Herbs to Fight Arthritis Pain 1
Arthritis symptoms can keep you from going about your everyday
activities. The pain and swelling
(inflammation) may still persist despite medical intervention. In an
effort to gain relief and take a “natural” approach, more arthritis
patients are seeking herbal remedies than ever before. Certain herbs may
have anti-inflammatory properties that can help with Rhematoid Arthritis (RA), as well as the ability to reduce pain in all forms of the
disease. Still, there is a lack ofscientific evidence supporting such
claims. Before you treat arthritis the
“natural” way, make sure you talk to a doctor first to avoid potentially
life-threatening side effects.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is one of the most commonly used herbs in alternative
medicine. Known for its healing properties,
it is popular for treating small skin abrasions. You may already have a
bottle of aloe vera gel in the medicine cabinet from a past experience
with sunburn for pain relief. This same type of product may be applied
topically to soothe achy joints.
This herb is also available in whole form from the leaves of the plant. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) says that oral aloe vera can cause decreased blood sugar and gastrointestinal side effects, such as diarrhea. Topical aloe vera, on the other hand, does not cause any side effects.