If you or a loved one has ever experienced joint or rheumatoid arthritis pain, then you understand the importance of knowing how to treat arthritis naturally. More than one-third of the American population is affected by joint or arthritis pain. This represents more than 100 million people!

There are many known and unknown causes of joint and arthritis pain. A major cause in today’s American society is the sedentary lifestyle of the older generation and general lack of regular light exercise among people. Even those people who work outside a great deal of the time, homesteaders like me for example, need regular exercise. We get ours with walks and stretching.

Some people develop pain and have to learn how to treat arthritis naturally following an injury of some sort. Others have a hereditary factor involved. It doesn’t matter if the pain is a result of stress, lack of exercise, emotional disturbances, over exercise (yes, there is such a thing), injury, or heredity, the reason for the pain is inflammation in the body.

Inflammation in the body is a deadly culprit. Blood vessels are constricted, pain ensues, fluids are out of balance, lymph vessels get congested resulting in the buildup of toxins in the joints and muscles. This damage causes scar tissue which makes the joints stiff and painful. Scar tissue can be ripped or torn during exercise causing the cycle to start over again. So you see the dilemma this process can create.

Learning how to treat arthritis naturally can assuage the symptoms, alleviate the pain, and allow for movement in the affected joints. We can’t expect a natural remedy to provide the same result for everyone. Arthritis is a complicated issue. Yet, for those who try these and get relief naturally, they are a welcome addition to their remedy shelf.

Many years ago, we had a horse, Buffy, rescued after Hurricane Katrina. She was a 2-year-old Percheron. She had a weakness of being touched on the hind quarter because of how she was pinned in the barn as she stood in belly deep water until rescued. When anything brushed up against it, she would rear and buck. Well, to make a long story short, she cracked my pelvis, dislocated my hips more than once, and I now sport what we lovingly call my “Buffy finger” which is crooked after she broke it. Needless to say, I have had some pain in my hips and hands since then. Arthritis is prominent in my family history. So I use the knowledge of how to treat arthritis naturally every day.

Turmeric – My Personal Preference

Turmeric helps supports the health of the cartilage which lines the joints. It’s known to help lubricate the joints and to support the natural production of collagen and elastin in muscles and joints. This is important because these are often taken over by fibrous tissue which is part of the pain felt.

There are many ways to add turmeric to your diet. My personal favorite is to add a teaspoon of powdered turmeric to my coffee with a little raw milk or to add a teaspoon to my morning smoothie. Turmeric tea can be made in so many ways. It’s easily customizable to your tastes and preferences. Here are my favorite recipes for turmeric tea.

Basic Turmeric Tea Recipe

2 cups of water
Tea bag or loose tea of your choosing
1 teaspoon powdered turmeric
Sweetener of choice (I use raw, organic honey if I use any)

Directions:

Heat water to boiling
Add turmeric
Reduce the heat and let the mixture simmer for 10 minutes
Remove from the heat and pour over tea bag or infuser (I use loose Earl Grey)
Let steep 5 minutes, sweeten and enjoy!

Turmeric Milk

1 cup milk of your choice (coconut, almond, cow, goat…)
1 teaspoon powdered turmeric
1 – 1 ½ teaspoon of honey or sweetener of your choice

Directions:

In a pan, gently warm the milk, but do not boil
Add the turmeric and stir until turmeric is mixed in well.
Pour into your cup and add sweetener (I don’t use one for this recipe)
Add a small amount of the warmed milk and stir it into the mixture.

Ginger

Ginger is also known for its pain-relieving properties. There are many ginger tea benefits and it’s easy to make. I like to combine it with turmeric for an extra dose of anti-inflammatory properties. Those who suffer from chronic inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid or osteoarthritis will find this is well worth trying. It has considerable results in reducing inflammation throughout the whole body.

