Osteoarthritis of the joints is a complex degenerative disease that is 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.
In this disease, various changes and rearrangements occur at the articular ends of the bones over a longer period of time, and inflammatory processes develop. As a result, periarticular tissue degeneration occurs.
Treatment of osteoarthritis with folk remedies is carried out to eliminate unpleasant symptoms and improve motor functions. But it should be understood that their use does not give an immediate effect.
In this disease, the destruction of the joints occurs for a long time, ie they will not be able to cure them in one or two days. Therapy should be long and systematic.
A few words about pathology
Osteoarthritis is a disease in which the destruction of cartilage elements and bone deformities are recorded. It usually develops against the background of trauma, congenital defects of the musculoskeletal system. Osteoarthritis is often the result of:
- thyroid disorders;
- metabolic disorders;
- extra pounds;
- gonadal dysfunction.
In medicine there is another term - osteoarthritis. What is it? This disease is a type of arthrosis, but there are some differences from it. Osteoarthritis is a disease of a chronic nature, during the development of which cartilage tissues, ligaments, subsondal bones, synovial membranes, capsules and periarticular muscles are involved in the pathological process. The causes of this disease are the same as with arthrosis, but the symptoms are slightly different.
If pain, swelling and redness are simply observed in osteoarthritis, then osteoarthritis results in joint deformity, gait changes and the appearance of limbs. In other words, osteoarthritis is an advanced stage of arthritis, in which all joint structures are damaged. The therapy of the pathology is similar, therefore, given the alternative methods of treating arthritis, they can also be used for osteoarthritis.
Basic rules of home treatment
You can treat osteoarthritis at home at any stage of its development. But in order for folk remedies to really give a positive result, it is necessary to adhere to some rules:
- The use of alternative medicine does not mean that you have to refuse to take the medication prescribed by your doctor, gymnastics and physiotherapy procedures. Folk remedies are only an auxiliary method of treating osteoarthritis, not the main one.
- Study the recipes carefully. No ingredients can be replaced. If you do not have them, you should look for another way to treat osteoarthritis at home.
- Under no circumstances change the amount of ingredients used. Their number must fully correspond to the indicators described in the instructions.
- In the preparation of "home remedies" you need to use only fresh and high quality raw materials. Carefully monitor the expiration date.
- If you need to mix something, use a wooden spatula. Metal inventory, in interaction with oxygen, begins to oxidize.
- The use of enameled dishes is recommended for cooking decoctions.
- If, in addition to arthrosis of the joints, there are other chronic diseases (heart failure, gastric ulcer, etc. ), be sure to consult your doctor before using alternative methods.
Using even the best recipes of alternative medicine does not mean that you can switch to a regular diet. Diet plays a major role in osteoarthritis. During its treatment, you must completely abandon products that contain purines. To:
- cocoa, chocolate;
- veal, beef;
- herring, carp;
- beans;
- rice;
- liver, etc.
Coffee and alcoholic beverages with osteoarthritis should also not be consumed. They contain substances that have a negative effect on the joints, reducing their elasticity and strength. You also need to take care of your drinking regime. Water helps expel uric acid salts. And the fewer of them in the body, the less likely it is to develop edema and severe pain. You should drink at least 1, 5-2 liters of water daily. You can replace it with mineral water, compotes, fruit drinks.
Recipes of alternative medicine
Folk remedies for osteoarthritis must be used for a long time. Sometimes treatment is delayed for up to 3-6 months. And only if everything is done properly, positive results will not come for a long time. But even after the condition improves, it is not worth stopping the therapy. The result needs to be corrected, and for that it will be necessary to apply the recipes of alternative medicine for a few more weeks.
Horseradish
It is possible to treat osteoarthritis with folk remedies at home with the help of 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 well under running water and then chopped with a grater. After that, the resulting mass should be transferred to an enamel bowl, pour water so as to cover the raw material by 2-3 cm. The pan is then placed over low heat. It is not necessary to cook the soup until boiling, the roots should simply be softened.
