Fighting Arthritis - The Natural Way - Alternative Medicine

Arthritis is a degenerative disorder associated with the joints and connective tissues of joints and muscles. The nature and causes for its manifestation are different as there are more than 100 types of diseases and disorders categorized under arthritis. It is the leading degenerative disease affecting nearly 1% of the population of USA. Women are more susceptible to various forms of arthritis than men in the age category of 40 and above.

There are different types of arthritic diseases such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, septic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and many more. Some of the disorders occur due to factors like improper nutrition, stress, wear and tear, old age etc. Other forms are genetically inherited which manifest as autoimmune disorders in the body. However with concerted administration of appropriate medication, modifications in the patient's lifestyle, physical therapy and regular exercise one can greatly minimize the progress and severity of the disease.

The symptoms of osteoarthritis are swelling and stiffening of joints, heating and reddening of skin around the joints and difficulty in moving the affected joint. The effects of osteoarthritis can be effectively combated in several natural ways apart from resorting to medication. In fact, natural methods for curing arthritis can provide long term benefits compared to allopathic medication. To retard osteoarthritis, the patient must adopt healthy eating habits and exercise regularly. The diet of arthritic patient must have low meat content, preferably lean meat and more of green, leafy vegetables rich in vitamins and minerals. Consumption of high fructose foods, alcohol and fried foods containing trans-fat must be avoided to the maximum extent.

It is advisable to consume complementary dietary supplements since arthritic patients require greater quantity of nutrients to repair the damaged joints. The most important nutrients required for arthritic patients are vitamin A, D, E and C. These vitamins play a vital role in healing the joints and connective tissue surrounding the joints. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant and assists healing process by stimulating the synthesis of collagen in the body. It is also highly recommended to consume foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids as scientific studies have proven that omega 3 fatty acid intake and arthritis alleviation go hand in hand. Fish oil obtained from salmon and halibut are considered to be the ideal sources of omega 3 fatty acids.

While these measures can reduce or prevent the chances of being affected by arthritis, there are several other natural herbal medications which can reduce the severity of inflammation, other symptoms like skin rashes, edema, build up of toxic products in the body and many more. The herbs which contain active ingredients for reducing arthritis are licorice root, ginger root, sassafras root bark, chaparral leaf and Devil's claw. These herbs are available in the form of capsules. Another effective natural compound used to alleviate the inflammatory pain of rheumatoid arthritis is capsaicin found in Cayenne peppers.

For the strengthening of muscles and bones, the patient can resort to physical therapy. This is the most effective way of reducing the pain in the muscles and joints and is recommended for obese people. This involves devising a set of exercises which do not put excessive stress on the affected joint and increases the mobility of other joints. Swimming is considered as the best physical activity for arthritic patients. Swelling of joints can be reduced by undergoing hot wax massage or ice massage whichever is more effective. These natural remedies can go a long way in improving the lifestyle of arthritic patients.