Arthritis Action

If your joints are starting to play you up here are some herbs that can help to soothe the pain.

As the weather starts to cool many people find that their joints start to ache. This could be the familiar symptoms of arthritis or the first signs that something could be up. The joints most affected are the spine, knees, hips and the base of the thumb.  Sadly arthritis can’t be cured but there are plenty of things you can do to manage symptoms and stop them getting worse. These include regular exercise to keep joints flexible as well as following a healthy diet and watching your weight. There are also several herbs that can help to ease the ache.

Devil’s claw
According to Arthritis UK there is evidence that devil’s claw is as effective as other conventional medicines for osteoarthritis. In one study people with arthritis of the knee, hip or lower back reported less pain and better mobility after eight weeks of taking devil’s claw.

Turmeric
Turmeric, the yellow spice used in curries, has long been known to have anti-inflammatory properties in China and India.  And now in the past few years scientists have found that its active ingredient curcumin can help to ease the pain as well as lower levels of inflammatory chemicals in arthritis.

Capsaicin
Capsaicin, the main active ingredient in chilli peppers, has also been found to help relieve the pain and discomfort of arthritis. Several studies show that applying capsaicin gel to the affected area four times a day can help to improve pain and joint tenderness.

Ginger
Ginger has long been used for aching joints and research shows that extracts of ginger can help reduce levels of chemicals that promote joint inflammation as well as relieve the pain.

Help yourself

• Keeping on the move is one of the best ways to ease the discomfort and stop joints seizing up.  A gentle activity that puts no strain on joints is best. Walking, swimming or aquarobics are all good choices
• Follow a healthy diet with plenty of fruit and veg, which are full of vitamins and minerals and water to help lubricate your joints
• Oily fish such as salmon, tuna or mackerel, which are all good sources of omega-3 fatty acids, can help ease any pain and stiffness
• Lose weight if you need to. Shedding just a few pounds will help reduce stress on the joints and can be as effective at relieving arthritic knee pain as taking painkillers, according to research
• Try to stay positive. Sharing experiences with others in the same boat can be helpful so think about joining an arthritis care local group.

Devil's Claw can be found in Flexiherb - A traditional herbal medicinal product used for the relief of backache, rheumatic or muscular pain and general aches and pains in the muscles and joints based on traditional use only.