Until the liquid cools down, it is necessary to moisten the gauze in it, and then apply it in a warm form to the affected area. Polyethylene must be placed on top and put on a warm bandage. Remove the dressing after 1, 5-2 hours. It does not pay to stay longer, because burns can occur. The procedure is best done before bedtime, because after it it is recommended to give the joint a complete rest.
Bitan! Horseradish root contains substances that irritate the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and eyes. And to avoid trouble, it should be crushed either on the street or in a well-ventilated area. And to prevent the appearance of burns, it is impossible to put such a compress with horseradish more than 1 time a day. If a slight redness appears on the skin after removal, you do not need to worry. After 1-2 hours it will pass.
medical bile
To stop joint pain, traditional medicine suggests using a dressing based on medical bile. You can buy it at any pharmacy. But to apply the coating, in addition to the main ingredient, you will also need:
- iodine;
- honey;
- glycerol;
- 10% ammonia.
All ingredients are mixed in equal proportions, transferred to a dark glass jar and put in a place protected from sunlight for 10 days. Shake the bowl daily. After that, the tincture will be ready for use and you can start applying the dressings.
Before each procedure, the tincture is heated in a water bath. While it is warm, gauze is moistened in it and applied to the affected joint. Wax paper, a layer of cotton wool is applied on top, and then everything is fixed with a bandage. Hold the compress for 2-3 hours. It is best to do this before bed.
With this treatment of the knee joint, you can improve blood circulation, restore damaged cartilage elements and alleviate stiffness of movement. But it has contraindications, and they include:
- the presence of open wounds, cuts, purulent formations on the skin;
- dermatological diseases of various etiologies;
- component intolerance.
cabbage leaf
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 of movement and improve motor functions.
Use cabbage leaves with honey to apply the coating. To do this, you need to select fresh and juicy leaves, smear their concave part with honey and attach to the affected area. A film must be applied on top, and a woolen scarf is wrapped on top. Put on a bandage for the night. Take it off in the morning. The remaining honey is washed with warm water. The minimum course of treatment is 30 days.
Bitan! If you are allergic to bee products, honey should not be used. In that case, it is recommended to use only cabbage leaves. But before applying the dressings, they need to be lightly knocked down so that the juice starts to flow out of them.
Eggshell and kefir
In osteoarthritis, the joints are deficient in calcium. And this element is very important to them, because it is a "building material", without which the process of creating new cells is disrupted. And to make up for the lack of calcium, you can use egg shells.
To do this, it must be thoroughly washed, all films removed, dried and ground to a powder with a coffee grinder or blender. After that, the resulting powder must be mixed with 2. 5% kefir to obtain a slurry. The finished composition is transferred to gauze, 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 osteoarthritis is also aimed at compensating for the lack of calcium in the joints. Chalk is also used to lay cladding. To do this, grind to a powder and then mix with sour cream or yogurt. The finished mixture is placed on a gauze napkin, applied to the wrist, and polyethylene and a bandage are placed on top. Put such a compress and a few hours before bedtime.
Elecampane
Treatment of osteoarthritis with folk remedies also includes the use of elecampane. This plant has a pronounced anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. It is sold in pharmacies. It is used to make alcoholic tinctures. To do this, 50 g of the medicinal plant is poured into 125 ml of alcohol. The resulting mixture is transferred to a dark glass vessel and infused for 2 weeks in a place protected from sunlight.
After the drug is infused, it must be filtered. Then put in the fridge. It is used to rub the areas affected by arthritis. Rubbing is performed in light circular motions for 10-15 minutes. The treated area is then wrapped in 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. So, for example, you can use fresh dandelion flowers. They also help relieve pain and stiffness. They make an alcoholic tincture. To do this, the glass jar is filled to the brim with flowers and poured with alcohol. The drug should be infused in a dark place for 1 month. It should then be filtered. Use in the same way as elecampane tincture.
Bitan! According to the same scheme, you can prepare a tincture of white lilac flowers. It also perfectly removes joint pain and has a decongestant effect.
Celandine
Speaking about the most effective means of alternative medicine for the fight against arthrosis, it is necessary to mention 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 passed through a meat grinder and then in an amount of 8 tbsp. l. pour over with 1 liter of olive oil.
