in the lower extremities. This means added stress on your hip and knee joints. By taking an anti-inflammatory approach to eating, and implementing regular exercise, you can lower your weight and stress on your joints. To help build your health and set your foundations, check out the Livingood Daily Lifestyle.
4. Rehab with exercise
Although exercise can be a challenge with joint pain, it is important to stay active. Exercise and stretching will strengthen your muscles and help you to prevent further damage to your joints in the long run. Try gentle exercises to help improve flexibility and movement such as walking, swimming, or bike riding.
5. Corrective care
Chiropractic analysis and corrective care may also be necessary. If pain is more prominent on one side and not the other this could mean that there is a pelvic misalignment. With an X-ray, a proper chiropractor can analyze and start a plan to realign your body. If the pain is in the upper body, it may be necessary to look at your inner chain of command. Your brain sends messages all the way down and throughout your body, so there could be a nerve in your neck that is causing inflammation in your hands. In this case, you’d want to rehab the tendons and muscles that cross those joints.
6. Herbal Remedies for Osteoarthritis
Along with exercise, corrective care, and anti-inflammatory nutrition, you can help ease your joint pain with herbs and nutrients naturally occurring in the human body and in nature.
Collagen
Collagen is found in animals and fish. It’s full of amino acids that play an important role in building the cartilage in our joints. It has also been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Glucosamine
Glucosamine is naturally found in our cartilage. It can also be harvested from animals. It is commonly used to treat osteoarthritis. Research shows that it can help slow joint degeneration and offer pain relief.
MSM
MSM or Methylsulfonylmethane is a nutrient found in fruits, vegetables, and meat. It is known for reducing inflammation, pain, and swelling in the joints. It also creates collagen and glucosamine and improves the effectiveness of both.
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid is also naturally occurring in the human body. It is responsible for keeping our bodily tissues moisturized. It is also known to promote healthy skin and relieve joint pain!
Summary
In all, you don’t have to suffer from joint pain and swelling or let your osteoarthritis progress into a disability. You can be your own doctor and prevent your osteoarthritis from progressing with these lifestyle changes. You can find all of these nutrients sourced from quality ingredients and conveniently combined and formulated in the Livingood Daily Collagen + Joint Support. Pair with Livingood Daily Bone Support to nutritionally support healthy bones!
