Joint Health
Index of Diseases / Health Conditions ... Medicinal Foods, Herbs, Spices & Household Items
The below provides a general overview on this topic and may not apply to everyone. Any treatment protocol should be discussed with a qualified healthcare practitioner ... Please refer to: Medical & Legal Disclaimer.
Also refer to:
- Arthritis
- Knee Health
- Gout
- Aching Joints: Could it be Gluten Intolerance?
- The Many Benefits of Epsom Salt
The Use of Drugs for Joint Problems:
To relief joint pain, many reach for remedies like the prescription drugs such as Celebrex, Viox, Tylenol™ or Aleve™. Although these drugs offer some immediate relief, their use carries some risk (as exemplified by the class action suits over Vioox). Tylenol is the number one cause of hospital admissions for liver failure. Also -- none of these drugs address the underlying cause of the joint pain.
Muscle and joint injuries should be treated with RICE (rest, ice, compression and elevation) at the time of the injury.
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- Consult with a health practitioner if symptoms do not subside within a few days.
- Seek IMMEDIATE medical attention if inflammation is accompanied by high fever or if a severe injury (such as fracture or torn ligament) is suspected
Massage Therapy
Endorphins are released during a massage, and these endorphins prevent nerve cells from releasing more pain signals.
Not everybody likes the idea of acupuncture (which is also very helpful in controlling pain) or has the funds for regular professional massages. However, there are a wide range of home-use massage tools and devices that give you access to a healing massage whenever you need relief in the comfort of your home.
Nutritional Support for Healthy Joints
Oils / Aroma & Massage Therapy:
All oils are highly concentrated distillations of plant parts, including the flowers, leaves, branches and roots. Because they are so potent (hundreds of times more concentrated than the culinary fresh or dried herb or herbal teas, and therefore easy to overdose on) they should be used only under the supervision of a knowledgeable practitioner, such as a naturopathic physician, registered nurse, massage therapist, clinical herbalist or aromatherapist.
Common Holistic Treatments
- Castor Oil Pack (to be applied the painful / affected joints)
- Eucalyptus or peppermint. For rubbing on sore muscles. Eucalyptus may also help joints, including arthritic ones. Eucalyptus may increase the absorption of certain cancer drugs that are applied topically, so use caution and try a patch test first, avoiding application to the same area as the cancer drug. (Note: "Eucalyptus Essential Oil" is toxic to birds, as well as being non-edible and poisonous to humans when ingested. Only use as directed. Avoid use around birds.)
- German Chamomile aka Hungarian, Blue Camomile and Matricaria recutita: Its scent is strong, sweet, warm, fatty, fruity and herbaceous. Its color is deep blue with major components of chamazulene (gives the oil its deep blue color), farnesene and bisabolol. The chamazulene content gives German chamomile its most important actions such as soothing, calming and anti-inflammatory. Among its uses are anti-inflammatory, hormonal, and antispasmodic. This oil is indicated for all kinds of skin disease (eczema, psoriasis, itchy/dry/flaky skin) stomach distress and menstrual problems and can be used in hot compresses on boils, abscesses, splinters, etc. It can also be used in massage for muscular pain and for arthritic inflamed joints. It's also useful for treating sprains, inflamed tendons and swollen painful joints in bursitis. It is a good remedy for urinary stones. Menstrual pain and menopausal problems can be relieved by the use of compresses, massage and baths. The action of chamomile as a vasoconstrictor can help reduce the redness of the cheeks due to enlarged capillaries.
- Sweet Birch: A powerful oil which could irritate sensitive skin. Best used with caution or not at all. Stimulates the sweat glands aiding the body in releasing harmful toxins, can be used as a diuretic for water retention and edema, increases the flow of urine and its diuretic properties could also help with obesity and cellulitis. Useful in a massage for rheumatism and muscle pain since it eliminates accumulation of uric acid in the joints.
- Aromatherapy has become so popular that Essential oils are now widely available, including in health food stores and supermarkets. Discuss possible inclusion of aromatherapy or massage therapy into your treatment program with a practitioner trained in this field.
- Devil's Claw: The root of this vine, native to the Kalahari desert in southern Africa, is most often used for arthritis relief, but has helped people with lower back pain as well. A popular herb for improved joint flexibility Maintains healthy fluid in the knee
SAM-e: SAM-e (short for S-adenosylmethionine) is a dietary supplement. . SAM-e is often promoted to treat osteoarthritis and arthritis joint pain, depression, fibromyalgia, and other conditions. WARNING: However, SAM-e may not be recommended for individuals with heart problems, suspected or diagnosed!
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