Osteoarthritis Natural Treatment

Several natural treatments for osteoarthritis have a meaningful body of supporting evidence indicating that they can reduce arthritis pain and improve function. Even more important, there is some evidence that glucosamine and chondroitin may offer the additional benefit of helping to prevent progressive joint damage. The supplements SAMe, and MSM also have significant evidence of effectiveness in the treatment of arthritis. These treatments will be covered in length with examples of studies later in this series. Their is no cure for osteoarthritis, but you can look into osteoarthritis treatments.

Natural Herbal Heat packs that work both hot and cold A couple of minutes in the microwave and you are on your way to relief

Back braces back braces support the lumber region with compression and/or semi rigid panels

Chiropractic Pillows Some pillows feel good others make you feel good.

Improve bone strength Natural supplements to improve bone strength and joint health

Massagers - Hand Held Massage tools that make giving a professional massage a snap. Give a longer more penetrating massage without tiring.

Some Evidence for Osteoarthritis Pain Relief

Other treatments with at least slight supporting evidence from double-blind trials include :

Catâ€™s claw
Proteolytic enzymes - that breakdown of proteins into simpler, soluble substances, as occurs in digestion.
Ayurvedic herbal combination therapy
Omega 3 Fatty acids
Traditional Chinese herbal medicine

Incomplete and not entirely consistent evidence from human and animal studies suggests that green-lipped mussel may help alleviate osteoarthritis symptoms and give osteoarthritis pain relief.

One double blind study involving dogs found some evidence of benefit with elk velvet antler.

Hatha yoga has also shown some promise for osteoarthritis.

Numerous other herbs and supplements sometimes recommended for osteoarthritis include beta-carotene, boron, cartilage, chamomile, copper, dandelion, D-phenylalanine, feverfew, molybdenum, selenium, turmeric, and yucca.

We will touch on these herbs and supplements as well. However, there is little to no evidence from controlled clinical studies that these treatments are effective. While that does not mean that there is not significant antidotal evidence and historical records of use that should be used for the basis of additional study.

NO Evidence

In a large (almost 400 participant) 5-year, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, use of injected mesoglycan failed to slow the progression of osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis Self Treatment- What can you do to help?

Application of Heat and Cold

Applying heat or cold to affected joints and muscles can help relieve arthritis pain and stiffness on a short-term basis. Which one is more helpful--heat or cold--depends on the individual. The best way to find out which one is most effective is to try them both.

Heat increases blood circulation in the area to which it is applied and helps relax aching muscles. A heating pad or warm water soaks for five minutes in the morning to limber up. Heat helps prepare the tissues for stretching and should be performed prior to exercise sessions. The preferable method of heating is in a warm shower or bath for 10 to 15 minutes. Local heat with a moist heating pad is an alternative.
Cold is effective for numbing a painful area. Cold can be applied by using ice packs, cold packs, or even bags of frozen vegetables. Ice for five to fifteen minutes at a time on the area which is most swollen and tender. Use of cold packs for chronic arthritic pain is recommended over ice.

Neither heat nor cold should be applied for longer than 20 minutes, and skin should be allowed to return to its normal temperature between applications.

"Over the counter" non-steroidal anti inflammatory medication (NSAID), such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naprosyn, or ketoprofen. Check with your pharmacist regarding possible side effects and drug interactions.

There is some scientific evidence to suggest that chondroitin / glucosamine preparations may be helpful in osteoarthritis. These preparations are available without a prescription, but may affect your glucose and cholesterol tests, so it's not a bad idea to check with your doctor. Other supplements and treatments may also be of some help but should be fully investigated and discussed with your doctor. We cover many of the potential treatments in the rest of this article

Wait and watch.

If not already restricted because of your stiffness, you should limit overhead positioning, overhead reaching, and lifting until you are beginning to see improvement. In addition, if you have osteoarthritis of the spine, it is important to maintain good posture to distribute weight and pressure evenly throughout the body.

Therapist Treatment - What can a therapist do to help?

Provide a variety of hand and knee supports or splints to support the knee, thumb and the wrist.
Help identify aggravating activities and suggest alternative postures.
Massage, heat, ice and other treatments aimed at making the area more comfortable.
A therapist can provide advice on living with arthritis, and give helpful information on how to live one's life without aggravating or accelerating the damage caused by arthritis. This is often referred to as a "joint protection program".
Therapists can also help identify some special tools to assist people whose hands have been affected by arthritis perform routine daily activities. These are called "adaptive devices" or "living aids"

If surgery is required, therapy after surgery is very important. Custom splints may need to be made and maintained by a skilled therapist.

Read on for both medical and natural treatment approaches

Some of our products for Arthritis ....