Joint arthrosis is a complex degenerative disease that involves the destruction of cartilage tissue within the joints. This pathological process is the most common joint disease worldwide. According to the latest statistics, it affects about 80% of the population worldwide.
In this disease, various changes and rearrangements occur at the joint ends of the bones for a long time, and inflammatory processes develop. As a result, degeneration of the periarticular tissues occurs.
Treatment of arthrosis with folk remedies is done to eliminate unpleasant symptoms and improve motor function. But it should be understood that their use does not have an immediate effect.
In this disease, the destruction of the joints will take a long time, it will not heal in a day or two. Therapy should be long and systematic.
A few words about pathology
Arthrosis is a disease in which cartilage is destroyed and bones are deformed. Most often, trauma develops in the background of congenital defects of the musculoskeletal system. Arthrosis often has the following consequences:
- thyroid dysfunction;
- metabolic disorders;
- overweight;
- gonadal dysfunction.
There is another term in medicine - osteoarthritis. Which? This disease is a type of arthrosis, but there are some differences from it. Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease in which cartilage, ligaments, subondondal bones, articular membranes, capsules, and periarticular muscles are involved in the pathological process. The causes of this disease are the same as those of arthrosis, but the symptoms are slightly different.
If pain, swelling, and redness are simply observed during arthrosis, joint deformity, gait changes, and limb appearance are observed in osteoarthritis. In other words, osteoarthritis is an advanced stage of arthritis in which all joint structures are damaged. Therapies for pathologies are similar and may be used to treat osteoarthritis, considering alternative treatments for arthritis.
Basic rules of home treatment
You can treat arthrosis at home at any stage of development. But for a folk remedy to have a truly positive result, you need to follow a few rules:
- The use of alternative medicine does not mean that you have to refuse medications prescribed by your doctor, gymnastics, and physiotherapy procedures. Folk remedies are only an adjunct to the treatment of arthrosis and not the main one.
- Study the recipes carefully. No ingredients are substitutable. If you do not have these, you should look for another way to treat arthrosis at home.
- Under no circumstances change the amount of ingredients used. Their number must fully comply with the indicators described in the instructions.
- Only fresh and good quality ingredients should be used to make "home medicines". Pay close attention to your expiration date.
- If you need to mix something together, use a wooden spatula. The metal stock begins to oxidize when it interacts with oxygen.
- It is recommended to use enameled pots for cooking decoctions.
- If you have other chronic diseases besides arthrosis of the joints (heart failure, stomach ulcer, etc. ), be sure to consult your doctor before using alternative methods.
Even using the best alternative medicine recipes doesn’t mean you can switch to a regular diet. Nutrition plays a major role in osteoarthritis. You must completely remove purine-containing products during treatment. It:
- cocoa, chocolate;
- veal, beef;
- herring, carp;
- puppet;
- rice;
- liver, etc.
Coffee and alcoholic beverages with arthrosis should also not be consumed. They contain substances that have a negative effect on the joints, reducing their elasticity and strength. You should also make sure you drink regularly. Water helps to drain the salts of uric acid. And the fewer they are in the body, the less likely they are to have edema and severe pain. Drink at least 1, 5-2 liters of water per day. You can exchange it for mineral water, compotes and fruit drinks.
Recipes for alternative medicine
Folk remedies for arthrosis need to be used for a long time. Sometimes treatment is delayed for 3-6 months. And only if everything is done correctly will positive results not wait long. But even after the condition improves, it is not worth stopping therapy. The result should be recorded and alternative medicine prescriptions used for a few more weeks.
Horse-radish
Arthrosis can be treated with folk remedies at home using horseradish. This will require the root part of the plant. It is used fresh in summer and dried in winter. Before starting therapy, the roots should be washed thoroughly under running water and then shredded with a file. The resulting mass is then poured into an enamel dish, poured with water to cover the raw material by 2-3 cm, and the tank is placed on low heat. It is not necessary to boil the broth, the roots simply need to soften.
Until the liquid has cooled down, moisten a gauze napkin with it and apply it in warm form to the affected area. It is essential to place polyethylene on top and use a warm bandage. After 1, 5-2 hours, remove the compress. It is not advisable to store it further, as burns may occur. It is best to perform the procedure before going to bed, as it is recommended to give the joint complete rest afterwards.
