9 Herbs to Fight Arthritis Pain
Different kinds of arthritis can cause pain that might not go away even after standard treatments. If you use natural remedies along with other treatments, they may help you deal with mild problems.
Some herbs can help with the pain of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or osteoarthritis (OA) because they reduce inflammation.
Still, scientists need more proof to back their use and learn more about the bad effects they might have.
Before using herbs to treat gout, you should talk to a doctor. Some choices may not work well with medicines you are already taking.
1. Aloe vera
A lot of people use aloe vera in traditional medicine. It comes in a lot of different forms, like
pills
powder
gel
leaf
Aloe vera is often used to treat small cuts and scrapes on the skin, like sunburn. It may also help with joint pain.
Possible benefits may include:
Anti-inflammatory properties, usually well tolerated, and doesn’t have the stomach problems that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are often used to treat arthritis pain, do.
A gel can be put on the skin immediately. In 2014, some experts said that taking aloe by mouth might help ease the pain of OA.
To be sure that these treatments work, more research needs to be done.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) says that using aloe vera is probably safe, but taking it by mouth may make some people feel bad.
It might lower glucose levels and change how some diabetes medicines work.
2. Boswellia
Boswellia serrata, which is also known as frankincense, can help reduce inflammation and is used in both traditional and alternative treatment. From the gum of Boswellia trees, which are native to India, it is made.
Review released in 2019 says that boswellic acid might help people with RA, bronchial asthma, ulcerative colitis, and other inflammatory diseases by reducing inflammation.
Studies with people have shown that frankincense pills may help ease the pain, stiffness, and loss of function caused by OA. But these studies were not very big. We need to do more study.
Up to 1 gram of boswellia a day seems to be safe, but large amounts can hurt the liver. It comes in pill form and as a cream that you put on your skin.
3. Cat’s claw
This plant, cat’s claw, may also help reduce swelling in people with arthritis because it is anti-inflammatory. It comes from the root and bark of a tropical plant that grows in Central and South America.
In the past, people have used it to reduce inflammation and make their immune systems stronger.
The Arthritis Foundation says that, like many other common drugs for RA, cat’s claw blocks tumor necrosis factor.
They talk about a small study from 2002 that showed cat’s claw could help 40 people with RA reduce joint swelling by more than 50%.
However, some possible side affects are:
nausea and dizziness
low blood pressure
headache
You should not use this herb if you:
use blood thinners
take medications that suppress the immune system
have tuberculosis
According to the NCCIH some small studies have looked at cat’s claw for RA, but more research is needed.
4. Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is easy to get and is used to treat a lot of different problems. Extracts of eucalyptus leaves are used to treat arthritis pain on the skin.
Tannins, which are found in the plant’s leaves, may help reduce joint pain and swelling. Some people use heat pads afterward to get the most out of the experience.
Essential oils of eucalyptus may help ease the pain of RA.
Before you use an essential oil, you should always mix it with a carrier oil. Mix 15 drops of oil with 2 cups of almond oil or another oil that won’t taste bad.
Before you use medicinal eucalyptus, you should do a patch test to see if you are allergic to it. Just put a little of the item on your hand. If there is no response in 24 to 48 hours, it should be safe.
5. Ginger
Ginger is often used in food, but it may also be good for you. According to a study from 2016, the compounds that give ginger its strong taste are also good for reducing inflammation.
Some experts think that ginger could one day be used instead of NSAIDs.
Ginger has been used for a long time to help people who feel sick. It can also help with RA, OA, and joint and muscle pain.
According to the authors of an older review of study from 2014, ginger’s ingredients could one day be used to make a drug that treats rheumatoid arthritis. It might not only help with symptoms, but it might also stop bones from breaking down.
There are different ways to eat ginger. Some of these are:
Adding fresh ginger or tea bags to hot water for 5 minutes to make tea. Putting ginger powder in baked goods.
Adding fresh ginger root or ginger powder to savory meals
Putting grated fresh ginger on a salad or stir-fry
It’s not clear if the high quantity of active ingredients in ginger tea will help ease symptoms. When ginger is eaten or drunk, it may not contain as much of it as when it is taken as a supplement.
You can talk to your doctor about taking ginger supplements and how much you should take to feel the effects.
Before you eat more ginger, talk to your doctor because it can interact with some drugs, like the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin).
6. Green tea
A lot of people like to drink green tea. It may help fight the inflammation that comes with RA or OA because it has vitamins in it.
Green tea can be drunk in the following ways:
a beverage powder (matcha) for sprinkling on food or adding to smoothies supplements
Scientists have found evidence that some parts or extracts of green tea may have an effect on arthritis. However, it’s not clear if the amount of active ingredients in a cup of green tea will help reduce symptoms.
Still, most people should be fine with it. If you don’t add sugar, it might be better for you than some coffees, sodas, and other sugary drinks as a drink.
More study is needed to prove that green tea can help reduce inflammation and figure out the best way to drink it and how much to drink.
7. Thunder god vine
The plant known as thunder god vine (Tripterygium wilfordii) is a vegetable. In Chinese, Japanese, and Korean medicine, it has been used for a long time to treat inflammation and overactive immune systems.
Because of this, it might be a good way to treat RA and other autoimmune illnesses.
You can use it:
by mouth, as a boost to a healthy diet, or as a skin treatment that is put on directly.
It can, however, have very bad results, such as
gastrointestinal problems
respiratory infections
hair loss
headache
a skin rash
menstrual changes
Thunder god vine can interact with a lot of medicines, especially those used to treat RA and other autoimmune illnesses.
Getting the extract from the wrong part of the plant can be dangerous. It’s also important to keep in mind that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t control the making or selling of herbal medicines.
You can’t always be sure of what’s in a product, and thunder god vine herb can be dangerous if it’s not made right.
The NCCIH says there isn’t enough proof to show that thunder god vine is safe or works to treat arthritis.
If used while pregnant, it could cause birth problems.
You should talk to a doctor about this herb. There may be other treatments that work better and have lower risks.
You shouldn’t take thunder god vine over the counter. A qualified herbal medicine prescriber might be able to give you a dose or formula that includes this herb.
8. Turmeric
It is a yellow powder that comes from a growing plant. It makes sweet and savory foods and drinks taste better and look better.
Curcumin, which is its main ingredient, can help reduce inflammation. It has been used in Ayurvedic and Chinese healing for a long time. It might help people with OA, RA, and other types of arthritis.
Turmeric is available:
as a spice powder to put in food in tea bags
as pills that you take by mouth
There needs to be more research on how safe and useful turmeric is. Based on what the NCCIH says, it’s probably safe for most people, though high doses or long-term use may make your stomach upset.
People who practice Ayurvedic or Chinese medicine may give you turmeric as part of a mixture with other ingredients. A trained and approved herbal medicine practitioner might be able to give you a formula that includes turmeric.
9. Willow bark
A review of the study published in 2015 says that people have been using willow bark extract for thousands of years to ease pain, reduce swelling, and lower fevers.
Willow bark can be made into a tea or a pill.
Some older study from 2009 suggests that it may help ease the pain of OA and RA joints. But the effects have been mixed, and more research is needed. It might not be safe for everyone either.
Common side effects may include:
If you take too much, it can cause stomach upset, high blood pressure, an allergic response (especially if you are allergic to aspirin), stomach ulcers, and bleeding.
Do not use willow bark until you talk to your doctor, especially if you are taking blood thinners or have a stomach infection. Should not be taken by people who are allergic to aspirin.
Scientists used salicin, a substance present in white willow bark, to create aspirin.
