Herbal Remedies for Arthritis

The treatments for arthritis are varied. Herbal remedies for arthritis, as well as traditional medicine, strive to slow the progressive deterioration as much as possible. Lifestyle changes, such as exercise, can also slow joint deterioration and help to relieve pain and stiffness.

What is Arthritis

Arthritis is a painful condition of the joints. There are several types of arthritis. Some are inflammatory while others are degenerative in nature. No one really knows what triggers it, but it is believed to be partly hereditary. It occurs three times as often in women than men. Age is not a factor as children as well as elderly can suffer form it. Osteoarthritis(degenerative joint type) is the most common form. It is very painful and happens when the joint cartilage begins to wear away. This usually begins in middle age and is related to factors such as genetics, being overweight, and joint injury. Rheumatoid arthritis affects the tissue connecting bones and joints and is the most debilitating form of arthritis. Pain almost always begins in the hands, especially the knuckles, and usually occurs in both hands at the same time. The most easily recognizable areas of damage are the joints, but the whole body can be affected. It can occur at any age; however, it usually starts in early middle age.

Usual Symptoms

In osteoarthritis the symptoms are well defined: pain and stiffness in the joints, particularly the knees and hips. This is accompanied by tender joints. The signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are just as well defined: joints swell and become red, stiff , and sore, morning stiffness, fatigue and flu-like aches and pains, fever, and a loss of appetite.

Herbal Remedies for Arthritis

Chinese herbal remedies for arthritis treat the internal and external aspects of the disease. For the internal you should combine 10g of Qing Huo(notopterygium root), 10g of Du Huo(pubescent angelica root), 12g of Sang Ji Sheng(mulberry mistletoe stem), 15g of Niu Xi(achyranthes root), 15g of Ji Xue Teng(millettia root), 10g of Huang Bai(phellodendron), and 12g of Cang Zhu(black atractylodes rhizome) in a ceramic or glass pot. Add 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes. Strain and drink 1 cup twice daily. For and external rub you can combine 10g of Chuan Wu(Szechuan aconite), 10g of Cao Wu(wild aconite), 12g of Gui Zhi(cinnamon), 12g of Tao Ren( peach kernel), 10g of Hong Hua(safflower flower), and 15g of Niu Xi(achyrabthes root) in a ceramic or glass pot. Add 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes. Soak a towel in the warm liquid and apply the towel to the affected joints or soak the affected joints in the warm liquid once a day.

More Herbal Remedies for Arthritis

Here is a listing of herbs that can be beneficial for arthritis:

Alfalfa - This herb has a long history of use as a folk remedy for arthritis.

Boswellia - This herb has performed well in several clinical studies and is known to be helpful for both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Cat’s claw - This herb contains substances called sterols which help to alleviate swelling.

These are just a couple of the most common herbal remedies for arthritis. A few others are: drinking an 8oz glass of water every few hours, glucosamine and chondrotion sulfate, bromelain, ledum, bryonia, apis, and soaking in a hot tub with epsom salts or mineral salts for at least 20 minutes. A trained Chinese herbalist will be able to tell which treatment is the best for you by looking at the color and swelling in the affected joints.

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