24 Home Remedies for Arthritis in the Legs
Arthritis is a common joint disorder, often characterized by joint inflammation. About 100 types of arthritis affect people of all races, sexes, and ages. Common symptoms include pain, swelling, stiffness in joints, and painful movement. Often the symptoms come and go, vary in severity, but the condition worsens with time. Arthritis impairs one’s ability to perform daily tasks. All of the above symptoms also impact people with arthritis in the legs.
The common types of arthritis include the following:
- Degenerative arthritis
- Inflammatory Arthritis
- Infectious Arthritis
- Metabolic Arthritis
Home Remedies for Arthritis in the Legs
Certain home remedies have been proven over the years to help in relieving the discomfort that comes with arthritis. Try out some of the home remedies for arthritis in the legs below to feel relief from your symptoms.
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Weight Loss
The CDC has discovered that the prevalence of arthritis rises with body mass index (BMI): almost 16% of adults whose weights are normal have arthritis; nearly 23% of overweight adults have arthritis, and almost 31% of obese adults have the disease. This is because extra weight puts more pressure on the joints at the knees, hips, and feet.
A very effective way of dealing with arthritis is to maintain a healthy weight, and lose weight if the BMI is high. Laura Robbins, senior vice president of education and academic affairs at the hospital for special surgery in New York City, says that every pound shed off is fewer pounds less pressure on the knees. Reducing weight to reduce the pressure on your joints helps to improve your mobility and reduce the symptoms of arthritis in the legs.
Even doing simple exercises like yoga can help to keep your body in shape
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Alternating Hot and Cold Compresses
Having a warm bath twice daily helps to ease stiff joints. At night, use a moist heating pad to loosen the joints. Joint pain can be relieved by cold treatments. Wrap an ice pack in a towel and put on the painful joints.
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Turmeric
Tumeric is a common Indian yellow spice. It contains curcumin, a chemical that helps to reduce arthritis pain due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Simply add more turmeric to your meals to get relief from your pains due to your arthritis in the legs.
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Juniper Berry Tea
Juniper berries have a component called terpinen-4-ol. Terpene suppresses monocytes, a type of white blood cell which responds to inflammation signals. When taken every day, juniper reduces the inflammation around the joint s.To make juniper berry tea, boil one cup of fresh water. Pour a tablespoon of dried juniper berries into a mug. Pour the boiling water over the berries and leave to steep for twenty minutes before straining. Drink a cup of this tea twice daily to get the best results.
Warning
Pregnant women should not drink juniper berry tea.
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Massage
Regular massaging of the inflamed joints can help reduce pain, stiffness, and as well as improve motion. It is important that your therapist has an experience in working on arthritic patients. You can massage your legs as often as needed to get relief from pain due to arthritis in the legs.
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Homemade Capsaicin Cream
The level of a compound called substance P which transmits pain signals in the body can be reduced by applying capsaicin to the affected joint. You can make capsaicin cream by mixing some ground cayenne with enough olive oil to form a paste. Rub this on your legs as often as once a day to get relief. Rinse off the paste once it dries.
Extra virgin olive oil will work the best, but you can use any type of olive oil for this home remedy
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Anti-inflammatory Diet
Fresh foods should take the place of junk food, processed foods, and fast food in your daily diet when arthritis kicks in. Consumption of fish, vegetables, olive oil, and fresh fruits helps to reduce the inflammation when one has arthritis in the legs.
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Omega-3
Omega-3 fatty acids are requisites for optimum health. This fat also plays an active role in alleviating arthritis symptoms. You can take in this fatty acid by eating foods that are naturally rich in it, like seafood, fish, and seeds. If you do not like these foods, you can instead take omega-3 supplements.
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Ginger Tea
You can make this in your home by boiling slices of ginger for fifteen minutes in water. You can alternatively buy pre-packaged ginger tea and make it as directed on the box. It has been discovered that ginger can curb the production of chemicals in the body that causes pain due to the body’s inflammatory response. You can drink this tea up to three times a day to get relief from pain and inflammation from arthritis in the legs.
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Chamomile Tea
Make strong chamomile tea by putting four tea bags of chamomile in a cup of hot water. Cover it for twenty minutes, then squeeze and remove the chamomile bags. Drinking chamomile tea helps to reduce arthritis pain because it is an anti-inflammatory.
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Vitamin C
Vitamin C helps to rid the body of destructive free radicals and also produces collagen, an important component of joints. Consumption of Vitamin C reduces the progression of arthritis in its patients. Eat fruits such as oranges and strawberries, which are rich in vitamin C, daily.
All types of bell peppers contain high amounts of vitamin C as well
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Cloves
A chemical known as eugenol is present in cloves, and it impedes the process that activates arthritis in the legs. Cloves contain antioxidants, which slow the detriment of bones and cartilages. Take one teaspoon of cloves daily. You can make cloves into a tea, which is likely the most appetizing way to ingest them.
