Osteoarthritis of the joints is a complex degenerative disease that is associated with the destruction of cartilage tissue within the joints. This pathological process is the most common joint disease worldwide. According to recent statistics, it affects about 80% of the world's population.
With this disease various changes and rearrangements occur in the articular ends of the bones for a long period of time and inflammatory processes develop. As a result, degeneration of periarticular tissue 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.
With this disease, the destruction of the joints occurs for a long time, respectively, their healing will not work for a day or two. Therapy should be long and systematic.
A few words about pathology
Osteoarthritis is a disease in which destruction of cartilage elements and bone deformation is observed. It most often develops against the background of trauma, congenital defects of the musculoskeletal system. Osteoarthritis is also often the result of:
- thyroid gland disorders;
- metabolic disorders;
- excess weight;
- dysfunction of the sex glands.
In medicine, there is another term - osteoarthritis. What is it? This disease is a type of osteoarthritis, but there are some differences from it. Osteoarthritis is a disease of a chronic nature, during the development of which the pathological process involves cartilage tissues, ligaments, submandibular bones, synovial membranes, capsules and periarticular muscles. The causes of this disease are the same as those of osteoarthritis, but the symptoms are slightly different.
If with arthritic pain, simply swelling and redness are observed, then with osteoarthritis, deformity of the joints, a change in gait and appearance of the limbs are observed. In other words, osteoarthritis is an advanced stage of arthritis in which all joint structures are damaged. The therapy of pathologies is similar, therefore, considering alternative methods of treating arthritis, they can also be used for osteoarthritis.
Basic rules for 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 a few rules:
- Using alternative medicine does not mean that you should refuse to take the medication prescribed by your doctor, gymnastics procedures and physiotherapy. Folk remedies are only an auxiliary method for the treatment of osteoarthritis, and not the main one.
- Study the recipes carefully. No ingredients can be substituted. 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 comply with the indicators described in the instructions.
- In the preparation of "home remedies" should use only fresh and high quality raw materials. Keep an eye on its expiration date.
- If you need to mix something, use a wooden spatula. The metal inventory, when it interacts with oxygen, begins to oxidize.
- For cooking decoctions, the use of enameled dishes is recommended.
- If in addition to osteoarthritis there are other chronic diseases (heart failure, stomach ulcers, etc. ), be sure to consult your doctor before using alternative methods.
Using even the best prescriptions of alternative medicine does not mean that you can switch to a regular diet. Food plays a major role in osteoarthritis. During its treatment, you should completely abandon products containing purine. Ajo:
- cocoa, chocolate;
- beef, 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 remove uric acid salts. And the less they are in the body, the lower the likelihood of edema and severe pain. You should drink at least 1, 5-2 liters of water per day. You can replace it with mineral water, compote, fruit drinks.
Prescriptions of alternative medicine
Folk remedies for osteoarthritis should be used for a long time. Sometimes treatment is delayed up to 3-6 months. And only if everything is done correctly, the positive results will not be long in coming. But even after the condition improves, it is not worth stopping the therapy. The result needs to be adjusted and for this it will be necessary to apply prescriptions 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. Used fresh in summer and dried in winter. Before starting therapy, the roots should be thoroughly washed under running water and then chopped with a grater. After that, the resulting mass should be transferred to an enameled container, poured with water so as to cover the raw material by 2-3 cm. Then, the pot is placed on low heat. It is not necessary to bring the soup to a boil, the roots just need to be softened.
Until the liquid has cooled, it is necessary to wet a gauze napkin in it, and then apply it in a warm form on the diseased area. The polyethylene is necessarily placed on top and a warm bandage is applied. Remove the compress after 1, 5-2 hours. It is not worth holding longer, as a burn may appear. The procedure is best done before going to bed, as after it it is recommended to provide the joint with complete rest.