Important! Horseradish root contains substances that irritate the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and eyes. And to avoid trouble, it should be smashed either on the street or in a well-ventilated area. And to prevent the appearance of burns, it is not possible to do such a compress with horseradish several times a day. If you notice a slight redness on your skin after removing it, you don’t have to worry. It will pass in 1-2 hours.
medical bile
To stop joint pain, traditional medicine recommends a medical bile-based compress. You can buy it at any pharmacy. But in addition to the main ingredient, you will need:
- iodine;
- Honey;
- glycerol;
- 10% ammonia.
Mix all ingredients in equal proportions, place in a dark glass jar and place in a place protected from sunlight for 10 days. Shake the container daily. After that, the tincture is ready to use and you can start compressing.
Before each procedure, the tincture is heated in a water bath. While warm, a gauze pad is moistened in it and placed on the affected joint. Wax paper, a layer of cotton wool, is placed on top and everything is tied with a bandage. Keep the compress for 2-3 hours. It is best to do it before going to bed.
Such treatment of the knee joint can improve blood circulation, restore damaged cartilage elements, and relieve stiffness in movements. But it has contraindications and these are:
- the presence of open wounds, cuts, purulent formations on the skin;
- dermatological diseases of various etiologies;
- component intolerance.
cabbage leaves
Cabbage leaves have a pronounced analgesic effect. Therefore, even doctors recommend using them when joint pain occurs. And in combination with natural honey, they are able to eliminate stiffness in movements and improve motor functions.
Use cabbage leaves with honey to make the compress. To do this, fresh and juicy leaves should be selected, their concave part should be smeared with honey and fixed to the diseased area. It is necessary to apply foil to the top and to wrap woolen yarn on top. Apply a compress for the night. Only take it off in the morning. Wash the remaining honey with warm water. The minimum duration of treatment is 30 days.
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 putting on the compress, they need to be beaten off a bit so that the juice starts to stand out from them.
Eggshell and kefir
In osteoarthritis, the joints are calcium deficient. And this element is very important to them, as it is a "building material" without which the process of new cell formation is interrupted. You can use eggshells to make up for calcium deficiency.
To do this, wash thoroughly, removing all film, dry and grind to a powder with a coffee grinder or blender. The resulting powder should then be mixed with 2. 5% kefir to obtain a suspension. The finished composition is placed on a gauze napkin and then applied to the damaged joint, with a layer of polyethylene and a warm bandage on top. Such a compress is made every day 2-3 hours before bedtime.
Chalk
This method of treating arthrosis is also aimed at compensating for calcium deficiency in the joints. Chalk is also used to make compresses. To do this, grind to a powder and mix with sour cream or yoghurt. The finished mixture is placed on a gauze napkin, applied to the joint, polyethylene on top and a bandage applied. Do such a compress a few hours before going to bed.
Elecampane
Treatment of osteoarthritis with folk remedies also includes the use of elecampane. This plant has a pronounced anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. They are sold in pharmacies. It is used to make alcohol tinctures. To this end, 50 g of the herb are poured into 125 ml of alcohol. The resulting mixture was placed in a dark glass container and infused for 2 weeks in a place protected from sunlight.
It must be filtered after the medicine has been given. Then put it in the fridge. It is used to rub areas affected by arthritis. Rubbing with light circular motions for 10-15 minutes. The treated area is then covered with a warm scarf. Such procedures are performed 1-2 times a day, depending on the severity of the pain syndrome.
Dandelion
Herbs for arthrosis of the joints are used differently. For example, you can use fresh dandelion flowers. They also help relieve pain and stiffness. They make an alcoholic tincture. To do this, fill a glass jar with flowers to the top and pour alcohol. The medicine should be infused in a dark place for 1 month. It must then be filtered. Use in the same way as elecampane tincture.
Important! You can make a tincture of white purple flowers according to the same scheme. It perfectly eliminates joint pain and has a decongestant effect.
Bloodweed
As for the most effective means of alternative medicine to combat arthrosis, celandine should also be mentioned. The oil is made from this plant. To do this, remove the fresh leaves and stems of the plant. Mix in equal proportions and roll through a mincer, then in 8 tablespoons. l. pour 1 liter of olive oil.
