Osteoarthritis of the joints is a complex degenerative disease that is associated with the destruction of cartilage tissue inside the joints. This pathological process is the most common joint disease worldwide. According to the latest statistics, about 80% of the world's population suffers from it.
In this disease, various changes and rearrangements occur in the articular ends of the bones over a long period of time and inflammatory processes develop. This results in degeneration of the periarticular tissues.
Treatment of osteoarthritis with folk remedies is carried out in order to eliminate the unpleasant symptoms and improve motor functions. But it should be understood that their use does not give an immediate effect.
In this disease, the destruction of the joints occurs for a long time, respectively, it will not work to cure them in one or two days. Therapy should be continuous and systematic.
A few words about the pathology
Osteoarthritis is a disease in which the destruction of cartilage elements and deformation of bones is observed. It develops most often against the background of trauma, congenital defects of the musculoskeletal system. Osteoarthritis is also often a consequence of:
- thyroid disorders;
- metabolic disorders;
- Overweight;
- gonadal dysfunction.
In medicine there is another term - osteoarthritis. What is? This disease is a type of osteoarthritis, but there are some differences from it. Osteoarthritis is a disease of a chronic nature, during the development of which cartilaginous tissues, ligaments, subsondal bones, synovial membranes, capsules and periarticular muscles are involved in the pathological process. The causes of this disease are the same as those of osteoarthritis, but the symptoms are slightly different.
If in osteoarthritis there is simply pain, swelling and redness, then in osteoarthritis there is a deformation of the joints, a change in gait and appearance of the limb. In other words, osteoarthritis is an advanced stage of arthritis in which all joint structures are damaged. The treatment of pathologies is similar, therefore, given alternative methods of treating arthritis, they can also be used for osteoarthritis.
Basic rules for home treatment
You can treat osteoarthritis 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 certain rules:
- The use of alternative medicine does not mean that you should refuse to take medication prescribed by your doctor, gymnastics and physiotherapy procedures. Folk remedies are only an auxiliary method for the treatment of osteoarthritis, not the main one.
- Study the recipes carefully. No ingredients can be replaced. If you do not have them, you should look for another way to treat osteoarthritis at home.
- Under no circumstances change the amount of ingredients used. Their number must fully comply with the indicators described in the instructions.
- When preparing "home remedies" you should use only fresh and high quality raw materials. Carefully monitor its expiration date.
- If you need to mix something, use a wooden spatula. Metal reserves, when they interact with oxygen, begin to oxidize.
- The use of enameled dishes is recommended for cooking decoctions.
- If, in addition to osteoarthritis of the joints, there are other chronic diseases (heart failure, stomach ulcers, etc. ), be sure to consult your doctor before using alternative methods.
Using even the best recipes for alternative medicine does not mean that you can switch to a regular diet. Nutrition plays a major role in osteoarthritis. During its treatment you should completely abandon products that contain purine. That:
- cocoa, chocolate;
- veal, veal;
- herring, carp;
- beans;
- rice;
- liver, etc.
Coffee and alcoholic beverages with osteoarthritis should also not be consumed. They contain substances that adversely affect the joints, reducing their elasticity and strength. You also need to take care of your drinking regimen. Water helps to get rid of uric acid salts. And the less they are in the body, the less likely they are swelling and severe pain. You should drink at least 1, 5-2 liters of water a day. You can replace it with mineral water, compotes, fruit drinks.
Recipes for alternative medicine
Folk remedies for osteoarthritis should be used for a long time. Sometimes treatment is delayed for up to 3-6 months. And only if everything is done correctly, the positive results are not late. But even after the condition improves, it is not worth stopping the therapy. The result should be fixed and for this it will be necessary to apply prescriptions for alternative medicine for a few more weeks.
horseradish
It is possible to treat osteoarthritis with folk remedies at home with the help of horseradish. This will require the root of the plant. Used fresh in summer and dried in winter. Before starting the therapy, the roots should be washed thoroughly under running water and then chopped with a grater. Then the resulting mass should be transferred to an enameled vessel, poured with water so as to cover the raw material by 2-3 cm. Then the container is placed on low heat. The broth does not need to boil, the roots just need to soften.
While the liquid cools, it is necessary to moisten a gauze napkin in it and then apply it in a warm form on the affected area. The polyethylene must be placed on top and a warm bandage must be applied. Remove the compress after 1, 5-2 hours. It is not worth holding for longer, as burns may occur. The procedure is best done before bedtime, as after it it is recommended to ensure complete rest of the joint.
