World Arthritis Day: Easy alternative cures to ease arthritis pain

Zee Media Bureau/Udita Madan

​New Delhi: In this day and age of technological advancement and dependence, arthritis is a common problem, especially with people who are 40 years old and above.

Arthritis is a degenerative and painful medical condition marked by inflammation in the joints that can lead to pain and stiffness.

Conventionally, doctors treated arthritis with the use of anti-inflammatory medications as well as painkillers.

Some medications, however, can lead to side-effects and therefore, naturally approaching its treatment is the way to go now. Today, on World Arthritis Day, we'll tell you exactly how you can go about it.

But, before you try these remedies, ensure that you consult your doctor.

1. Acupuncture: An ancient Chinese medical practice in which needles are inserted into specific points on the body, accupuncture is believed to re-route the energies and restore balance. Studies have proven that acupuncture can reduce arthritis pain.

2. Go herbal: There are a lot of herbal supplements on the market that can aid in reducing joint pain. Some herbs that can be used especially for the treatment of arthritis pain include devil’s claw, boswellia, bromelain, stinging nettle, ginkgo and thunder god vine. It is advisable to consult your doctor before going ahead with this option.

3. Shed those extra kilos: Your knees carry more than 50 percent of your body’s weight and therefore, the more you weigh the more your knees will hurt. Extra weight can put lot of pressure on the joints, knees and hips. Therefore, by reducing strain on these joints, you will be able to improve your mobility, prevent any kind of damage to the joints and decrease pain. What better way to do that than losing weight? You'll be doing your body a favour for the long term as well.

4. Massage: Arthritis pain is mostly caused because of stiff joints that can be treated with a stimulating massage. Regular massaging of the joints may help you to reduce stiffness as well as pain and thereby, improve your range of motion. However, it is recommended that you make sure your therapist is well-experienced with working on people suffering from arthritis. 

5. Meditation: Strange as it may sound, meditation is a relaxation technique that can help in reducing arthritis pain by enabling one to cope with it and reducing stress. Several studies have found that meditation helps some people soothe their joints.

6. Turmeric diet: The Indian yellow spice is well known for its anti-inflammatory qualities. The chemical called curcumin helps in reducing arthritis pain. Therefore, do include turmeric in your diet. Having a glass of turmeric milk at night or in the morning is recommended.

7. Hot and cold therapy: Taking long, warm showers in the morning can ease stiffness in the joints. Cold treatments are best used for relieving joint pain. To use this form of treatment, you may wrap a gel pack or a pack of frozen vegetables in a towel and softly place or dab it on the painful joints to enjoy quick relief.