Ginger Turmeric Tea

4 cups water
4 – 1” slices of fresh or dehydrated ginger or 1 tbsp powdered ginger
1 tbsp powdered turmeric

Sweetener of choice

Directions:

Add fresh or dehydrated ginger to water
Bring to a gentle boil and let boil gently for 8-10 minutes
Strain into cup and add turmeric mixing well
Sweeten to taste

Cayenne Pepper

I once knew a preacher who was around 80 years old, to the best knowledge, he wasn’t sure! He was energetic and would challenge the young men of the church to a contest to do “the wheel”. This is an exercise device used to work the abs. From a standing position, you roll yourself out perpendicular to the floor and back as many times as you could. I never saw a younger man beat him!

When you asked him what kept him so fit you would tell you, “Cayenne pepper, yep, yep, that’s what it is, cayenne pepper.” He took cayenne pepper in capsule form before every meal, he had it in a glass of water every morning, and I have seen him take a teaspoonful when he “wasn’t feeling quite right.” Now, I’m not recommending this to anyone, I’m just sharing the story of Bro. Earl Hughes, a Tennessee mountain preacher who has now gone on to heaven. No one knew exactly how old he was.

Of course, capsicum is responsible for the effects felt by those who use cayenne pepper. It’s known to be effective in reducing the pain of osteoarthritis. It’s pretty accepted the hotter the pepper, the higher the capsicum content, but I wouldn’t recommend your setting about taste testing that idea!

Besides capsules, teas, and powders, you can also get or make your own capsicum salves. BE SURE to wear protective gloves whenever you work with hot peppers, trust me I learned the hard way. You may want to test this on a small area first to be sure it isn’t too much for sensitive skin. I certainly wouldn’t use it on children.

Mix ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper powder with one cup coconut oil or aloe vera gel. Apply the rub to the affected area (remember to use gloves for mixing and applying). If you have leftovers, store in a container with a lid. Do not use this salve on your face — especially around the eyes, nose or mouth.

Magnesium – Epsom Salt

Magnesium is a natural muscle relaxant. It’s a necessary nutrient for maintaining healthy muscles, especially the heart. Magnesium rich foods should be an essential part of everyone’s diets, but especially those who suffer from joint pain and know how to treat arthritis naturally. Foods rich in magnesium include black strap molasses (I use this for iron too), dark leafy greens like spinach, and nuts and beans.

Epsom salt is a necessary part of any natural homestead supply box. It’s magnesium sulfate. Epsom salt works by helping to pull excess fluids from tissues to reduce swelling.

My favorite Epsom salt soak:

Add one cup Epsom salt to your tub. Start water and stir the salt until dissolved. Get in the tub and get the water as warm as you can stand it. Add 15-20 drops of eucalyptus oil, 15-20 drops of tea tree oil, 10-15 drops of rosemary oil, and 10-15 drops of lavender oil. Soak for at least 15 minutes or until the water is too cool for you. Do this at least three times a week for chronic pain, but it’s not recommend to do it more than 4 or 5 times a week. If you are a diabetic, have serious heart conditions or unmanaged high blood pressure, don’t try this without your doctor’s advice.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Raw, organic apple cider vinegar is another ingredient I am never without. There are so many uses and benefits to this jewel, I’m actually finishing a book about how we use it from house to stable! Every morning, the first thing we drink is a 10-12 ounce glass of cool water with 2 teaspoonfuls of ACV mixed in. It’s the perfect way to break the fast of the night. This apple cider vinegar recipe jump starts the metabolism and restores electrolyte balance.

For those suffering from joint and muscle pain, drinking this mix 3 times a day is beneficial. I’ve read of some people who take it straight by the tablespoonful, but I’m not one of them. You can also place ACV on a cotton ball and rub it directly on the affected area. I’ve tried this and it works for me. When my husband had shingles, they immediately dried up and stopped hurting when we added raw, organic ACV with lavender oil to a cotton ball and applied it.

Old-timers swear by mixing ACV with honey. They say when a tablespoon of ACV is mixed with 1 teaspoon of honey in a glass of water “you’re instantly revived to go back to the field or barn and get the job done.” I have to admit, it does energize and restore those afternoon droops.

Do you or a loved one need to know how to treat arthritis naturally? Have you used any of these? Please share your experience in the comments below.

Safe and Happy Journey,

Rhonda and The Pack