When the occasional joint pain strikes, a temporary moment of pain can seem to last a lifetime. In a world where there are different prescription medications with a long list of side effects that accompany them, we need a more natural approach to combating common ailments — that’s where herbal remedies come in.
Over 15 million people experience joint pain and as time progresses that number will only increase. Hopefully, with the use of these herbs and more research of the underlying causes, the number associated with joint pain will begin to decrease.
What Causes Joint Pain?
Joint pain is extremely common. It is sometimes attributed to overuse, strenuous activities like playing a sport or years spent typing on the computer. Joint pain is also related to autoimmune diseases including the following:
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Gout
- Bursitis
Strains, sprains and other related injuries can also lead to a lot of joint pain and even interfere with your movement. Luckily, there are plenty of herbal treatments you can use to relieve you of this ailment.
Herbal Remedies for Joint Pain
From burdock root to cat’s claw, there are a variety of herbs that can help reduce inflammation and alleviate the discomfort associated with joint pain.
1Flaxseed Oil
Ingesting flaxseed oil has been proven successful in relieving the pain and swelling associated with joint pain. This plant has a high omega-3 content that is known to fight inflammation in the body caused by gout and joint pain.
2Burdock Root
This root has been used for centuries to help joint pain. Burdock has been shown to help stop discomfort associated with arthritis like the swelling, stiffness, pain when moving and tenderness.
3Cat’s Claw
Cat’s claw possesses anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce the swelling caused by arthritis. It has also been used to strengthen the immune system, but be aware, consuming too much of this plant can overstimulate the immune system, making arthritis pain even worse.
4Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is very popular in herbal medicine, as it’s known for its healing capabilities that can be applied on the skin to help soothe aching joints.
5Ginger
Ginger is considered a natural cure-all for a variety of ailments. It’s also effective in soothing joint pain by preventing the production of cytokine, which is a chemical that triggers inflammation.
6Boswellia
Boswellia is a tree that has anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory properties. It prevents the overproduction of white blood cells in damaged tissue, making it a natural pain reliever for joint pain.
7Cayenne
This spicy herb is packed with a pain-relieving compound called capsaicin, which works by blocking pain signals from the nerves to the brain. Cayenne also has anti-inflammatory properties that work to ease gout and digestive-related pain.
8Eucalyptus
The leaves of the eucalyptus plant have been used to treat arthritis pain. The leaves contain tannins that help reduce painful swelling in arthritic joints.
9Stinging Nettle
Even though it sounds like this plant might do more harm than good, stinging nettle tea is often used to relieve pain that’s linked to joint pain and gout. Studies have even shown that stinging nettle is effective in treating joint pain.
10Feverfew
What sounds like a treatment for fevers, feverfew is actually an herb used to reduce inflammation within the body’s tissue and joints, which is a major contributor to joint pain.
11Arnica
This herb has become very popular recently due to its pain relieving capabilities. It has even been proven to be just as effective as ibuprofen to relieve pain without any of the side effects associated with it.
12Turmeric
This herb is used to treat a variety of ailments. It is also a very effective pain reliever that works well due to its high curcumin and curcuminoids that reduce inflammation within the body. It also reduces swelling by blocking protein production of genes that signal blood vessels to swell.
13Licorice
This herb is one of the most common herbs used for joint pain. Licorice imitates the activities of the body’s natural production of corticosteroids that help stop inflammation. It also kills free radicals and stops the production of enzymes that cause inflammation.
14Thunder God Vine
This herb is one of the oldest herbs that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine. Extracts of this plant are known for slowing down an overactive immune system, making it a very effective remedy for autoimmune diseases.
15Willow Bark
This herb is one of the oldest remedies for inflammation. It has been proven successful in relieving joint pain in the hips, knees, back and neck.
16Green Tea
This tea has been used for centuries for a plethora of ailments and has been used to reduce inflammation within the body. Studies even show that green tea might help those suffering from osteoarthritis, but more research needs to be concluded.