The resulting mixture was placed in the dark for 14 days. It can be used to treat painful joints after the infusion. To do this, apply a small amount of the finished oil to the affected area and rub in light, circular motions for 5-10 minutes. It is recommended to use this medicine 2-3 times a day.
bay leaf
Bay leaf can remove excess uric acid salts from the body that accumulate in the joints, causing inflammation and pain. To get rid of the unpleasant symptoms, it is recommended to take 12 bay leaves, put them in an enamel pan and pour 400 ml of cold water. The tank is set on fire. When the liquid boils, reduce the heat and cook the soup for another 5 minutes.
The soup is then poured into a thermos and adhered for an additional 12 hours. It is then filtered and consumed completely for 3-5 days throughout the day. The duration of treatment is 7 days. Thereafter, a break of 5 days should be taken and therapy should be resumed. Such treatment is performed for 2-3 months. The decoction is prepared daily. Storage time should not exceed 24 hours. There are contraindications:
- pregnancy;
- renal pathologies;
- impaired liver function.
Honey
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 arthrosis and arthritis, it is used in its pure form for massages. To do this, place in a water bath and heat. Throughout the process, the honey should be warm. It is applied in small amounts to the affected area and begins to "fold" into the skin with the palm of the hand with a slight tapping motion.
The massage is performed for 20 minutes. After finishing, the treated area is covered with a warm scarf for 1. 5-2 hours. Wash the remaining honey with warm water. The total cure is 10 times. The first 3-4 days of massage daily, then every other day.
Honey can also be used to treat osteoarthritis and arthrosis. To do this, mix with salt in a 2: 1 ratio. The resulting mixture is placed on a soft cotton tissue and applied to the diseased joint. A layer of cotton wool is placed on top and tied with a bandage. Keep the compress for at least 3 hours. It is best to do it before going to bed.
Cereal
Oatmeal helps to overcome joint pain, relieves swelling and swelling. Use to make a compress, bring to a boil without adding salt and sugar. When the porridge heats up, it should be mixed with honey to make it thick and not run off. The resulting composition is applied to a gauze napkin and applied to the joint. Polyethylene is placed on top, a warm bond is used. The compress is kept all night.
pharmacy cocktail
To prepare it you will need:
- alcoholic iodine tincture;
- aspirin.
The ratios are as follows - 5 tablets for 10 ml of iodine. After grinding the aspirin into a powder, the ingredients are mixed and the resulting mixture is applied to the damaged joint. Put a foil on top and fasten everything with a bandage. Keep the compress for 2 hours. For best results, alternate with honey compresses.
Healing ointment
Excellent for relieving pain and inflammation. You will need chamomile flowers, calendula and burdock root to make it. The ingredients are pre-crushed and combined in equal proportions. The resulting mixture is then mixed with petroleum jelly to give an ointment consistency. Keep the product in the dark for 2 days before use. The ointment should be rubbed into the patient's joint 3-5 times a day.
Herbs
Herbal infusions and decoctions can be added to the treatment of arthrosis at home. Herbs contain huge amounts of nutrients that contribute to:
- selection of uric acid salts;
- removal of inflammatory reactions;
- pain relief;
- repair of damaged tissues.
The most effective prescriptions for alternative medicine are:
- Infusion of nettle, parsley root, elderberry and oak bark. These herbs are used to make a medicine that needs to be taken orally. Take in equal proportions, mix thoroughly. Then 2 tablespoons. l. 400 ml of boiling water is poured into the finished stock and infused for about 30-40 minutes. Take the "medicine" in a tense form twice a day, 150-200 ml.
- Saber tincture. To prepare, take out the root part of the plant. Crush and pour 1: 2 with alcohol. After 14 days of infusion, the product is filtered in a dark place and placed in the refrigerator. The tincture should be taken twice a day for 1 teaspoon. It can also be used to rub a sore joint.
- Tricolor violet, nettle, birch leaf decoction. The components are premixed in equal proportions. We then take 1 tablespoon from the resulting collection. l. herbs and pour over a glass of boiling water. The soup is evaporated on a water bath for 15-20 minutes, then adhered to for 30 minutes and filtered. Take ½ cups twice a day.
Folk remedies are effective in combating the joint pain and inflammation that occurs in arthrosis and osteoarthritis. However, you need to understand that these have no immediate effect. Only their long-term and systematic use in combination with the main treatment methods will help to achieve positive results and prevent further progression of the disease.