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Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease that primarily affects joints. The disorder is characterized by warm, painful swelling most commonly in the wrists and hands. While there is no cure for the condition, there are a number of ways of reducing RA discomfort and slowing its progression. These include several natural remedies that help combat pain, inflammation, and stiffness.
Click through and find out more about how to lessen your RA pain. But all the same, be sure to consult your doctor beforehand for advice on what's best suited for your particular situation.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease for which there is no current cure. Fortunately, there are several ways this debilitating condition can be managed.
One of the best natural remedies against RA is sleep. According to a report published by the Journal of Clinical Medicine, poor sleep quality has an especially detrimental effect on those who suffer from the condition, as lack of enough shut-eye influences levels of pain and your ability to move.
Biofeedback is a mind-body technique that involves using visual or auditory feedback to help you learn to control automatic responses such as heart rate and blood pressure. A therapist teaches you how to control your reaction to stress, the information of which may help you to develop better control over certain body functions and address health concerns.
Regular exercise can help lower the swelling in your joints, help ease pain, and increase joint range of motion. Choose low-impact aerobic exercise like brisk walking or swimming. Strength exercises can keep the muscles around your joints strong. And range-of-motion exercises encourage your joints to move like they should.
Water aerobics is an especially beneficial way to ease the discomfort of RA. Aquatic exercise allows you to get a great cardio workout while also increasing your strength, endurance, and flexibility. And the buoyancy of water also provides additional support for your muscles and joints.
Another low-impact exercise option with potential benefits for RA sufferers is yoga. The combination of exercise, breathing, and meditation can improve mood, fatigue, and the chronic pain often associated with the condition.
Perhaps even more beneficial than yoga is tai chi. This ancient Chinese martial art combines a series of slow, deliberate movements designed to help with strength, flexibility, and balance—all potentially of benefit to those with RA.
A means of managing stress as well as giving your muscle groups a good workout, progressive muscle relaxation is a method by which you tense a group of muscles as you breathe in, and you relax them as you breathe out. Benefits include the development of a feeling of well-being, lowered blood pressure, and decreased muscle tension.
The benefits of deep breathing are plentiful. It decreases stress, relieves pain, and improves immunity. Slow deep breaths from the belly can also increase energy, lower blood pressure, and support correct posture—all beneficial in combating the symptoms of RA.
Meditation helps focus breathing more sharply, which in turn takes your brain away from thoughts about pain and discomfort. An associated practice is mindfulness meditation. This technique, which is all about being aware of your thoughts, emotions, and breathing, may reduce pain intensity, depression, and other RA symptoms.
A simplified way of meditating is a process known as visualization. Just close your eyes, breathe deeply, and picture yourself in a quiet, tranquil location. It's another way of reducing pain and stress.
Painful RA inflammation can be treated with a cold compress. Cold diminishes joint swelling and inflammation and causes the blood vessels of the muscles to constrict. This in turn decreases the flow of blood and helps reduce soreness and tenderness.
Conversely, heat relaxes your muscles and stimulates blood flow. Heat also helps lubricate joints and may be used to relieve muscle and joint stiffness.
A common spice in many dishes, turmeric also has a long history in traditional medicine. The natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of curcumin, turmeric’s most active compound, may help ease the symptoms of RA.
Research also suggests that regularly eating ginger can help relieve certain pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Essential oils can be used to relive the inflammatory symptoms of RA, including swelling, stiffness, and pain. Oils should be diluted before applying to skin, and when using any new oil be sure that you're not sensitive or allergic to it. So, what oils work best?
Research published in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research concluded that applying lemongrass essential oil onto the skin gradually reduced pain levels by a modest degree.
Certain plant oils may ease the symptoms of RA. For instance, evening primrose. Taken as a supplement, evening primrose can help improve overall skin health by reducing inflammatory skin conditions.
The impressive-sounding thunder god vine is a perennial commonly grown in southeast China that's been used in traditional medicine for centuries. Studies suggests that it may be effective in reducing RA symptoms. However, more research is needed on long-term effects and safety. It should also be noted that thunder god vine can be poisonous if it isn’t prepared correctly.
The health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fish oil, are well proven and extend to helping combat inflammation. In fact, studies have consistently observed a connection between higher omega-3 intake and reduced inflammation.
As an alternative to taking supplements, topical anti-inflammatory creams, gels, and lotions can be applied directly to the skin as per directed by your doctor. Topical ointments can also come in spray form or patches.
Keeping to a balanced diet is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Those suffering from RA should prioritize foods with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. These include raw or lightly cooked vegetables—broccoli and spinach for instance, or tomato.
An apple a day, so they say. And it goes without saying that including plenty of fresh fruit in your diet helps in the fight against RA.
Natural yogurt works wonders because it's full of probiotics, live bacteria, and yeasts that have a range of health benefits, including anti-inflammatory properties.
The jury is still out on whether magnetic therapy is an effective tool against the inflammatory symptoms of RA. According to the Arthritis Foundation, magnet therapy or wearing copper jewelry have proven ineffective for arthritis pain. And in actual fact, most research on magnets involves people with osteoarthritis, the wear-and-tear type of arthritis linked to aging, not RA.
RA can drain strength and sap energy. The good news is that there are numerous assistive devices that can help you remain mobile, things such as splints, braces, and neck collars. In addition, custom-made household items such as grab bars and handrails installed in bathrooms and on stairs can help you navigate your home safely and more easily.
Tried and tested for millennia, acupuncture is one of the oldest natural pain remedies out there. This traditional form of Chinese medicine is known to lower levels of chemicals in your body linked to inflammation. It also helps combat chronic pain, especially back pain. Acupuncture may also help with osteoarthritis.
Massage may improve RA symptoms, and there are many different types of massage that can help ease pain. Massage can also help improve grip strength and increase joint range of motion.
Remember, a problem shared is a problem halved. The support of family, friends, and others with RA can help sufferers manage the condition. Join a support group in person or online, and engage with like-minded individuals. This will increase your knowledge about RA and offer insights into how others are coping.
Sources: (Journal of Clinical Medicine) (Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice) (Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research) (Journal of the American College of Nutrition) (Arthritis Foundation)
See also: Home remedies and handy tips to beat the common cold
Natural remedies to combat rheumatoid arthritis
Did you know that sleep stands as one of the most effective natural remedies for combating RA?
HEALTH Human body
Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease that primarily affects joints. The disorder is characterized by warm, painful swelling most commonly in the wrists and hands. While there is no cure for the condition, there are a number of ways of reducing RA discomfort and slowing its progression. These include several natural remedies that help combat pain, inflammation, and stiffness.
Click through and find out more about how to lessen your RA pain. But all the same, be sure to consult your doctor beforehand for advice on what's best suited for your particular situation.