Osteoarthritis of the joints is a complex degenerative disease associated with the destruction of cartilage tissue inside the joints. This pathological process is the most common joint disease in the world. According to the latest statistics, it affects about 80% of the world's population.
With this disease, various changes and reconstructions occur over a long period of time at the articular ends of the bones, and inflammatory processes develop. As a result, degeneration of periarticular tissues occurs.
Treatment of osteoarthritis with folk remedies is carried out to eliminate unpleasant symptoms and improve motor function. However, it should be understood that their use does not have an immediate effect.
With this disease, the destruction of the joints occurs for a long time, respectively, it will not work to treat them in a day or two. Therapy should be long and systematic.
A few words about pathology
Osteoarthritis is a disease characterized by destruction of cartilage elements and deformation of bones. Most trauma develops against the background of congenital defects of the musculoskeletal system. Osteoarthritis is also often the result of:
- thyroid disorders;
- metabolic disorders;
- excess weight;
- dysfunction of the sex glands.
There is another term in medicine - osteoarthritis. What is this? This disease is a type of osteoarthritis, but there are some differences. Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease in which cartilage tissue, ligaments, subsondal bones, synovial membranes, capsules and periarticular muscles are involved in the pathological process. The causes of this disease are the same as osteoarthritis, but the symptoms are slightly different.
If pain, swelling, and redness are simply observed with osteoarthritis, deformity, gait changes, and the appearance of the joint are noted along with osteoarthritis. In other words, osteoarthritis is an advanced stage of arthritis in which all joint structures are damaged. The treatment of pathologies is similar, so it can also be used for osteoarthritis, considering alternative methods of treating arthritis.
Basic rules for treatment at home
You can treat osteoarthritis at home at any stage of development. But for folk remedies to be truly effective, there are some rules to follow:
- The use of alternative medicine does not mean that you should give up prescription drugs, gymnastics, or physiotherapy. Folk remedies are only an adjunct to the treatment of osteoarthritis, not the main.
- Study the recipes carefully. No component can be replaced. If not, you should look for another way to treat osteoarthritis at home.
- Under no circumstances change the amount of ingredients used. Their number must correspond exactly to the indicators described in the instructions.
- Only fresh and high-quality raw materials should be used in the preparation of "home remedies". Follow its expiration date carefully.
- If you need to mix something, use a wooden spatula. Metal inventory begins to oxidize when it interacts with oxygen.
- It is recommended to use enamel utensils for cooking.
- If you have other chronic diseases (heart failure, gastric ulcer, etc. ) other than osteoarthritis of the joints, be sure to consult your doctor before using alternative methods.
Even using the best alternative medicine prescriptions does not mean that you can switch to a regular diet. Nutrition plays a big role in osteoarthritis. During its treatment, products containing purines should be completely avoided. O:
- cocoa, chocolate;
- veal, beef;
- herring, carp;
- beans;
- rice;
- liver, etc.
Coffee and alcohol should not be consumed with osteoarthritis. They contain substances that adversely affect the joints, reducing their elasticity and strength. You should also pay attention to your drinking regimen. Water helps flush out uric acid salts. And the less they are in the body, the less likely it is to edema and severe pain. During the day you need to drink at least 1, 5-2 liters of water. You can replace it with mineral water, compotes, fruit drinks.
Alternative Medicine Recipes
Folk remedies for osteoarthritis should be used for a long time. Sometimes treatment is delayed for 3-6 months. And only if everything is done correctly, the positive results are unexpected. However, it is not worth stopping therapy even after the condition has improved. The result needs to be corrected, and for this you need to apply alternative medicine prescriptions for a few more weeks.
Horseradish
With the help of horseradish it is possible to treat osteoarthritis with folk remedies at home. For this you need the root part of the plant. It is used fresh in summer and dried in winter. Before starting therapy, the roots should be thoroughly washed under running water and then chopped with a frying pan. After that, the resulting mass should be transferred to an enamel bowl, poured with water to cover the raw material by 2-3 cm. The container is then placed on a slow fire. You do not need to bring the broth to a boil, you just need to soften the roots.
