Those suffering from arthritis often suffer from swollen and painful joints. In addition to drug treatment, some home remedies also promise relief and can curb the inflammation of the rheumatic disease.
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What is arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common inflammatory joint disease, often affecting the fingers, hands and toes. Knees, feet, shoulders or hips are less commonly affected. Arthritis is an autoimmune disease that cannot be cured, but is treatable.
signs of arthritis
Arthritis is characterized by joint pain and classic signs of inflammation, which are characterized by swelling, warmth and redness of the joints. In addition to the discomfort in the joints, there can be other symptoms. These include tiredness, reduced performance or sleep disorders. As it progresses, rheumatoid arthritis can also attack other organs such as the eyes, heart and lungs or blood vessels.
Arthritis is often equated with rheumatism. But rheumatism is the collective term for around 100 chronic joint inflammations. The causes of arthritis are varied. The disease can be genetic, the result of a metabolic disease or triggered by bacterial or viral infections. The result: the immune system turns against its own body and attacks the joints and organ tissue.
3 home remedies for arthritis
In addition to drug treatment, home remedies can also relieve the symptoms and inflammation. These three home remedies have proven themselves:
1. Healthy eating
Arthritis sufferers should adjust their diet and avoid foods that are pro-inflammatory. These include animal products such as meat and milk, sugar and white flour. On the other hand, a plant-based diet has a positive effect on inflammation and rheumatism. Vegetable fats, which are found in abundance in linseed, canola or olive oil, are considered anti-inflammatory. Also worth mentioning are leafy green vegetables, which are anti-inflammatory.
You can find out more about this here: 13 foods that reduce inflammation in the body >>
2. Cold applications
If your joint is acutely inflamed, cold is another good tip. Quark wraps are a tried and tested household remedy. The contained ingredients casein and lactic acid reduce inflammation and are therefore pain-relieving. Here’s how it works: Spread the quark on a compress and place it on the affected area. Then wrap a clean cloth around the compress. Let the quark wrap work until the mass has warmed up.
3. Movement
Often the pain and discomfort can limit your activity. As a result, many arthritis sufferers tend to exercise little. But it is precisely light exercise that can help to keep your joints as elastic as possible. Adapt the load to your complaints and do not overstrain yourself. Well-suited types of sport and training are walking, yoga , water aerobics or gentle strength training.
