4 Herbs That Relieve Joint Pain

Joint pain is one of the greatest inconveniences that can hamper our mobility and decrease the zest we feel for life as we get older. It manifests in symptoms of inflammation which is typically characterized by redness, swollen joints that are warm to the touch, loss of joint function and joint pain and stiffness.

Inflammation may also be associated with fever chills, headaches, loss of appetite, fatigue, low energy and muscle stiffness.

In its worst form, joint pain is a precursor to rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis, caused by an overactive immune system, is especially scary, since the medical protocol can be quite intense (such as chemotherapy and other therapies which suppress the immune system). To protect your well-being and your pocket, it is advisable to turn to natural remedies in herbs to treat inflammation as well as herbs which cleanse the blood and strengthen the body in general.

Herbs help cleanse metabolic waste products and toxins from our body. They work by supporting the natural cleansing functions of the kidneys, large intestines, increasing blood flow and aiding lymph drainage.

Allowing these wastes and toxins to circulate throughout the body is a cause of inflammation and, when the body is busy attempting to stem joint pain, it’s not able to do much else in order to support our health.

Here are several herbs which help ease joint pain:

1. Burdock Root

One of the best things for joint pain is to increase your consumption of essential fatty acids. Burdock root has many fatty oils that help to give this wonderful herb many anti-inflammatory properties. You can eat burdock root in food, and you also can chop up the dried root and put it in boiling water. You allow it to simmer for about 10 minutes and then shut off the stove. You strain and rink it while it is warm. You also can take this herb in a capsule. It definitely is one of the best herbs to reduce inflammation in your joints and relieve joint pain.

2. Turmeric

Turmeric is very effective in reducing inflammation of all kinds in your body. It also helps to relieve pain. It contains several chemicals that decrease inflammation in your body. They are very similar to NSAIDS drugs that are often prescribed for people with joint pain. This anti-inflammatory effect is one of the reasons that that turmeric is recommended to people with cancer, cataracts and also Alzheimer’s Disease.

3. Ginger

Ginger is an anti-inflammatory and antirheumatic agent used in Ayurvedic medicine. Ginger extract blocks activation of inflammatory mediators such as COX-2 and TNF, as well as suppressing the inflammatory prostaglandin E2 pathway. In a two-and-a-half-year study that investigated the effects of powdered ginger on people who had either rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, approximately 75 per cent of the patients experienced pain relief and decreased swelling, and there were no reports of adverse effects.

4. Flax

Flaxseed is an excellent source of Omega-3 in vegan form. It is very important to help you keep your immune system strong. It also is important to fight inflammation. The vegan aspect is important because animal fats can often cause inflammation in people with arthritis. You should try to put two tablespoons of flaxseeds into your diet each day. You should not heat or cook the seeds or the oil, as this will damage the Omega-3. Also, note that if you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, you should use the oil, and not the seeds. These could cause your condition to worsen.