Make a spice rack joint rub
Add a little cayenne, rosemary, or thyme to ½ cup olive or vegetable oil and use it as a rub for meat. All these herbs have pain-soothing properties and offer natural arthritis pain relief.
Soak up some sun
Many people with arthritis are deficient in vitamin D, which appears to play a role in the production of collagen in joints. Studies find that getting more vitamin D may benefit those with rheumatoid arthritis, too. To boost your D levels, get some sun for 10 to 15 minutes every day, two to three times a week – that’s all it takes for your body to synthesise what it needs.
Consider these supplements
Ask your doctor whether any of these supplements might be right for you. Research suggests they may have benefits, but more needs to be done.
Ginger extract twice a day. Ginger was found in several studies to help reduce knee pain in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, as well as improve how the knee worked. Ginger has anti-inflammatory effects, just like ibuprofen.
Vitamin E containing pure alpha-tocopherols. Vitamin E may have anti-inflammatory benefits for people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Glucosamine/chondroitin. This combination supplement may provide long-term pain relief and slow the degeneration of cartilage. Some researchers believe that glucosamine and chondroitin may repair damaged cartilage. It appears to help some patients and not others; if it’s working for you, you should experience relief within two to three months. If you do experience relief, after about a month you should be able to stop taking ibuprofen or other NSAIDs. If you don’t see a benefit by three months, you’re probably not going to.
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Source: RD.com
