Natural remedies for arthritis ailments

You don't have to suffer from arthritis in silence. Learn more about what it is and how you can cope with it using natural remedies.

In the past, rheumatism was a catch-all term for any ailments involving the joints. Nowadays, we distinguish between rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and gout — ailments that have very different causes, but which can all result in serious pain and reduced mobility.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that results in joint pain and deformity; osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease; and gout is a metabolic disease which can result in joint damage. With rheumatoid arthritis, whether you should opt for a hot or cold treatment depends on the phase of the malady. If your joints are inflamed, hot and swollen, treat them with ice and cold packs made from mud, healing earth or clay (from a health food store or pharmacy). When the condition is less acute, turn to heat to soothe discomfort and promote circulation.

• Relax. When your body is tensed up, you tend to hurt more. Relaxation techniques may ease pain.
• In addition to stinging nettle tea, teas made from meadowsweet or heartsease (five to ten millilitres per 250 millilitres, or one to two teaspoons per cup) alleviate symptoms.
• A celery infusion can be a quick and effective remedy. Mince 20 millilitres (one heaping tablespoon) of celery and pour 250 millilitres (one cup) of water over it. Boil, steep briefly and strain. Sweeten with honey and drink 500 millilitres (two cups) a day. Note: always prepare the infusion fresh and do not use if you have a kidney infection.
• Grind fern root in a mortar, use a gauze bandage to make a pack, and place on the painful joint.

•  Apply cold (not hot!) moor mud or healing earth poultices to the affected joints once a day. This noticeably soothes discomfort.
• Rub in St. John's wort or arnica oil to combat joint inflammation and pain.
• A mud or hay flower bath, no hotter than body temperature (37°C / 98.6°F), also eases arthritis pain.
• A cup (250 millilitres) of stinging nettle tea three times daily helps with pain and inflammation. Use 15 millilitres (one tablespoon) of dried herb in 250 millilitres (one cup) of water and let steep 10 minutes.
• Try borage oil capsules or salves containing arnica, comfrey or capsaicin (the active ingredient in chili peppers). Your local health food store or pharmacy can provide you with a range of compounds containing natural ingredients to bring down inflammation.
• The roots of devil's claw contain substances that soothe pain and inflammation. Originally from Africa, it has long been used around the world to treat joint pain.