The resulting mixture is placed in a dark place for 14 days. Once infused, it can be used to treat painful joints. To do this, the finished oil is applied to the affected area in a small amount and rubbed in light circular motions for 5-10 minutes. It is recommended to use this medicine 2-3 times a day.
Laurel leaf
Bay leaves have the ability to remove excess uric acid salts from the body, which 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 bowl and pour 400 ml of cold water over them. The container caught fire. When the liquid boils, reduce the heat and cook the soup 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 break of 5 days is made, and then the therapy is continued. Such treatment is carried out for 2-3 months. The decoction is prepared daily. Its storage should not exceed 24 hours. There are contraindications:
- pregnancy;
- renal pathology;
- impaired liver function.
Honey
The use of honey improves blood circulation in the affected joint and enhances the synthesis of synovial fluid which acts as a lubricant. In the case of arthrosis and osteoarthritis, it is used in its pure form for massages. To do this, it is placed in a water bath and heated. During the whole procedure, the honey should be warm. It is applied in a small amount to the affected area and begins to "drive" into the skin with the palm of your hand with a light tap.
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. The first 3-4 days massage is done daily, then every other day.
Also, to treat osteoarthritis and osteoarthritis, honey can be used to apply compresses. 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 affected joint. A layer of cotton wool is applied on top and fixed with a bandage. Keep the dressings for at least 3 hours. It is best to do this before bed.
Oatmeal
Oatmeal also helps fight joint pain, relieve swelling and edema. Use it for coating, pre-boiling without adding salt and sugar. When the porridge is heated, it must be mixed with honey so that the consistency is thick and does not drain. The resulting composition is transferred to gauze and applied to the wrist. Polyethylene is placed on top, a warm bandage is applied. The compression lasts all night.
pharmacy cocktail
To prepare you will need:
- alcoholic tincture of iodine;
- aspirin.
The proportions are as follows - for 10 ml of iodine 5 tablets. The ingredients are mixed, after grinding the aspirin into a powder, and the resulting mixture is applied to the damaged joint. Put the film on top and fix everything with a bandage. Hold the compress for 2 hours. For best results it should be alternated with honey compresses.
Healing ointment
Great for relieving pain and inflammation. To prepare it, you will need chamomile flowers, calendula and burdock root. The components are pre-crushed and combined in equal proportions. After that, the resulting mixture is mixed with Vaseline so that the composition gets the consistency of fat. Before use, the product must insist in a dark place for 2 days. The ointment should be rubbed into the affected joint 3-5 times a day.
Herbs
You can supplement the treatment of arthrosis at home with herbal infusions and decoctions. Herbs contain a huge amount of nutrients that contribute to:
- excretion of uric acid salts;
- elimination of inflammatory reactions;
- pain relief;
- repair of damaged tissues.
Among all the recipes of alternative medicine, the most effective of them are:
- Infusion of nettle, primrose root, elderflower and oak bark. An oral medicine is prepared from these herbs. Take them in equal proportions, mix well. After that, 2 tbsp. l. 400 ml of boiling water is poured into the finished raw material and infused for about 30-40 minutes. Take the "medicine" 2 times a day in filtered form, 150-200 ml.
- Saber tincture. To prepare it, take the root part of the plant. It is crushed and poured with alcohol in a ratio of 1: 2. After 14 days of infusion in a dark place, the product is filtered and placed in the refrigerator. Tincture is taken 2 times a day for 1 teaspoon. It can also be used to rub a sore joint.
- Decoction of tricolor violet, nettle, birch leaves. The components are pre-mixed in equal proportions. After that, 1 tablespoon is taken from the received collection. l. herbs and pour a glass of boiling water over them. The soup is simmered in a water bath for 15-20 minutes, after which it is insisted for 30 minutes and filtered. Take ½ cups 2 times a day.
Folk remedies effectively help fight pain and inflammation in the joints that occur in osteoarthritis and osteoarthritis. However, you need to understand that they have no immediate effect. Only their long-term and systematic application in combination with the main methods of treatment will help to achieve positive results and prevent further progression of the disease.