Herbal Treatments for Arthritis

Well-Known Herbs

• Ginger, when used as a tea, can act as an anti-inflammatory agent and relieve joint pain for people with arthritis. Celery seeds can also be used as a tea for acute arthritis attacks. Put 1 tsp. of the seeds in a cup, boil and let stand for 15 minutes before straining and draining the tea. Epsom salts are a well-known anti-inflammatory remedy for arthritis. Put a few cups into a hot bath to reduce swelling. Pineapple, which contains the enzyme bromelain, can also prevent inflammation. Two common spices, oregano and rosemary, may have antioxidant properties, which can reduce free radicals that lead to pain.
  
  

Other Herbs

• Willow bark contains the chemical salicin, which is the original form of aspirin found in nature. Use the herb in a tea to give you the pain-relieving effects of aspirin without the side effects. Stinging nettle in juice form is the official remedy for rheumatism in Germany and it is recommended in doses of 1 tbsp. three times a day. Devil's claw is an anti-inflammatory agent and it is recommended by herbal practitioners that you take 1,000 mg twice a day. Thunder God Vine, a Chinese herb, reduces inflammation in one 30 mg liquid extract dose per day. Tumeric, a spice found in curry, is used on Chinese and Indian Ayurvedic medicine to treat arthritis. The dosage for turmeric is 400 mg to 600 mg a day in capsule form.
  
  

Rubs and Salves

• Chamomile, which is naturally an anti-inflammatory, can be used as a wash in a hot bath. Soak the problematic joints in hot water infused with chamomile. Stinging nettles attack the nerves on the skin, which causes the pain sensors to slow down. This is a painful treatment but it may allow for the internal pain to diminish. Cayenne peppers and the active ingredient capsaicin are used in a similar way, causing initial pain but then diminishing the overall pain over time. Some oils that can be used as a rub at the affected area are St. John's Wort, fireweed (erechtites hieracifolia), and a combination of lavender, majoram, rosemary and peppermint.