Osteoarthritis of the joints is a complex degenerative disease associated with the destruction of cartilage tissue in the joints. This pathological process is the most common joint disease worldwide. According to the latest statistics, around 80% of the world's population is affected.
In this disease, various changes and rearrangements at the joint ends of the bones and inflammatory processes occur over a long period of time. As a result, degeneration of the periarticular tissue occurs.
Treatment of arthrosis with folk remedies is carried out in order to eliminate unpleasant symptoms and improve motor functions. However, it should be understood that their use does not have an immediate effect.
With this disease, the destruction of the joints occurs for a long time, or rather, it will not work to cure it in a day or two. Therapy should be long and systematic.
A few words about pathology
Osteoarthritis is a disease in which the destruction of cartilage elements and deformation of bones is noted. It most often develops against the background of trauma, congenital defects of the musculoskeletal system. Osteoarthritis is also often a consequence of:
- thyroid disorders;
- metabolic disorders;
- overweight;
- Malfunction of the sex glands.
In medicine, there is also another term - arthrosis. What is that? This disease is a type of arthrosis, but it has some differences from it. Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease in the development of which cartilage, ligaments, subsonic bones, synovial membranes, capsules and periarticular muscles are involved in the pathological process. The causes of this disease are the same as osteoarthritis, but the symptoms are slightly different.
If with arthrosis, simply pain, swelling and redness are observed, then with arthrosis, joint deformities, a change in gait and the appearance of the limb are noted. So osteoarthritis is an advanced stage of osteoarthritis in which all joint structures are damaged. Therapy of pathologies is similar, therefore, considering alternative methods of treating arthritis, they can also be used in osteoarthritis.
Basic rules for home treatment
You can treat arthrosis at home at any stage of its development. But in order for folk remedies to really give a positive result, it is necessary to adhere to a few rules:
- The use of alternative medicine does not mean that you have to stop taking medicines, gymnastics and physiotherapy procedures prescribed by a doctor. Folk remedies are only an auxiliary method of treating arthrosis, and not the main one.
- Study recipes carefully. No ingredients can be substituted. If you don't have them, you should look for another way to treat osteoarthritis at home.
- In no case do not change the amount of ingredients used. Their number must fully comply with the indicators described in the instructions.
- In the manufacture of "home medicines" you need to use only fresh and high-quality raw materials. Pay close attention to the expiration date.
- If you need to mix something, use a wooden spatula. Metal inventory begins to oxidize when interacting with oxygen.
- For cooking decoctions it is recommended to use enameled dishes.
- If you have other chronic diseases (heart failure, stomach ulcers, etc. ) in addition to arthrosis of the joints, you must consult your doctor before using alternative methods.
Using even the best alternative medicine recipes doesn't mean you can switch to a regular diet. Diet plays a major role in osteoarthritis. During its treatment, you must completely abandon the products containing purine. That:
- cocoa, chocolate;
- veal, beef;
- herring, carp;
- beans;
- Rice;
- liver etc.
Coffee and alcoholic beverages should also not be consumed if you have osteoarthritis. They contain substances that negatively affect the joints, reducing their elasticity and strength. You also need to pay attention to the drinking regime. Water helps flush out uric acid salts. And the less they are in the body, the less chance of edema and severe pain. At least 1. 5-2 liters of water should be drunk per day. You can replace it with mineral water, compotes, fruit drinks.
Alternative medicine prescriptions
Folk remedies for arthrosis need to be used for a long time. Sometimes treatment is delayed by up to 3-6 months. And only if everything is done correctly, positive results will not be long in coming. But even if the condition improves, it is not worth stopping therapy. The result must be fixed, and for this, alternative medicine recipes will have to be used for a few more weeks.
horseradish
It is possible to treat arthrosis with folk remedies at home with the help of horseradish. This requires the root part of the plant. It is used fresh in summer and dried in winter. Before starting therapy, the roots should be thoroughly washed under running water, and then chopped with a grater. After that, the resulting mass should be transferred to an enameled container and poured with water so that the raw material is covered by 2-3 cm. Next, the container is put on a slow fire. There is no need to bring the broth to a boil, the roots should just soften.
Until the liquid cools down, it is necessary to moisten a gauze napkin in it, and then apply it to the diseased area in a warm form. Polyethylene is necessarily put on top and a warm bandage is applied. Remove the compress after 1. 5-2 hours. It is not worth keeping it longer, as it may cause burns. The procedure is best done before bedtime, after which it is recommended to completely rest the joint.