Important! Horseradish roots contain substances that irritate the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and eyes. And to avoid trouble, you need to crush it either on the street or in a well-ventilated room. And to prevent the appearance of burns, it is impossible to put such a compress with horseradish more than 1 time a day. If a slight reddening of the skin occurs after its removal, you should not worry. It will pass in 1-2 hours.
medical bile
To stop joint pain, traditional medicine suggests the use of a compress based on medical bile. You can buy it at any drugstore. But to apply a compress, in addition to the main ingredient, you will also need:
- iodine;
- honey;
- glycerol;
- 10% ammonia.
All ingredients are mixed in equal proportions, transferred to a dark glass container and placed in a place protected from sunlight for 10 days. Shake the container daily. Then the tincture will be ready for use and you can start applying compresses.
Before each procedure, the tincture is heated in a water bath. While it is warm, it is moistened with gauze and applied to the affected joint. Apply wax paper, a layer of cotton wool on top and then fix everything with a bandage. Hold the compress for 2-3 hours. It is best to do it before bed.
Such treatment of the knee joint can improve blood circulation, restore damaged cartilage elements and relieve stiffness. But it has contraindications and they include:
- the presence of open wounds, cuts, purulent formations on the skin;
- dermatological diseases of various etiologies;
- intolerance to the components.
cabbage leaf
Cabbage leaves have a pronounced analgesic effect. That is why even doctors recommend using them when joint pain occurs. And in combination with natural honey, they are able to eliminate stiffness of movements and improve motor functions.
Use cabbage leaves with honey to apply compresses. To do this, you need to choose fresh and juicy leaves, smear their concave part with honey and attach to the sore spot. A film must be applied on top, and a woolen scarf is wrapped on top. Apply a compress for the night. Take it off only in the morning. The remaining honey is washed with warm water. The minimum course 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, they should be slightly weaned so that the juice begins to separate from them.
Eggshell and kefir
In osteoarthritis, the joints are deficient in calcium. And this element is very important for them, because it is a "building material", without which the process of formation of new cells is disrupted. And to compensate for the calcium deficiency, you can use eggshells.
To do this, you need to wash well, removing all the films, dried and ground to a powder with a coffee grinder or blender. Then the resulting powder should be mixed with 2, 5% kefir, so as to obtain a slurry. The finished composition is transferred on a gauze napkin and then applied to the damaged joint, a layer of polyethylene and a warm bandage is placed on top. Such a compress is made every day 2-3 hours before bedtime.
Chalk
This method of treating osteoarthritis is also aimed at filling the calcium deficiency in the joints. Chalk is also used to apply a compress. To do this, it is ground to a powder and then mixed with sour cream or yogurt. The finished mixture is placed on a gauze napkin, applied to the joint, and on top apply polyethylene and a bandage. Apply such a compress also a few hours before bedtime.
Elecampane
Treatment of osteoarthritis with folk remedies also includes the use of elecampane. This plant has a pronounced anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. Sold in pharmacies. Used to prepare an alcoholic tincture. To do this, 50 g of medicinal plant is poured into 125 ml of alcohol. The resulting mixture was transferred to a dark glass vessel and infused for 2 weeks in a place protected from sunlight.
Once the drug is infused, it must be filtered. Then place in the refrigerator. Used to rub the arthritis affected areas. Rubbing is done in light circular motions for 10-15 minutes. The treated area is then wrapped in a warm scarf. Such procedures are performed 1-2 times a day, depending on the severity of the pain syndrome.
Dandelion
Herbs for osteoarthritis of the joints are used differently. So, for example, you can use fresh dandelion flowers. They also help relieve pain and stiffness. They make an alcoholic tincture. To do this, a glass jar is filled to the top with flowers and poured with alcohol. The drug should be infused in a dark place for 1 month. Then it must be filtered. Use in the same way as elecampane tincture.
Important! According to the same scheme you can prepare a tincture of white lilac flowers. It also perfectly eliminates joint pain and has a decongestant effect.
Celandine
Speaking of which are the most effective means of alternative medicine to combat osteoarthritis, it is also necessary to mention celandine. Oil is made from this plant. To do this, take fresh leaves and stems of the plant. They are mixed in equal proportions and rolled through a meat grinder, then in an amount of 8 tbsp. l. pour 1 liter of olive oil.