It is necessary to moisten a gauze napkin inside until the liquid cools down, and then apply it warm to the affected area. Polyethylene must be placed on top and a warm bandage is applied. Remove the compress after 1, 5-2 hours. It is not worth keeping longer, as burns may appear. The procedure is best done before bedtime, as it is recommended that the joint be fully rested after that.
It is important! Horseradish roots contain substances that irritate the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and eyes. And to avoid the problem, you need to crush either on the street or in a well ventilated area. It is impossible to put such a compress with horseradish more than 1 time a day to prevent the appearance of fire. Don't worry if you get a slight redness on the skin after removing it. It will pass in 1-2 hours.
medical bile
To stop joint pain, traditional medicine recommends using a compress based on medical bile. You can buy it at any pharmacy. But in addition to the main ingredient to put a compress, you will need:
- iodine;
- bal;
- glycerin;
- 10% ammonia.
All ingredients are mixed in equal proportions, transferred to a dark glass jar and placed in a place protected from sunlight for 10 days. Shake the container every day. After that, the tincture will be ready for use and you can start to build compresses.
Before each procedure, the tincture is heated in a water bath. While warm, a bandage is moistened inside and applied to the affected joint. Wax paper is applied on top, a layer of cotton wool, then everything is fixed with a bandage. Keep the compress for 2-3 hours. It is better to do this before bedtime.
Such treatment of the knee joint can improve blood circulation, restore damaged cartilage elements and eliminate stiffness of movements. However, it has its contraindications, which include:
- presence of open wounds, cuts, purulent compounds on the skin;
- dermatological diseases of various etiologies;
- intolerance to components.
cabbage leaves
Cabbage leaves have a pronounced analgesic effect. Therefore, even doctors recommend using them when joint pain appears. And in combination with natural honey, they are able to eliminate stiffness of movements and improve motor function.
Use cabbage leaves with honey to make compresses. To do this, you need to choose fresh and juicy leaves, lubricate their concave part with honey and glue it to the sore spot. A film is definitely drawn on it and a woolen scarf is wrapped around it. Put a compress for the night. Just remove it in the morning. The remaining honey is washed with warm water. The minimum course of treatment is 30 days.
It is 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 applying the compress, you need to beat them a little so that the juice begins to differ from them.
Eggshell and kefir
Osteoarthritis is a lack of calcium in the joints. 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. You can use eggshells to overcome calcium deficiency.
To do this, it is necessary to wash thoroughly, remove all the films, dried and powdered with a coffee grinder or blender. After that, the resulting powder should be mixed with 2. 5% kefir to obtain a slurry. The finished composition is transferred to a gauze napkin and then applied to the damaged joint, covered with a layer of polyethylene and a warm bandage. Such a compress is applied every day 2-3 hours before bedtime.
Chalk
This method of treating osteoarthritis is also aimed at compensating for the lack of calcium in the joints. Chalk is also used to set compresses. To do this, it is powdered, then mixed with sour cream or yogurt. The finished mixture is placed on a gauze napkin, applied to the joint and covered with polyethylene and bandage. Put such a compress a few hours before bedtime.
Elecampane
Treatment of osteoarthritis with folk remedies also involves the use of elecampane. This plant has a pronounced anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. Sold in pharmacies. Used to prepare alcohol tincture. To do this, 50 g of herbs are poured into 125 ml of alcohol. The resulting mixture is transferred to a dark glass jar and infuse for 2 weeks in a place protected from sunlight.
The remedy should be filtered after brewing. Then put in the refrigerator. It is used to rub the areas affected by arthritis. Rubbing is performed in light circular motions for 10-15 minutes. After that, the treated area is wrapped in a warm scarf. Such procedures are performed 1-2 times a day, depending on the severity of the pain syndrome.
Dandelion
Herbs are used differently for osteoarthritis of the joints. So, for example, you can use fresh dandelion flowers. They also help relieve pain and stiffness. Prepare an alcoholic tincture. To do this, the glass jar is filled with flowers and poured with alcohol. The remedy should be infused in a dark place for 1 month. After that it should be filtered. Use in the same way as elecampane tincture.
It is important! According to the same scheme, you can prepare a tincture of white lilac flowers. It also perfectly relieves joint pain and has a decongestant effect.
