Home Remedies for Rheumatoid Arthritis

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a painful and potentially disabling disease.  When joint cartilage wears out or the lubricating membrane becomes inflamed, the trouble begins.

Many people take prescription drugs to reduce the inflammation and pain but at the time of this posting, there is no cure.  There are however, some natural treatments and home remedies that may help without using chemicals, or may offer more comfort in addition to the benefit of medication.   

If you decide to try homeopathic methods while taking your prescription drugs, make certain to check with your doctor or pharmacist before doing so.  Using them together can be dangerous.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

Rheumatoid arthritis can be progressive but the common symptoms include swollen, stiff, red and painful joints.  It can affect any or all of the joints in the body.

While either sex may be diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, there are more women than men that have it.  Occasionally, younger people may suffer this unfortunate disease, as well.

If the disease continues to progress, scar tissue can form in the joints and aggravate symptoms.

Home Remedies and Natural Treatments

for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Watch your weight.  According to The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Preventing Disease, a mere 10 pounds overweight can put approximately 60 pounds of stress on your knees.  If your knee joints are effected by any type of arthritis, consider a safe method of getting your body to a healthy weight.  You'll not only feel better, you'll relief the stress on your joints.

Increase your antioxidants.  Inflamed arthritic joints release free radicals, which in turn, make the arthritis worse.  Slow down things down by ensuring that you are getting adequate amounts of Vitamin C and other antioxidants, which will reduce the harm that the free radical cells are doing.

Get enough Omega-3's.  Omega-3 fatty acids can help lower your risk of getting rheumatoid arthritis in the first place.  Choose foods that are high in Omega-3, such as the ones listed below.  The fish should be baked or broiled.

• Salmon
  
• Anchovies
• Swordfish
• Mackeral
• Herring
• Sardines
• Bluefish
• Canned albacore tuna
• Rainbow trout

Stay limber.  Stretch your body without overdoing it.  Don't over-extend your muscles, or you'll hurt yourself.  Combine stretching with low impact exercising  and you'll be doing a lot to help your joints and reduce your symptoms.  If you are able to comfortably walk, a long walk can be your exercise.

Lower the acid in your body.  Rheumatoid arthritis can be caused by acidosis.  In other words, too much acid in your system.  It can settle into your bones and interfere with cortisone production.  Eat cherries and fresh string beans or drink the juices.  If you decide on the cherries, eat or drink often every day, but only for four days.  Don't ingest any for four more days before starting again -  Take for 4 days, stop taking for 4 days, then repeat the cycle.

If you prefer, or wish to increase your efforts, eat raw, baked or boiled potatoes and turnip - without anything on them - no butter, sour cream, salt, etc.

Pain Relief for Rheumatoid Arthritis

To ease arthritic pain, make a tea of 1/2 teaspoon of either rosemary, comfrey or nettles to one cup of boiling water.

Sage is good for arthritis and rheumatism, with white sage being the preferred type.  Put 1 ounce of sage in 1 1/2 pints of water and simmer for 20 minutes.  When you need some relief from the pain, drink 1/2 cup of the tea.

Applying cod liver oil to your joints on a daily basis helps to relax and strengthen them and should reduce the 'popping'.

Corn silk is another good tea for people with rheumatoid arthritis.  It needs to be fresh silk, about 1 teaspoon to a cup of boiling water.  Drink when in need of pain relief.

If you have parsley in your garden, why not use to make this pain relieving tea?  Just steep 1 cup of packed parsley in a cup of boiling water for 15 minutes.  When it's done, strain and refrigerate, drinking a half cup at a time when needed.

Use the water from boiled potatoes to soak hands and feet.  This will help relieve the stiffness from joints plagued with rheumatoid arthritis.

Other Herbs That Help

Alfalfa - eat fresh sprouts, take the tablets or drink 2-3 cups of daily of the tea using 1 teaspoon to a cup of water.

Alehoof (ground ivy) - crush the leaves to put on swollen joints.  This will help deal with the pain and acidosis.

Wintergreen - use the oil to rub away the stiffness of rheumatoid arthritis.