The resulting mixture is placed in a dark place for 14 days. Once infused, it can be used to treat inflamed joints. To do this, the finished oil is applied to the affected area in a small amount and rubbed in light circular motions for 5-10 minutes. It is recommended to use this drug 2-3 times a day.
Bay leaf
Bay leaves have the ability to remove excess uric acid salts from the body, which accumulate in the joints, causing inflammation and pain. To get rid of the unpleasant symptoms, it is recommended to take 12 bay leaves, put them in an enamel bowl and pour 400 ml of cold water. The container is set on fire. When the liquid boils, reduce the heat and cook the broth for another 5 minutes.
Then the broth is poured into a thermos and insist for another 12 hours. It is then filtered and consumed completely during the day for 3-5 intakes. The course of treatment is 7 days. Then a 5-day rest is taken, after which the therapy is resumed. Such treatment is carried out for 2-3 months. The decoction is prepared daily. The shelf life should not exceed 24 hours. There are contraindications:
- pregnancy;
- renal pathologies;
- impaired liver function.
Honey
The use of honey improves blood circulation in the affected joint and enhances the synthesis of synovial fluid, which acts as a lubricant. In osteoarthritis and osteoarthritis it is used in its pure form for massages. To do this, it is placed in a water bath and heated. The honey should be warm during the whole procedure. It is applied in a small amount on the affected area and begins to "stick" into the skin with the palm of your hand with light tapping movements.
The massage is performed for 20 minutes. After its completion, the treated area is wrapped in a warm scarf for 1, 5-2 hours. The remaining honey is washed with warm water. The full course of treatment is 10 sessions. The first 3-4 days the massage is done daily, then every other day.
Also, for the treatment of osteoarthritis and osteoarthritis, honey can be used to apply compresses. To do this, it is mixed with salt in a ratio of 2: 1. The resulting mixture is placed on a soft cotton cloth and applied to the affected joint. Apply a layer of cotton wool on top and fix with a bandage. Keep the compress for at least 3 hours. It is best to do it before bed.
Oatmeal
Oatmeal also helps with joint pain, relieves swelling and puffiness. Use it to apply a compress, pre-boiled without adding salt and sugar. When the porridge becomes warm, it should be mixed with honey so that the consistency is thick and does not run off. The resulting composition is transferred to a gauze napkin and applied to the joint. Polyethylene is placed on top, a warm bandage is applied. The compress lasts all night.
pharmacy cocktail
To prepare it you will need:
- alcoholic tincture of iodine;
- aspirin.
The proportions are as follows - for 10 ml of iodine 5 tablets. The ingredients are mixed after the aspirin is ground to a powder state, and the resulting mixture is applied to the damaged joint. Put a film on top and fix everything with a bandage. Hold 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-crushed and combined in equal proportions. The resulting mixture is then mixed with Vaseline so that the composition acquires the consistency of an ointment. Before use, the product should be insisted in a dark place for 2 days. The ointment should be rubbed into the affected joint 3-5 times a day.
Herbs
You can supplement the treatment of osteoarthritis at home with herbal infusions and decoctions. Herbs contain a huge amount of nutrients that contribute to:
- excretion of uric acid salts;
- elimination of inflammatory reactions;
- pain relief;
- repair of damaged tissues.
Among all the recipes for alternative medicine, the most effective ones are:
- Nettle infusion, parsley roots, elderflower and oak bark. From these plants is prepared a drug that is taken orally. Take them in equal proportions, mix well. Then 2 tbsp. l. 400 ml of boiling water is poured into the finished raw material and infused for about 30-40 minutes. Take the "medicine" 2 times a day in a strained form, 150-200 ml.
- Sword tincture. To prepare it, take the root of the plant. It is crushed and poured with alcohol in a ratio of 1: 2. After 14 days of infusion in a dark place, the product is filtered and placed in the refrigerator. The tincture is taken 2 times a day for 1 tsp. It can also be used to rub an inflamed joint.
- Decoction of tricolor violet, nettle, birch leaves. The components are pre-mixed in equal proportions. Then take 1 tablespoon from the resulting collection. l. herbs and pour them with a glass of boiling water. The broth is boiled in a water bath for 15-20 minutes, then insist for 30 minutes and filtered. Take ½ glass 2 times a day.
Folk remedies effectively help to combat pain and inflammation in the joints, which occur in osteoarthritis and osteoarthritis. 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.