Celandine
When talking about the most effective means of alternative medicine to combat osteoarthritis, it should be noted 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 slid through a meat grinder, and then in the amount of 8 tbsp. l. Pour 1 liter of olive oil.
The resulting mixture is placed in a dark place for 14 days. It can be used to treat joint pain after infusion. To do this, apply a small amount of the finished oil to the damaged area and rub in light circular motions for 5-10 minutes. It is recommended to use this tool 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 and cause inflammation and pain. To get rid of unpleasant symptoms, it is recommended to take 12 bay leaves, put them in an enamel pan 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.
After that, the broth is poured into a thermos and insist another 12 hours. It is then filtered and consumed completely during the day for 3-5 doses. The course of treatment is 7 days. After that, a 5-day break is given, then therapy is resumed. Such treatment is carried out for 2-3 months. Gentle is prepared daily. Its shelf life should not exceed 24 hours. There are contraindications:
- pregnancy;
- renal pathologies;
- impairment of liver function.
bal
The use of honey improves blood circulation in the affected joint and increases the synthesis of synovial fluid, which acts as a lubricant. In case of osteoarthritis and osteoarthritis, it is used in pure form for massage. 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 small amounts to the affected area and begins to be "rubbed" into the skin with the palms of the hands with light tapping movements.
The massage is performed for 20 minutes. Upon 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. Massage is done daily for the first 3-4 days, then every day.
Honey compresses can also be used to treat osteoarthritis and osteoarthritis. To do this, mix it with salt in a ratio of 2: 1. The resulting mixture is placed on a soft cotton cloth and applied to the diseased joint. A layer of cotton is placed on top and fastened with a bandage. Keep the compress for at least 3 hours. It is good to do this before bedtime.
Oatmeal
Oatmeal also helps fight joint pain, swelling and puffiness. Use it to pre-boil, compress without adding salt and sugar. When the porridge warms up, it should be mixed with honey so that the consistency is thick and does not flow. The resulting composition is transferred to a gauze napkin and applied to the joint. Polyethylene is placed on top and a warm bandage is applied. The compress is stored all night.
pharmacy cocktail
To prepare it you will need:
- iodine alcohol tincture;
- aspirin.
The proportions are as follows - 5 tablets for 10 ml of iodine. The ingredients are mixed after the aspirin is powdered and the resulting mixture is applied to the damaged joint. Put a film on it and cover everything with a bandage. Keep the compress for 2 hours. For best results, honey should be replaced with compresses.
Therapeutic ointment
Great for relieving pain and inflammation. To prepare you need chamomile flowers, calendula and burdock root. The components are pre-crushed and combined in equal proportions. The resulting mixture is then mixed with petroleum jelly to give the composition an ointment consistency. The product should be insisted in a dark place for 2 days before use. The ointment should be applied to the affected joint 3-5 times a day.
Horses
You can complete the treatment of osteoarthritis at home with herbal infusions and decoctions. Herbs contain a lot of nutrients that help them:
- excretion of uric acid salts;
- elimination of inflammatory reactions;
- pain relief;
- repair of damaged tissues.
Of all the alternative medicine prescriptions, the most effective are:
- Infusion of nettle, parsley root, elder flowers and oak bark. An oral remedy is made from these plants. Take them in equal proportions, mix thoroughly. After that, 2 tbsp. l. Pour 400 ml of boiling water into the finished raw material and infuse for about 30-40 minutes. Take 150-200 ml of "medicine" in filtered form 2 times a day.
- Saber tincture. Take the root part of the plant to prepare. It is crushed and poured with alcohol in a ratio of 1: 2. After 14 days of brewing in a dark place, the product is filtered and placed in the refrigerator. Tincture is taken 1 tsp 2 times a day. It can also be used to rub aching joints.
- Decoction of tricolor violet, nettle, maple leaves. The components are pre-mixed in equal proportions. After that, 1 tablespoon is taken from the collection. l. herbs and pour them into 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 cup 2 times a day.
Folk remedies help to effectively combat pain and inflammation in the joints caused by osteoarthritis and osteoarthritis. However, you should understand that they do not have an immediate effect. Only their long-term and systematic use in combination with basic treatments will help to achieve positive results and prevent further progression of the disease.