| Herbs for arthritis can be an important part of your | | | | angelica or yellow dock. To make an infusion, put 2-3 |
| relief plan. Unlike medications that just deaden pain, | | | | grams of finely chopped or powdered herb in cold |
| many plants have compounds in them that repair the | | | | water, bring to a boil, then turn off heat and steep for |
| damage of an injury or degenerative disease and | | | | 5 minutes. Strain. You may drink 1 cup 3-5 times daily. |
| provide relief. Some act as natural muscle relaxants | | | | Caution should be used if you're already taking |
| and others as anti-spasmodics or anti-inflammatories. | | | | NSAID's or other salicylates (like aspirin). Do not take if |
| With arthritis, a comfrey ointment may help repair | | | | you are on anti-platelet medication or any medicine |
| damaged and degenerating bone and | | | | that prolongs the PT time. White willow should NEVER |
| anti-inflammatory herbs like willow, devil's claw or | | | | be given to children with flu like symptoms due to the |
| meadosweet may help relieve pain. There are also | | | | association between salicylates and Reye's syndrome. |
| cleansing herbs that can detoxify the joints, like yellow | | | | Cooking with herbs for arthritis relief |
| dock or celery seed. The Chinese have been using | | | | Herbs and spices can be easily integrated in your |
| herbs for arthritis for centuries, and they are generally | | | | meals to help ease arthritis pain, too. This is a great, |
| classified as warming or cooling, depending on their | | | | easy way to get the healing properties of these plants |
| actions inside the body and what "evils" (like heat, cold, | | | | into you. Spices are full of antioxidants and |
| or damp) they are counteracting. | | | | phytochemicals and some have anti-inflammatory |
| The Europeans have been studying herbs for arthritis | | | | effects. Here are some herbs for arthritis you probably |
| and other chronic conditions for years. In fact, in the | | | | have in your kitchen cupboards and can start using |
| PDR (Physician's Desk Reference) for Herbal | | | | right away. |
| Medicines, many of the research on herbs and their | | | | Turmeric - this comes from the curcumin plant and |
| effects are taking place in Germany. The Japanese | | | | helps inflammation. A study in the journal Arthritis |
| are also doing a lot of research on native plants and | | | | & Rheumatism showed turmeric slowed down |
| fruits and publishing the results. There is much | | | | cartilage destruction, blocked inflammation and reduced |
| knowledge out there on plants that can help you. Here, | | | | swelling. |
| I'll only discuss the top few that you can easily get in | | | | Eat dishes made with curry several times a week or |
| the United States (because that's where I'm located) | | | | take in capsule form. |
| and that have the best safety record. | | | | Ginger - This spice is used in traditional Chinese |
| Angelica - a good herb for arthritis that can be used | | | | medicines and inhibits inflammation. It's especially good |
| topically in a compress, or added in a hot bath. It's a | | | | for people whose symptoms get worse in cold |
| warming and stimulating herb, good for "cold" types of | | | | weather since it increases blood flow. |
| osteoarthritis (if you have circulation problems for | | | | Ginger can be drunk as a tea daily or you can take it |
| example). It's available in tincture form (recommended) | | | | in supplement form. The root is good grated and used |
| or you may purchase the dried leaves or root (not | | | | in soups and stocks or even added to juices (but use it |
| recommended). | | | | sparingly). |
| To use, dilute the tincture in hot water and apply to a | | | | Rosemary - This herb contains antioxidants that |
| cloth to use as a compress. You may also dilute 10 | | | | reduce inflammation and helps block pain. |
| drops of Angelica oil in 25 mL of almond or sunflower | | | | You can use it in cooking as a dried or fresh herb or |
| oil to use as massage oil for arthritic joints. For a bath, | | | | you can use essential oil in a bath or mixed with |
| add 5 drops of the oil to the water in the tub. | | | | almond oil and massage it into your sore joints. Do |
| Do NOT use Angelica during pregnancy. | | | | NOT use rosemary during pregnancy. |
| Devil's Claw - is a potent anti-inflammatory and its | | | | Saffron - This herb is handpicked from crocus |
| action has been compared to that of cortisone. It's | | | | blossoms and is a powerful antioxidant. True saffron is |
| better for degenerative arthritis than for RA. This herb | | | | expensive, but it doesn't take much in cooking to |
| is best taken internally, but do NOT take it if you have | | | | release it's scent and color. |
| stomach or duodenal ulcers, as it increases gastric | | | | Mix 1/2 teaspoon of saffron into boiling water and you |
| juices production. | | | | can drink it as a tea. You can also mix saffron |
| Devil's Claw is supplied in capsules. Take between 1-3 | | | | essential oil with some almond oil and rub it directly into |
| grams per day in divided doses during flare ups. | | | | your joints. It's also excellent when added to rice dishes |
| Capsules normally contain between 400-600 mg each. | | | | and soups. You don't want to use more than 2 grams |
| It can also be made into an infusion by using 1 | | | | a day, though, as that might cause nausea. |
| teaspoon (about 4.5 grams) in 300 mL of boiling water. | | | | Cayenne - Cayenne pepper is best known for the |
| Steep this for 8 hours and strain. It can then be taken | | | | heat it adds to chilis and other spicy dishes. The active |
| up to 3 times a day or used as a compress. | | | | ingredient, capsaicin can block pain signals to the brain |
| Bogbean - is a "cooling" herb, so it's good for flare ups | | | | when used topically. |
| with hot, aching joints. This herb is used primarily in | | | | Use it as you would any pepper, but it doesn't take |
| Europe for loss of appetite and and stomach | | | | much to go from warm to burn your mouth hot, so be |
| discomfort, but it is also known an aid for gout and | | | | careful. It is sold in capsule form, but may cause |
| swelling; so I'm listing it here in herbs for arthritis. | | | | nausea. Many over the counter pain relieving creams |
| In tincture form, you can take up to 8 mL three times a | | | | contain it, and you can use those on painful joints as |
| day. You may also use it as an infusion. To make a | | | | directed. |
| tea, pour boiling water over 0.5 to 1 gram of the finely | | | | If you make the switch to low glycemic eating (it's |
| chopped dried herb, let steep for 5-10 minutes and then | | | | naturally anti-inflammatory) you may find that you'll |
| strain. You may drink 1/2 cup, unsweetened, before | | | | want to use herbs and spices to flavor your food, |
| each meal. | | | | especially if you've been eating a lot of processed |
| White Willow - is rich in salicylates (the active ingredient | | | | foods. Boxed foods have salt and other food additives |
| in aspirin) so it is well known as an anti-inflammatory. It's | | | | in them to make them taste good. If you eat a lot of |
| useful during flare ups and for associated muscle pain. | | | | these, your taste buds are used to the additives, and |
| It's available in powder and tincture form. | | | | herbs and spices are a great way to boost flavor of |
| Take up to 5 mL tincuture three times a day. It may | | | | natural, unprocessed, whole foods. |
| also be combined with other herbs for arthritis like | | | | |