Home Remedies for Joint Pain

If you have pain in your joints from osteoarthritis, you don't have to suffer without relief. There are dozens of home remedies for joint pain that can relieve your pain and lessen the inflammation that triggers the pain. Next time you are hurting from joint pain, give some of these home remedies a try.

Internal Home Remedies for Joint Pain

These internal remedies focus on healing the joints from the inside out by reducing internal inflammation. Some studies suggest that a lot of joint pain is caused by an overactive immune system responding to chronic inflammation in the body. Reducing the inflammation will lessen stress on the joints, making arthritis pain diminish. Over a period of a few weeks to a few months, you should see active results that lessen arthritis pain in the joints after using these home remedies. Continue using these remedies to prevent the pain from returning.

Dandelion

Dandelion is high in vitamins C and A. Dandelion leaves repair damaged tissues and strengthen the joints. Dandelion also contains linoleic acid, which has been shown in some studies to reduce inflammation in the body. Dandelion can be an effective remedy when added to salads or consumed as a tea.

How to Use: Boil 1 teaspoon of dried dandelion leaves in a cup of boiling water. Let the tea steep for 10 minutes, then drink along with a small amount of honey. You can let the leaves settle to the bottom of the cup or strain them out before drinking the tea. Drink this tea twice daily for best results. You can also take dandelion supplements in capsule form, which may be easier for some.

Boswellia

Boswellia (also called Frankincense) is a plant native to Asia and Africa. The resin of the boswellia plant is useful for its anti-inflammatory properties. Boswellia works as an anti-inflammatory agent particularly well in cases where the body has an overactive immune response. The compounds in boswellia work to reduce over-eager white blood cells and prevent them from attacking healthy cells in the joints, causing pain and swelling.

How to Use: Boswellia supplements are available in capsule form.

Grape Juice and Pectin

Grape juice and pectin mixed together make a surprisingly effective remedy for swollen joints from arthritis. Pectin is usually used for making jam or jelly, but when mixed with grape juice, pectin and the juice add elasticity to the joints and connective tissues and provide stronger lubrication that can prevent pain from bone-on-bone grinding.

How to Use: Mix one tablespoon of pectin with 8 ounces of grape juice. Stir until the pectin is dissolved. Drink this mixture daily and you should see reduced joint pain within two weeks.

Garlic

Garlic is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent. Garlic is rich in selenium and sulfur, which are important for lessening arthritis and joint pain. Sulfur reduces inflammation and pain in the joints, while selenium has an antirheumatic effect in the body, which slows down the progression of osteoarthritis.

How to Use: Cook with garlic and add raw garlic to foods like salads and dressing. You can also take garlic supplements sold at vitamin shops, but fresh garlic has been shown to be more effective at reducing inflammation than powdered garlic.

Ginger

Ginger is one of the most well-known supplements for muscle and joint pain. Just like garlic, ginger is effective at reducing inflammation. In studies on patients with osteoarthritis, ginger supplements were found to reduce knee pain and swelling.

How to Use: Take ginger supplements once a day. Make a ginger root tea by adding one fresh ginger root to a small pot of boiling water. Boil the water for 10 minutes, then drink the tea mixture once or twice a day.

Stinging Nettle

Stinging nettle is a herb that has a name that sounds like it ought to be bad for joint health and pain, but in reality, the herb is effective at relieving pain and swelling in joints. One of the biggest benefits that stinging nettle provides joints is its high boron content. Boron is a mineral necessary for healthy bones and joints, but it is lacking in most modern diets. Adding a supplement of stinging nettle is one easy way to ensure you are getting enough boron.

How to Use: You can either take stinging nettle supplements or make a tea mixture from dried stinging nettle leaves. Add two teaspoons of dried stinging nettle to hot water and steep for 10 minutes. Strain the leaves and add honey to the liquid. Drink one or two cups of this mixture daily (you can add several herbs to the tea and only drink one cup, or rotate days and drink one herbal tea one day, and another herbal tea the next day). Do not take stinging nettle if you are on blood-thinning medication.

Blackstrap Molasses

Blackstrap Molasses is high in many minerals necessary for strong, healthy bones. Blackstrap molasses is high in magnesium, potassium, and calcium. Blackstrap Molasses has been used as a soothing support for arthritis pain for hundreds of years.

How to Use: Sweeten your daily herbal tea drink with a teaspoon or two of blackstrap molasses. Use blackstrap molasses in place of other sweeteners.

White Willow

White willow is an herb that was the inspiration for aspirin. The Greeks used white willow as a pain reliever as early as the 5th century BC. White willow is an effective pain reliever because it contains anti-inflammatory ingredients along with mild painkillers, making it an effective supplement for arthritis pain.

How to Use: You can take white willow supplements or drink dried white willow bark in tea form. Add white willow to a mixture containing dandelion, ginger, stinging nettle, and other inflammation-fighting herbs to be an effective home remedy for arthritis. Add blackstrap molasses as a sweetener for the ultimate joint tea.

Juniper Berry

Juniper berry is an herb effective at relieving arthritis pain. A study from 2009 published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that the compound terpinen-4-ol found in juniper berries suppresses white blood cells that cause inflammation in the joints. This occurs in arthritis when the immune system attacks healthy cells, which causes pain, inflammation, and loss of lubrication in the joints. Juniper berries should not be taken by pregnant or nursing women.