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Green Tea
Green tea’s polyphenols antioxidants are anti-inflammatory, and they help to improve the body’s immune responses to arthritis, also reducing the damage of cartilage. Drink up to four cups of green tea daily to get the best results.
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Spicy Foods
Spices contain compounds that reduce swelling and blocks substance P that transmits pain signals to the brain. When flare-ups occur, spices like ginger, cayenne pepper, and turmeric can prove beneficial for reducing the pain. Add these foods to your meals to get relief from your symptoms.
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Borage Seed Oil
Borage seed oil has anti-inflammatory properties which help to relieve the symptoms of arthritis in the legs. Massage borage oil into the arthritic joint regularly to reduce the swollen joints. To alleviate the pain, you can drink a teaspoon of borage seed oil every day.
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Essential Oil Blend
Peppermint and eucalyptus oil have pain-relieving properties. They produce a cooling sensation which submerges discomfort and replaces it with a soothing feeling to heal pain.
To make this, blend 5-10 drops of peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil together and mix into 1-2 tablespoons of a carrier oil. Store in a dark glass, away from the sun. Rub onto the inflamed joint. You can use this home remedy as often as needed.
100% PURE AROMA Essential oils 6-pack (Eucalyptus, lavender, lemon grass, orange, peppermint, and tea tree). ($6.95)
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Cherry
Magnesium is a natural painkiller, and potassium reduces inflammation. Cherries contain both. Eat cherries regularly to help ease the pain. Drinking cherry juice can also help.
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Epsom Salt
Magnesium sulfate is a component of Epsom salt, and it contributes to reducing the arthritic pain. Fill a basin with water and add ½ cup of Epsom salt. Stir and put the affected joints in the basin. Soak your legs in the water for at least twenty minutes to get the best results.
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White Willow Tea
White willow contains salicin, which is converted in the body into salicylic acid that is similar to the acetylsalicylic acid, the active ingredient in aspirin. This is more efficient than aspirin due to the lesser side effects.
To make willow tea, boil a cup of water and reduce to seethe. Add two teaspoons of chopped white willow bark and allow to infuse for ten minutes. Turn off the heat and let it precipitate for thirty minutes. Drink this twice every day. You can sweeten with honey to help its bitter taste.
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Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe vera gel has been used for treating arthritis in the legs for centuries. It is an excellent anti-inflammatory agent that can provide substantial relief to joint pains. To use this home remedy, simply rub aloe vera gel on your legs. Use this home remedy as often as you like.
Organic Aloe Vera Gel ($13.89)
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Olive Oil
Oleocanthal, a compound found in virgin olive oil works similarly to many anti-inflammatory drugs for arthritis. This compound works by limiting the secretion of cox-1 and cox-2 enzymes responsible for inflammations. Using olive oil in place of fats like butter can help alleviate arthritis symptoms and reduce the risk of heart diseases.
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Mustard Seed
This herb helps provide substantial relief to joint and tissue pain. Mustard seed is an excellent source of magnesium, selenium, and omega-3 fatty acids. These components have proven benefits for arthritis symptoms. A good way to use to rub a marsh of mustard seed oil on the inflamed joints; it will warm up and improve blood circulation to the area.
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Bromelain
Extracted from the juice and stem of the pineapple plant, bromelain is an effective home remedy for joint inflammations. Aside from being a potent anti-inflammatory agent, it also helps with indigestion and other digestive disorders. For arthritis, 500 to 2000 milligram is recommended, available in tablets and capsules. Bromelain is also naturally found in pineapples, so eating the fruit daily may also provide some relief from your arthritis symptoms.
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Horseradish
Fresh horseradish root is recommended for treating inflamed joints. Along with hot water, pour the roots into a blender, and blend until it forms a paste. Afterward, immerse a piece of cotton material into the hot water, wring out, and pour the horseradish paste on it. Spread another dry cotton material over it. Put the moist side over the inflamed joint and leave it on for thirty minutes. Placing a hot water bottle on the poultice will help keep it warm. You may notice skin reddening; it is a sign that blood circulation has improved around the area.
Top your meals with horseradish as a tasty way to incorporate it into your diet
In all, it is important that you stay active as an arthritic pain, exercise multiple times a week and get your muscles working. If you want to learn more about arthritis pain in other areas of the body, you can also read this article to learn more home remedy tips.
References
http://www.everydayhealth.com/arthritis/treatment/natural-ways-ease-arthritis-pain/#10
http://www.rd.com/health/conditions/natural-arthritis-remedies/
http://everydayroots.com/arthritis-remedies
http://www.top10homeremedies.com/home-remedies/home-remedies-for-arthritis.html
http://www.healthline.com/health/osteoarthritis/arthritis-natural-relief
