Normally inflation (from the Latin inflammo or ignite) is a good thing. That’s because it’s part of your body’s immune response, in which white blood cells and immune proteins mobilize to remove damaged cells, bacteria and viruses and help you heal when you’re injured. But symptoms of inflammation—redness, joint swelling, pain and stiffness—can be uncomfortable and become chronic in conditions like arthritis. For relief, people often opt for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like aspirin, ibuprofen and celecoxib (Celebrex), which unfortunately can spawn their own set of problems, including ulcers, high blood pressure, and even heart attacks and strokes, according to a 2014 study in the British medical journal The Lancet.
One promising alternative: natural cures. Nature-based supplements can be a safe, effective way to ease joint pain and inflammation, often at a lower cost than prescription or over-the-counter medicines. “Natural remedies reduce inflammation by improving circulation and moving compounds that are stagnant and cause swelling,” says Brigitte Mars, herbalist and coauthor of The Home Reference to Holistic Health and Healing (Fair Winds, 2014). “Anti-inflammatory cures also help to soothe any irritated areas with calming mucilage.” Try these remedies and compare them to your go-to painkillers. Any questions? Talk to an integrative physician or osteopathic doctor who is open to natural cures.
GINGER
Why it works: Powerful phenolic compounds and antioxidants such as shogaols, zingerone and gingerols reduce pain and inflammation. And there’s more. “Ginger helps prevent blood cells from sticking together,” says Mars. “It also inhibits inflammatory prostaglandin production.” A review published in the Journal of Medicinal Food showed that ginger works in a similar manner as NSAIDs by suppressing the cox-1 and cox-2 enzymes that cause inflammation.
How to use it: Make a comforting ginger compress: Dip a clean washcloth into a cup of hot (but not scalding) ginger tea, and apply to the aching joint in question. Cover with a dry cloth to hold the heat in until it’s cool. Replace as needed. You can also buy topical creams to ease pain and inflammation and reduce stiffness.
TURMERIC
Why it works: Turmeric contains curcuminoids—the most famous of which is curcumin—which decrease inflammation naturally. A 2006 study in the medical journal Arthritis and Rheumatology showed that turmeric may relieve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.
How to use it: Take it as a supplement, or look for this ingredient in topical creams.
GREEN TEA
Why it works: Green tea contains polyphenols, a type of antioxidant that cools arthritis-related inflammation. Research at the University of Michigan Health System in 2007 showed that this compound may inhibit the production of molecules that destroy cartilage and bone.
How to use it: Drink four cups of green tea a day or take an EGCG (active ingredient in green tea) supplement: 2,000 mg. twice a day.
CAYENNE PEPPER
Why it works: A study published in The Journal of Rheumatology in 1992 showed that capsaicin in cayenne relieves the tenderness and pain of osteoarthritis. A 2007 Harvard University study published in the medical journal Nature showed that capsaicin targets pain receptors without causing numbness.
How to use it: Make your own topical treatment by steeping a tablespoon of cayenne in 1 pint of hot (but not scalding) apple cider vinegar, says Mars. Dip a clean washcloth into the mixture, and apply as needed. Cover with a dry cloth to hold the heat in longer. Replace when it has cooled. You can also buy a cayenne pepper cream. Cayenne can also be taken in supplement form. Choose capsules of at least 500 mg., and follow label instructions.
STINGING NETTLES
W
hy it works: The stinging part of the nettle draws blood to the joint, relieving pain and inflammation. “Nettle sting also contains formic acid, which stimulates a natural antihistamine reaction,” says Mars.
How to use it: Touching the afflicted area with stinging nettles can hurt at the time but relieves pain in the long run. Or drink it as a tea or use it in a cream topically on painful areas. Note: It has not been established that nettle root or leaf are safe for pregnant or nursing mothers. When in doubt, talk to your doctor before taking this or any supplement.
TART CHERRIES
Why it works: Research at the Oregon Health & Science University showed that tart cherries have the highest anti-inflammatory content of any food and can help manage osteoarthritis pain. “Tart cherries help to clear inflammatory compounds such as uric acid from the joints,” says Mars. “Cherries also contain healthy antioxidants called anthocyanins, which give them their red color and reduce inflammation.”
How to use it: Take a supplement (500 mg. four times a day), or drink 10.5 ounces of tart cherry juice daily for three weeks.
ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS
Why it works: Essential fatty acids reduce inflammation by lubricating the joints; they also slow cartilage degeneration of osteoarthritis.
How to use it: Buy a fish oil high in DHA and EPA, and certified free of contaminants, such as mercury. Take 1,500–3,000 mg. per day—the lower end for maintenance and the higher end for more acute flares of pain or stiffness.
More Vitamins and Minerals for Joint Health
• Your joints will benefit from taking 1,000 mg. of calcium and 400 mg. of magnesium with 400 I.U. of vitamin D daily to help your body absorb the calcium.
• Glucosamine sulphate cools off inflammation, repairs traumatized tissue and cushions joints. Take 250–500 mg., three times daily.
• Bromelain, an enzyme that comes from the stem and juice of pineapples, reduces inflammatory compounds called prostaglandins. Take 500 mg. each day.
A Soothing Soak
Epsom salt is high in magnesium, which eases and relaxes stiff joints and muscles. Add a pound of Epsom salts to a warm bath to release toxins and relieve pain, suggests herbalist Brigitte Mars. “Make it even more therapeutic by adding 5 to 10 drops of essential oils such as wintergreen—which contains salicin, a pain-relieving compound made from willow bark—or anti-inflammatory citrus oils like lemon and orange.”
Best Foods for Joint Health
The next time you go to the grocery store, stock up on these nutritional and anti-inflammatory nutrients: almonds, pecans, barley, brown rice, quinoa, oatmeal, black beans, artichokes, kale, okra, sweet potatoes and pecans. Raw string beans are a therapeutic food for arthritis because they help eliminate uric acid, which can contribute to joint pain. Celery seed as a condiment also ferrets out uric acid. A shot glass of aloe vera 10 minutes before each meal can also reduce inflammation. – BRIGITTE MARS