Natural Pain Relief for Arthritis
No one likes to be inflamed and in pain, so today I’d like to share some natural therapies for arthritis pain.
There are 2 types of arthritis:
1. Osteoarthritis – caused by the wear-and-tear damage to the cartilage of your bones. Cartilage plays a role in preventing friction during joint movement, so once it is damaged, bone grinding on bone occurs and causes pain on the joint.
2. Rheumatoid arthritis – an autoimmune type, in which the immune system attacks the joint capsule, the membrane enclosing all parts of the joint. This causes inflammation, characterized by pain and swelling.
While there are many medications available for arthritis, you have a choice to opt for natural alternatives. In fact, according to the Arthritis Foundation, there are 8 natural therapies for arthritis pain. I’ll summarize most of them below. Plus, I’ve got a surprise addition to this list!
First, to reduce pressure on your joints, release excess body fat. Just losing one pound relieves your swollen joints from four pounds of pressure. You can achieve this by combining a healthy diet with ample amounts of exercise and physical activity (and yes, if you have arthritis, you will likely need to modify the types of activity you do: yoga, tai chi, qi gong, swimming, and weight training are some great options).
Second, movement should be part of your daily routine. Performing a low-impact exercise for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. As I mentioned above, both yoga and tai chi are great options. Yoga originated from India while tai chi from China, but both relieve joint pain and stiffness (and are great for reducing stress levels!).
Third, soothe yourself with techniques such as acupuncture, massage, or physical therapy. Acupuncture uses tiny needles inserted through the skin on different acupoints in the body so that your natural painkillers are activated and your nerves, muscles, and connective tissues are stimulated. Massage uses gentle manipulation of the body while applying some sort of pressure. Physical therapy also provides ways to lessen the pressure on swollen joints, to reduce stiffness, and improve movement patterns and mobility.
Fourth, electrical stimulation, also known as TENS (transcutaneous electrical stimulation) can be helpful. To relieve pain, a bit of electrical stimulation is used by applying small electrodes on the affected area. The electromagnetic current from the device is applied to the skin through the electrodes.
Fifth, is the topical CBD cream, such as the Lassen Labs Nano CBD Relief Cream. I’ve gotten great feedback on this product from clients and family members so I definitely recommend checking it out.
As I discussed in a previous newsletter, you have cannabinoid receptors in every part of the body and they help regulate pain and inflammation (amongst other things).
For more info about CBD use for arthritis, read here.
Lastly, the health of your gut makes a big difference! To have strong, healthy joints and a balanced inflammatory response, you need to be properly digesting and absorbing your food and keeping your immune response in check–this all happens in your gut! You’ve heard me say many times that your gut is at the root of all your health. Diet and lifestyle make a HUGE impact on gut health. Eating high quality protein and produce, hydrating, getting at least 7 hrs of sleep per night, exercising and moving your body regularly, spending time in nature, managing stress…these are powerful healthy habits that build the foundation for a healthy gut.
It is my passion to work with people like you whose health symptoms are getting in the way of you living life fully and with a sense of freedom in your body. I can help you to regain your health so you can feel great and free to enjoy life fully.
If you’re ready to discover where your best health has been hiding, I’d love to connect with you! Apply for a complimentary Unstoppable Health Discovery Session. http://bit.ly/schedulinghealth (subject to availability).
Until next time, I’m wishing you unstoppable health!
~Rebecca