Important! Horseradish roots contain substances that irritate the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and eyes. And to avoid trouble, it should be crushed either on the street or in a well-ventilated area. And in order to prevent the occurrence of a burn, it is impossible to put horseradish on such a compress more than once a day. If there is a slight reddening on the skin after removal, do not worry. After 1-2 hours it's over.
medicinal bile
To stop joint pain, traditional medicine recommends using a compress based on medicinal bile. You can buy it at any pharmacy. But to make a compress, in addition to the main ingredient, you will also need:
- Iodine;
- Honey;
- glycerin;
- 10% ammonia.
All ingredients are mixed in equal proportions, transferred to a dark glass container and kept in a place protected from sunlight for 10 days. Shake the container daily. After that, the tincture is ready for use, and you can start applying compresses.
Before each procedure, the tincture is heated in a water bath. While it is warm, a gauze pad is moistened in it and applied to the affected joint. Wax paper is applied to it, a layer of cotton wool, and then everything is fixed with a bandage. Keep the compress for 2-3 hours. It's best to do it before bed.
Such treatment of the knee joint can improve blood circulation, restore damaged cartilage elements and relieve movement stiffness. But he has contraindications and they include:
- the presence of open wounds, cuts, purulent formations on the skin;
- dermatological diseases of various etiologies;
- Component Incompatibility.
cabbage leaf
Cabbage leaves have a pronounced analgesic effect. Therefore, even doctors recommend using them when joint pain occurs. And in combination with natural honey, they can eliminate stiffness in movements and improve motor functions.
Use cabbage leaves with honey to fix compresses. To do this, you need to select fresh and juicy leaves, grease their concave part with honey and attach to the diseased place. A film is necessarily attached on top, and a woolen scarf is wrapped on top. Apply a compress for the night. Only take it off in the morning. The remaining honey is washed off with warm water. The minimum duration of treatment is 30 days.
Important! If you are allergic to bee products, honey should not be used. In this case, it is recommended to use only cabbage leaves. But before you put a compress on them, they need to be knocked off slightly so that the juice stands out from them.
eggshell and kefir
In osteoarthritis, the joints lack calcium. And this element is very important for them, since it is a "building material", without which the process of forming new cells is disturbed. And to make up for the lack of calcium, you can use eggshells.
To do this, it must be thoroughly washed, removed all films, dried and ground into a powder with a coffee grinder or blender. After that, the resulting powder must be mixed with 2. 5% kefir to make a slurry. The finished composition is transferred to a gauze napkin, and then applied to the damaged joint, a layer of polyethylene and a warm bandage are put on top. Such a compress is made every day 2-3 hours before bedtime.
chalk
This method of osteoarthritis treatment also aims to compensate for the lack of calcium in the joints. Chalk is also used to set a compress. To do this, it is ground into a powder and then mixed with sour cream or yoghurt. The finished mixture is put on a gauze napkin, applied to the joint, and polyethylene and a bandage are applied to it. Also, put such a compress on a few hours before bedtime.
elecampane
Treatment of arthrosis with folk remedies also involves the use of elecampane. This plant has a pronounced anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. It is sold in pharmacies. Used to make alcohol tincture. To do this, 50 g of a medicinal plant is poured into 125 ml of alcohol. The resulting mixture is transferred to a dark glass container and infused in a place protected from sunlight for 2 weeks.
After the cure is infused, it must be filtered. Then put in the fridge. It is used for rubbing areas affected by arthritis. Rubbing is done with light circular movements for 10-15 minutes. The treated area is then wrapped in a warm scarf. Such procedures are carried out 1-2 times a day, depending on the severity of the pain syndrome.
dandelion
Herbs for arthrosis of the joints are used differently. For example, you can use fresh dandelion flowers. They also help relieve pain and stiffness. They make an alcoholic tincture. A glass vessel is filled to the brim with flowers and alcohol is poured over it. The remedy should be infused in a dark place for 1 month. After that it should be filtered. Application like elecampane tincture.
Important! Using the same scheme, you can make a tincture of white lilac flowers. It also perfectly eliminates joint pain and has a decongestant effect.
celandine
If we talk about what are the most effective means of alternative medicine to combat arthrosis, it is also necessary to mention celandine. Oil is extracted from this plant. To do this, take fresh leaves and stems of the plant. They are mixed in equal proportions and scrolled through a meat grinder, and then in the amount of 8 tbsp. l. pour 1 liter of olive oil.