Important! Horseradish roots contain substances that irritate the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and eyes. And to avoid trouble, it should be pressed either on the street or in a well-ventilated area. And to prevent the appearance of a burn, it is impossible to apply such a horseradish compress more than 1 time per day. If after its removal a slight redness appears on the skin, you should not worry. After 1-2 hours it will pass.
medical bile
To stop joint pain, traditional medicine suggests the use of a medical bile-based compress. You can buy it at any pharmacy. But to apply a compress, in addition to the main ingredients, you will also need:
- iodine;
- honey;
- glycerin;
- 10% ammonia.
All ingredients are mixed in equal proportions, transferred to a dark glass container and placed in a place protected from sunlight for 10 days. Shake the container daily. After that, the tincture will be ready for use and you can start applying the compresses.
Before each procedure, the tincture is heated in a water bath. While it is warm, a gauze pad is soaked in it and applied to the affected joint. Waxed paper is applied on top, a layer of cotton wool and then everything is fixed with a bandage. Hold the compress for 2-3 hours. It is better to do it before bed.
Such treatment of the knee joint can improve blood circulation, restore damaged cartilage elements and relieve stiffness of movements. But it has contraindications and these include:
- presence of open wounds, incisions, purulent formations on the skin;
- dermatological diseases of various etiologies;
- intolerance of components.
cabbage leaves
Cabbage leaves have a pronounced analgesic effect. That is why doctors recommend their use when joint pain occurs. And in combination with natural honey, they are able to eliminate stiffness of movements and improve motor functions.
Use cabbage leaves with honey to apply compresses. To do this, you need to pick fresh and juicy leaves, smear their concave part with honey and stick them on the diseased area. A film is necessarily applied to the top, and a woolen scarf is wrapped around the top. Apply a compress for the night. Remove it only in the morning. The remaining honey is washed with warm water. The minimum course 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 you apply a compress, they need to be beaten a little, so that the liquid starts to come out of them.
Egg shell and kefir
In osteoarthritis, the joints are deficient in calcium. And this element is very important to them, as it is a "building material", without which the process of forming new cells breaks down. And to compensate for the lack of calcium, you can use egg shells.
To do this, it must be thoroughly washed, removing all films, dried and ground into a powder with a coffee grinder or blender. After that, the resulting powder should be mixed with 2. 5% kefir in order to obtain a slurry. The finished composition is transferred to a gauze napkin and then applied to the damaged joint, on top put a layer of polyethylene and a warm bandage. Such a compress is done every day 2-3 hours before bedtime.
chalk
This method of treating osteoarthritis also aims to replenish calcium deficiency in the joints. Foam is also used to apply a compress. To do this, it is ground into a powder, and then mixed with sour cream or yogurt. The finished mixture is placed on a gauze napkin, applied to the joints and placed on top of polyethylene and a bandage. Apply such a compress a few hours before bedtime.
Elecampan
Treatment of osteoarthritis with folk remedies also includes the use of elecampane. This plant has a pronounced anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. Sold in pharmacies. Used to make alcohol solution. To do this, 50 g of medicinal plants are poured into 125 ml of alcohol. The resulting mixture is transferred to a dark glass container and injected for 2 weeks in a place protected from sunlight.
After injecting the drug, it should be filtered. Then place in the refrigerator. Used for rubbing areas affected by arthritis. Rubbing is performed with light circular motions for 10-15 minutes. After that, the treated area is 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 solution. To do this, a glass jar is filled to the brim with flowers and poured with alcohol. The drug should be injected in a dark place for 1 month. After which it must be filtered. Use in the same way as the elecampane solution.
Important! According to the same scheme, you can prepare a tincture of white lilac flowers. It also perfectly eliminates joint pain and has a decongestant effect.
Celandine
Talking about what are the most effective alternative medicine tools to fight osteoarthritis, it is also necessary to mention celandine. From this plant is made oil. To do this, get fresh leaves and stems of the plant. They are mixed in equal proportions and rolled through a meat grinder, and then in the amount of 8 tablespoons. l. pour 1 liter of olive oil.
The resulting mixture is placed in a dark place for 14 days. Once injected, it can be used to treat joint pain. To do this, the finished oil is applied to the affected area in a small amount and rubbed with light circular motions for 5-10 minutes. It is recommended to use this medicine 2-3 times a day.
