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Best 15 Herbs To Beat Arthritis
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If you or someone you love has arthritis, then you know the pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of joint function that comes with this chronic, autoimmune disorder. In addition to the pain and swelling, those with arthritis are at a great risk of developing lymphoma and heart disease as well.
Although both environmental and hereditary factors come into play in the occurrence and aggravation of arthritis, most people seem to develop this disease as they age from overuse of the joints involved.
Most drugs used to fight this chronic disease fall far short of expectations. Other alternatives can be very expensive and have terrible side effects in the long term. This makes natural, botanical-based alternatives very attractive. Many studies have shown that many herbs, especially those from China, have been very effective in fighting arthritis, offering millions of people much needed relief.
Keep reading for some of the top 15 herbs that have been proven to be effective in fighting the pain and swelling of arthritis.
1. Thunder God Vine
This is perhaps one of the oldest herbs used in Chinese medicine for arthritis pain. The roots are skinned and then extracted to make a compound that works well at suppressing the overactive immune system. This effective herb with the funny name is best used in a topical form that can be applied directly to the affected joint. This herb can be poisonous if any other part of the plant is used, so be certain that you are buying this herb from a very reputable source.
2. Licorice Root
Licorice root acts very much like cortisone, but without the terrible side effects. Scientific studies have shown several times that the phytochemicals in the root of this herb have both anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory compounds. Licorice root has been shown to inhibit the production of enzymes that are directly responsible for the inflammation that causes arthritis.
3. Eucalyptus
This popular plant extract is readily available all over the world and is frequently used in topical oil extracts for a wide variety of health conditions. Topical treatments containing eucalyptus are often used to treat the pain of arthritis. Eucalyptus leaves contain tannins, which help to reduce swelling and therefore, the pain of arthritis. Many people say that they apply a heating pad to the area after applying a topical treatment of eucalyptus will maximize its effectiveness.
4. Green Tea
Many research studies list arthritis as one of the many diseases that free radicals cause. Green tea has been found to work in synergy with other herbs to promote anti-oxidant agents to fight free radicals. The herbs that work best with green tea are ginkgo biloba and grape seed extract. Since green tea works best when it is combined with low doses of these other herbs, researchers suggest that this is a great way to avoid the potential side effects that arise from high doses of any one herb.
5. Cat’s Claw
This is a terrific anti-inflammatory herb that can reduce the swelling for those with arthritis. This tropical vine has been used since the times of the Incas. Although traditionally, cat’s claw has been used to improve the immune system, recently, the herb has been investigated for its ability to help with arthritis. Too much cat’s claw can actually overstimulate the immune system, which might make your arthritis pain even worse. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that their studies show that this herb can help those with osteoarthritis pain but there is no proof that it can prevent damage to the joints.
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