The resulting mixture is kept in a dark place for 14 days. After the infusion, it can be used to treat painful joints. To do this, the finished oil is applied in a small amount to the affected area and rubbed in with light circular movements for 5-10 minutes. It is recommended to use this remedy 2-3 times a day.
bay leaves
Bay leaves have the ability to remove excess uric acid salts from the body, which build up in the joints and cause inflammation and pain. To get rid of unpleasant symptoms, it is recommended to take 12 bay leaves, put them in an enamel pan and pour 400 ml of cold water. The container is set on fire. When the liquid boils, reduce the fire and cook the broth for another 5 minutes.
After that, the broth is poured into a thermos and insisted for another 12 hours. Then it is filtered and consumed for 3-5 doses throughout the day. The duration of treatment is 7 days. After that, a 5-day break is taken, then therapy is resumed. Such treatment is carried out for 2-3 months. The brew is prepared daily. The storage time should not exceed 24 hours. There are contraindications:
- Pregnancy;
- renal pathologies;
- impaired liver function.
Treasure
The use of honey improves blood flow to the affected joint and promotes the synthesis of synovial fluid, which acts as a lubricant. In arthrosis and arthrosis, it is used in its pure form for massage. To do this, it is placed in a water bath and heated. During the whole process honey should be warm. It is applied in a small amount to the affected area and begins to "drive" into the skin with the palm of your hand with light tapping movements.
The massage is carried out for 20 minutes. After its completion, the treated area is wrapped with a warm scarf for 1. 5-2 hours. The remaining honey is washed off with warm water. The total treatment time is 10 sessions. The first 3-4 days massage is performed daily, then every other day.
Also, to treat arthrosis and arthrosis, honey can be used to apply compresses. To do this, it is mixed with salt in a 2: 1 ratio. The resulting mixture is laid on a soft cotton cloth and applied to the diseased joint. A layer of cotton wool is applied to it and fixed with a bandage. Keep the compress for at least 3 hours. It's best to do it before bed.
oatmeal
Oatmeal also helps fight joint pain, relieve swelling and swelling. Use it to tie a compress, pre-boil without adding salt and sugar. When the porridge warms up, it must be mixed with honey so that the consistency is thick and does not drain. The resulting composition is transferred to a gauze napkin and applied to the joint. Polyethylene is put on top, a warm bandage is applied. The compress is kept all night.
pharmacy cocktail
To prepare you will need:
- alcohol tincture of iodine;
- Aspirin.
The proportions are as follows - for 10 ml of iodine 5 tablets. The ingredients are mixed, after grinding aspirin to a powder state, and the resulting mixture is applied to the damaged joint. Put a foil on top and fix everything with a bandage. Keep the compress for 2 hours. For best results, it should be alternated with honey compresses.
healing ointment
Great for relieving pain and inflammation. To prepare it, you will need chamomile flowers, calendula and burdock root. The components are pre-shredded and combined in equal proportions. After that, the resulting mixture is mixed with petroleum jelly so that the composition takes on the consistency of an ointment. Before use, the product must be kept in a dark place for 2 days. The ointment should be rubbed into the diseased joint 3-5 times a day.
Herbs
You can supplement the treatment of arthrosis at home with herbal infusions and decoctions. Herbs contain a large amount of nutrients that help:
- excretion of uric acid salts;
- removal of inflammatory reactions;
- pain relief;
- Repair of damaged tissue.
Among all the recipes of alternative medicine, the most effective are:
- An infusion of nettle, parsley roots, elderflower and oak bark. These plants are used to make a remedy that is taken orally. Take them in equal proportions and mix thoroughly. After that 2 tbsp. l. 400 ml of boiling water is poured into the finished raw material and left for about 30-40 minutes. Take the "medicine" 2 times a day in a sifted form, 150-200 ml.
- Saber tincture. To prepare it, take the root part of the plant. It is crushed and poured with alcohol in a 1: 2 ratio. After 14 days of infusion in a dark place, the product is filtered and placed in the refrigerator. Tincture is taken 2 times a day for 1 tsp. It can also be used to rub a painful joint.
- Decoction of tricolor violet, nettle, birch leaves. The components are premixed in equal proportions. After that, 1 tbsp is taken from the collection obtained. l. Herbs and pour them with a glass of boiling water. The broth is boiled in a water bath for 15-20 minutes, after which it is insisted for 30 minutes and filtered. Take ½ cup 2 times daily.
Folk remedies effectively help to combat pain and inflammation in the joints that occur with arthrosis and arthrosis. However, you must understand that they do not have an immediate effect. Only their long-term and systematic use in combination with the main methods of treatment will help to achieve positive results and prevent further progression of the disease.