Finding The Best (or Craziest?) Natural Treatment For Osteoarthritis
Wednesday, January 18th, 2012Gin-soaked raisins? Cayenne pepper? Could these solutions really work as a natural treatment for osteoarthritis?
For ages, arthritis sufferers have been searching for natural treatments to help relieve the joint pain and stiffness in their hands, knees, hips, back or feet.
And many sufferers find strange-sounding treatments – like cherries, cider vinegar, hot peppers and more.
So do they work? And, if so, how?
Here are some of the popular ones:
- Hot peppers. Peppers contain capsaicin, which is a naturally occurring analgesic that may relieve mild to moderate osteoarthritis pain. Though you don’t eat them to relieve the pain – you apply the capsaicin as a gel or cream. (Although eating hot peppers might also work to a degree, if your stomach can take it. The spicy foods encourage the body to release endorphins, which are feel-good hormones and can help alleviate pain.) Traditionally, however, capsaicin is applied topically. You can find gels and lotions with capsaicin in them at your local drug store. There might be a mild burning sensation at first, which is the cream desensitizing the nerve receptors in the painful area.
- Gin-soaked raisins. Raisins contain compounds (three different acids) that are said to be pain relievers, and gin comes from juniper berries, which has an anti-inflammatory compound. Combine them, and you get double the relief: from pain and inflammation! Although there isn’t any actual research to prove this works, many women swear by the effectiveness. Most use golden raisins, let them soak for about a week in a thin layer of gin (until it evaporates), then eat just 8-9 per day.
Visit Lifescript.com to learn more about how the hot peppers and gin-soaked raisins work for arthritis pain, as well as learning additional popular, natural treatments for osteoarthritis (including cider vinegar and cherries).
Also, be sure to visit Lifescript’s new Osteoarthritis Health Center, where you can find quizzes, recipes, tips, articles and more osteoarthritis information.
The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not, nor is it ever intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice or professional recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician(s) or other qualified healthcare provider(s).