Fenugreek

Fenugreek contains both antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients. It is an effective supplement for individuals suffering from arthritis pain.

How to Use: Swallow one teaspoon of ground fenugreek seeds each day either as a capsule or as a powder dissolved into a liquid. You may also eat whole fenugreek seeds.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a spice native to India that is well known for its inflammation-fighting properties. This herb is one of the most well-studied herbs and numerous studies back its effectiveness for arthritis pain. You can take turmeric in capsule form or add the powder to teas and dishes.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar helps reduce arthritis pain by reducing calcium deposits in the joints. This action lessens pain and benefits overall joint health. Apple cider vinegar is also high in magnesium, potassium, calcium, and phosphorous, which is beneficial for boosting overall bone and joint health.

How to Use: Drink one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar twice daily. Add the vinegar to water to make it easier to drink.

Cayenne

The compound capsaicin found in cayenne pepper is effective at reducing inflammation and easing mild joint pain. A 2010 study found that applying a topical gel containing capsaicin to sore joints lessened pain and swelling.

How to Use: Apply capsaicin gel to swollen, sore joints. You can also take cayenne supplements to control swelling from the inside out.

Calcium

Calcium is incredibly important for healthy joints. Without calcium, your entire bone health will suffer, including your joints. The easiest way to get more calcium is to eat calcium-rich foods or take a calcium supplement. Take calcium along with vitamin D to absorb the biggest benefits.

Vitamin D

Bones need vitamin D to grow and joints are no exception. You can get vitamin D from sunlight, fish, and eggs. If you choose to take a vitamin D supplement, make sure that you take vitamin D3, as it is the easiest form of vitamin D for the body to use.

Glucosamine

Glucosamine is a compound found in cartilage. You can increase the amount of glucosamine in your diet by drinking bone broth, or you can take glucosamine supplements to boost the health of your cartilage and joints. Glucosamine is easiest for the body to absorb in liquid form, so dissolve any supplements in a liquid before consuming.

SAMe

SAMe is a molecule that builds healthy joints by bringing sulfur to cartilage. Sulfur has a mild pain-relieving effect on joints and will prevent stiffness. The best way to get additional SAMe is to take it in supplement form.

Healthy Diet

Chronic inflammation can make arthritis pain worse. Chronic inflammation is often caused by an unhealthy diet. Too much inflammation causes weakness in your body's tissues, joints, and immune system. Eat a diet rich in fish, whole grains, vegetables, fruit, and grass-fed meats and low in sugar and trans fats and your inflammation will go down naturally. Stick to this diet for at least a year to see full results. In addition to reducing inflammation, if you are overweight, this diet will also lead to weight loss, which can reduce pressure and stress on joints, resulting in additional pain relief.

External Home Remedies for Joint Pain

Internal home remedies are not the only way to treat joint pain. The next time you have pain and swelling in your joints, try one or more of these external home remedies for joint pain.

Olive Oil

Olive oil contains anti-inflammatory ingredients that are beneficial in reducing joint pain and swelling. You can take olive oil internally to boost your intake of anti-inflammatory ingredients or apply it topically to the skin near sore, inflamed joints.

How to Use: Rub the oil into sore, stiff joints twice daily. Massage the oil into the skin until it is completely absorbed.

Exercise

Exercise is a highly effective remedy for arthritis pain. The trouble is if you have painful, stiff joints you don't want to move. The answer is to engage in low-impact exercises that work your joints without causing serious pain. The more your joints move around, the better job they do at lubricating the joints and lessening pain.

Peppermint and Eucalyptus Oil

Peppermint and eucalyptus oil can act as mild pain relievers when applied to stiff joints. Always use a carrier oil when using such strong oils to prevent your skin from breaking out in a rash.

How to Use: Rub a few drops of peppermint and eucalyptus oil into the skin (you can use olive oil as the carrier for double benefit). Rub the oils into the skin until they are completely absorbed. Your joints should feel less painful and stiff after your brief oil massage.

Epsom Salt

Epsom salt contains high levels of magnesium and sulfates which help reduce inflammation. If you are feeling particularly sore and stiff, a relaxing Epsom salt bath can relieve pain and increase range of motion.

Cold Packs

If you suffer from sore joints, cold packs can provide relief and reduce inflammation. It is not recommended to apply heat to arthritic joints as this causes inflammation in the area and might make the pain worse.

Massage

Massage is one of the easiest ways to provide an increased range of motion, fight stiffness, and reduce pain. If your joints feel stiff, spend a few minutes a day massaging the area to stimulate the joint and relieve pain and stiffness. You can massage the joints anytime pain appears.

Home Remedies for Joint Pain Make a Difference

If you suffer from osteoarthritis, you don't have to suffer in silence. There are several home remedies that have been proven effective at reducing pain and swelling in the joints no matter what kind of arthritis you have. By improving your diet, trying anti-inflammatory supplements, and using external remedies when inflammation and pain strike, you can transform your pain and suffering into a manageable condition that flares up rarely. It just takes a few weeks to start feeling better after treatment begins.