Laurel leaf
Laurel 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, place them in an enamel pan and pour 400 ml of cold water. The vessel is set on fire. When the liquid boils, reduce the heat and cook the liquid for another 5 minutes.
After that, the soup is poured into a thermos and insisted for another 12 hours. It is then filtered and consumed completely throughout the day for 3-5 doses. The course of treatment is 7 days. After that, a 5-day break is taken, then the therapy is resumed. Such treatment is carried out for 2-3 months. The decoction is prepared daily. Its storage period should not exceed 24 hours. There are contraindications:
- pregnancy;
- kidney pathologies;
- impaired liver function.
Dear
The use of honey improves blood circulation to the affected joint and increases the synthesis of synovial fluid, which acts as a lubricant. In the case of osteoarthritis and osteoarthritis, it is used in its pure form for massages. To do this, place in a water bath and heat. Throughout the procedure, the honey should be warm. It is applied in a small amount on the affected area and begins to "insert" into the skin with the palm of the hand with light tapping movements.
The massage is performed for 20 minutes. Upon its 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 massage for the first 3-4 days is done every day, then every other day.
Also, for the treatment of osteoarthritis and osteoarthritis, honey can be used to apply compresses. To do this, it is mixed with salt in a ratio of 2: 1. The resulting mixture is placed on a soft cotton cloth and applied to the diseased joint. A layer of cotton wool is applied on top and fixed with a bandage. Keep the compress should be at least 3 hours. It is better to do it before bed.
oatmeal
Oatmeal also helps fight joint pain, relieve swelling and bloating. Use for compress placement, pre-boiling it without adding salt and sugar. When the porridge becomes warm, it should be mixed with honey so that the consistency is thick and does not drain. The resulting composition is transferred to a gauze napkin and applied to the joints. Polyethylene is placed on top, a warm bandage is applied. The compress is kept overnight.
cocktail pharmacy
To prepare it you will need:
- alcoholic iodine solution;
- aspirin.
The dimensions are as follows - for 10 ml of iodine 5 tablets. The ingredients are mixed after grinding the aspirin into a powder state and the resulting mixture is applied to the damaged joint. Put a 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
Excellent for relieving pain and inflammation. For its preparation you will need chamomile flowers, calendula and burdock root. The components are pre-granulated and combined in equal proportions. After that, the resulting mixture is mixed with Vaseline so that the composition acquires the consistency of an oil. Before use, the product should be insisted in a dark place for 2 days. The ointment should be rubbed on the diseased wrist 3-5 times a day.
Plants
You can supplement osteoarthritis treatment at home with herbal infusions and decoctions. Plants contain a large amount of nutrients that contribute to:
- excretion of uric acid salts;
- removal of inflammatory reactions;
- pain relief;
- repair of damaged tissue.
Among all the prescriptions of alternative medicine, the most effective of them are:
- An infusion of nettle, parsley roots, old flowers and oak bark. From these plants is prepared a medicine that is taken orally. Take them in equal proportions, mix thoroughly. After that, 2 tbsp. l. 400 ml of boiling water is poured into the finished raw material and injected for about 30-40 minutes. Take the "medicine" 2 times a day in pure form, 150-200 ml.
- Saber tincture. To prepare it, take the root part of the plant. Crush and pour 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. The tincture is taken 2 times a day for 1 tablespoon. Can also be used to rub a sore wrist.
- Decoction of tricolor violet, nettle, birch leaves. The components are pre-mixed in equal proportions. After that, 1 tablespoon is taken from the collection received. l. herb and pour a glass of boiling water. The liquid is boiled in a water bath for 15-20 minutes, after which it is insisted for 30 minutes and filtered. Take ½ cup 2 times a day.
Folk remedies help effectively fight pain and inflammation in the joints that occur with osteoarthritis and osteoarthritis. However, you should understand that they do not have an immediate effect. Only their long-term and systematic use in combination with the main methods of treatment will help to achieve positive results and prevent further progression of the disease.