At-home remedies for arthritis pain

From grainews.ca/farm-life

By Kathlyn Hossack

Joint pain and pain related to arthritis are common occurrences heading into our colder months here in Canada. With extreme and frequent changes in temperature and air pressure, many of us experience increased achiness, stiffness and inflammation.

Here are a few at-home ideas to try this winter to hopefully take the edge off some of the aches and pains that can come with the season.

Hot water bottles or heating pads such as Magic Bags can provide heat therapy when soaking in a tub isn’t an option. Photo: OKrasyuk/iStock/Getty Images

Heat

Warmth, especially warm water, can be very beneficial for joint discomfort. If accessible, warm baths with Epsom salts added can work wonders on stiffness and achiness. If getting in and out of a bath isn’t appealing or possible, foot soaks in warm water with Epsom salts added can be just as beneficial. Warm water increases circulation by dilating our blood vessels. This helps to ease stiffness and aches that can occur in joints due to limited fluid circulation in and out of the area. Epsom Salts contain magnesium, a mineral our body needs to appropriately conduct electrical signals and maintain healthy soft tissue tone, hydration and bone density. The mineral is commonly quite difficult to get enough of in our diet and is absorbed well through the skin from a foot soak or a bath. You might also add essential oils of your choosing or herbs such as ginger, peppermint or rosemary for added aromatherapy and circulation support.

For those who experience joint pain in their hands, warm soaks in Epsom salt water can be a way to ease this discomfort, at least temporarily. For those who have pain in bigger joints such as their hips, back or knees, baths or foot soaks can be a great winter routine. Heating pads such as flax- or seed-filled Magic Bags can be a great way to access the benefits of heat therapy in lieu of water-based methods. Hot water bottles are another way to access this form of heat therapy.

Increasing circulation

Just as we can use external heat to ease discomfort and improve circulation in the colder months, so too can we stimulate our internal environments to increase our inner heat via circulation. It may sound counterintuitive to increase our inner heat (circulation) to manage symptoms that sometimes occur with inflammation, though this is a long-held traditional and proven modern method supporting the underlying reasons why arthritic pain manifests.

Low-impact cardiovascular exercise can be minimally irritating to joints, with all the benefits of circulation and movement through the joint structures and soft tissues commonly affected by arthritis pain. Low-impact exercises can include walking, chair yoga or aerobics, yoga and cycling. There are many online, free resources these days to guide you through yoga or mobility or even gentle aerobics, Zumba (dance) or strength classes to complete at home. All these options have been proven to decrease or even eliminate arthritis-related discomfort. It’s important to try a few things and see what both interests you and supports you.

Ensuring you add warming foods into your diet can be helpful as well. Soups, stews, curries and chilies are staples — and for good reasons. Many traditional health systems believe warm foods are the remedy to issues that include arthritis, joint pain and stiffness. This belief falls right in line with the idea that improving circulation through heat is a tried-and-true remedy, inside and out.

If pain persists and you find yourself unable to modify it through at-home movement or remedies, it’s important you seek the guidance of a qualified professional to investigate and find other ways to support you. Pain is a unique experience we all encounter.

https://www.grainews.ca/farm-life/at-home-remedies-for-arthritis-pain/