The term rheumatism includes various joint diseases such as arthrosis or rheumatoid arthritis, which are associated with inflammation, swelling and pain in the affected joints. But what to do if the hands are affected? We explain which 5 home remedies help with rheumatism in the hands.
Although the term rheumatism includes a large number of joint diseases, it is often used colloquially for rheumatoid arthritis. Unlike osteoarthritisthe joint inflammation in rheumatism is not caused by joint wear and tear, but by an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks its own joints. The reason for this is so far unclear. In over 90 percent of those affected by inflammatory joint rheumatism, the inflammation occurs in the wrists. It is usually accompanied by severe pain, swelling and redness, but general symptoms such as tiredness, exhaustion, fever or night sweats can also occur. In addition to a healthy lifestyle, some home remedies in particular can alleviate the symptoms and course of the disease in rheumatism.
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Rheumatism in the hands: 5 home remedies
1. Medicinal herbs
Medicinal plants have been used to treat certain diseases and ailments for centuries. And even today, naturopathy is popular for relieving symptoms naturally. Certain anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medicinal plants have proven to be particularly helpful for rheumatism, including stinging nettle, for example. Aside from the fact that direct contact with the leaves of the plant can be painful, nettle contains flavonoids, which are secondary plant compounds, unsaturated fatty acids and other ingredients with an anti-inflammatory effect. In addition to stinging nettles, willow bark, frankincense and devil’s claw are also natural helpers for rheumatic complaints – you can take the medicinal herbs as a supplement after consulting your doctor.
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2. Warm baths with essential oils
At the beginning of a rheumatic flare-up, any symptoms that arise can be alleviated by heat, for example with a warm hand bath. At this point, the joint is usually not yet inflamed. A heat application stimulates the blood circulation, relaxes the muscles and alleviates pain. Add essential oils with an anti-inflammatory effect to the water – these include rosemary, chamomile or frankincense oil. But be careful: If there is already an inflammation, you should avoid applying heat, as this can aggravate the symptoms.
3. Cold applications
In the case of an acute flare-up of rheumatism with an existing inflammation, cold applications can provide relief. If the joint is inflamed, this usually manifests itself as redness and swelling – treatment with cold ensures that the blood vessels contract, the metabolism slows down and the inflammation is relieved. This causes the joint to swell and the pain to subside. Cool wraps with quark or healing earth are particularly suitable.
4. Anti-inflammatory diet
In many cases, a change in diet is essential in the case of a rheumatic disease in order to improve the quality of life of those affected. Pro-inflammatory foods such as white flour products, foods high in sugar or processed meat and sausage products should be avoided. In contrast, you should include plenty of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, nuts, legumes and vegetable oils in your diet. Likewise, low-fat dairy products and fish should be consumed regularly. Adequate intake of certain nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids , which have an anti-inflammatory effect, or vitamin C, which acts as an antioxidant in the body and can thus also counteract inflammation, is particularly important.
5. Make your own pain-relieving creams
Pain-relieving creams, which you can easily make yourself, also help against joint pain. Ointments made from mustard flour or nutmeg are particularly suitable. The mustard oil contained in the mustard flour has both a circulation-enhancing and anti-inflammatory effect. Nutmeg is also known for its anti-inflammatory effects. To make the ointment, you need a so-called carrier cream, which you can buy in the pharmacy and to which you then add a pinch of mustard powder or freshly grated nutmeg.
