Joint pain can lead to discomfort and inability to move if not treated at an early stage. Learn about the home remedies for joint pain in this article.
Joint pain may correspond to pain or swelling in any of the joints in the body. It is most commonly seen in elderly people but it may occur to anyone. It causes lot of discomfort in doing daily chores or moving. It must be treated with the help of a doctor so that the exact cause for the joint pain can be known.
Causes for Joint Pain
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Gout
- Bursitis
- Tendinitis
- Strain
- Sprain
- Injury affecting the ligaments
- Bruised tendons surrounding a joint
When joint pain is experienced by degenerative conditions like arthritis, it must be treated with the help of doctor. However, home remedies or natural remedies can be used along with the regular prescriptions.
Symptoms of Joint Pain
The following are the symptoms of joint pain.
- Pain in knees, shoulders and hips
- Difficulty in walking
- Difficulty in standing for long hours
- Discomfort in doing regular chores
- Mild to severe pain
- Swelling
- Stiffness Restricted range of motion
Home Remedies for Joint Pain
The following natural remedies can be used during mild pain or discomfort in the joints.
Warm and Cold Compress
Both warm compress and cold compress can help in relieving the pain and stiffness in the joints when used alternatively. It relaxes the sore muscles and joints. It also helps in improving the blood circulation to the affected area. It heat applied on the joints eases the muscles and promotes blood flow. While the cold temperatures helps in reducing the inflammation and numbs the area around the affected joint.
How to Use?
Fill hot water in a compress and massage on the affected joint for about 5 minutes
Then wrap some ice cubes in a thin cotton towel and place in on the affected joint for one minute
Again repeat the process using warm compress
Do this for 15 to 20 minutes until there is some relief
Repeat this twice or thrice a day for faster results in treating joint pain
Turmeric
Turmeric is an excellent Ayurvedic remedy that can be employed in treating joint pain. The active ingredient, curcumin has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Accoring to a study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, researchers compared the effectiveness of this compound to ibuprofen and found that curcumin was as effective as ibuprofen for pain relief in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
How to Use?
Make a paste by grinding wild turmeric and add one tablespoon of honey to it
Apply this mixture on the affected joint and leave it for half an hour or until dry
Wash it off using lukewarm water and repeat this once daily
You may also consider taking turmeric capsules after consulting the doctor about the dosage
The usual dosage is 250 to 500 mg thrice a day. But it is better to confirm it with the doctor as it may interfere with certain blood thinning medications
Alternatively, you may add one teaspoon of turmeric powder to a glass of warm milk
Drink it every night before going to bed
Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper is also effective in relieving pain from the stiff joints. It has a compound names capsaicin which has natural analgesic properties.
How to Use?
Warm half cup of coconut oil for few seconds in the microwave
Add two tablespoons of cayenne pepper to the warm oil
Apply it evenly on the affected joints and leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes
Rinse it off and repeat twice or thrice a day until relief
You can also use any capsaicin based cream or ointment on the joints to alleviate the pain and swelling
Be careful not to use this remedy on open wounds as it may burn or irritate the skin
Warm Oil Massage
Carrier oils such as olive oil, coconut oil, mustard oil, castor oil, etc are excellent remedies for joint pain. It has warming effects on the muscles and relives pain and inflammation. A warm oil massage using any of these carrier oils can prove to be effective in curing joint pains.
How to Use?
Take two tablespoons of any of the carrier oils such as olive, mustard or coconut oil
Heat it in the microwave for few seconds
Let it cool down until the heat is bearable
Massage gently in circular motions in the stiff joints to relieve pain and swelling
You may also get a massage from any expert for better effectiveness
Garlic
Garlic is rich in sulfur and selenium which is essential for the healthy joints. It helps in patients suffering from arthritis by relieving the joint pain and inflammation. Selenium has antirheumatic effects and thus effective in relaxing the joint muscles.
How to Use?
Crush few cloves of garlic and heat it along with one tablespoon of any carrier oil
Let it cool down and then strain the mixture
Massage this oil on the joints for few days to get rid of joint pain
You may also take garlic supplements after consulting the doctor
Chew raw garlic along with a glass of warm water as the first thing in the morning
Include garlic in the daily diet
Ginger
Ginger has warming effects on the body and thereby helps in reliving the joint pain. It also has anti-inflammatory property that helps the arthritis patients with joint pain and stiffness. It also relaxes the sore muscles and improve the range of motion.
How to Use?
Prepare ginger tea by boiling one tablespoon of grated ginger in a cup of water for 5 to 10 minutes
You may add a teaspoon of honey to the ginger tea for better taste
You can also make a powder mix by grinding ginger, turmeric and fenugreek powder
Take this mixture twice a day until results are noticed
All the above remedies are tried and tested and found to be highly effective in curing joint pain. Before using any of the remedies, it must be consulted with the doctor to avoid any adverse effects.
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