Folk remedies for osteoarthritis - step by step recipes for infusions, decoctions, compresses and ointments with photos

With long-term problems with joint nutrition, changes in cartilage tissue begin and arthrosis develops. This disease is the most common form of joint damage, which greatly impairs the quality of life and leads to complete disability. It can occur not only in the elderly, so the issue of prevention and treatment is relevant for everyone. Do folk remedies help from this and which ones are worth using?

What is osteoarthritis

Degenerative-dystrophic disease of the joints, in which the cartilaginous tissue on their surface loses elasticity, is worn out - that is the definition of arthrosis given by doctors. Alternative name of the disease: osteoarthritis (it is possible to write "osteoarthritis deformans"). This term can include several diseases with a similar outcome, but different etiology (origin), in which the pathology affects all parts of the joint:

• articular cartilage;
• ligaments;
• articular capsule;
• synovium;
• subchondral bone;
• periarticular muscles.

Osteoarthritis is caused by a large number of biological and mechanical causes that contribute to the destruction of cartilage tissue: excessive physical activity, trauma, metabolic disorders, poor diet, infectious diseases, excess weight. The joints of the knee, ankle and hip are mainly affected, because the load on them is maximal, less often the lumbar zone, elbows, neck, phalanges of the fingers are affected. Osteoarthritis can affect 1 joint (localized form) or several (generalized, polyosteoarthritis). General symptoms:

• pain in the affected joint (first, only during physical exertion, at the end of the day, after - and at rest);
• feeling numb in the morning (lasts up to half an hour);
• reduced joint mobility.

The clinical picture of osteoarthritis depends on the stage of development: in the initial stage there are no morphological changes (in the structure) of the joint - only synovial fluid is affected, the symptoms are smoothed. The pain can occur after physical exertion, and disappears at rest. As osteoarthritis progresses, the process of destruction of cartilage and meniscus begins, the following signs appear:

• dense thickening along the edges of the joint space;
• sore spots;
• pain and limited movement (contracture);
• joint instability;
• chronic inflammation;
• deformations due to bone growths (osteophytes).

Treatment of osteoarthritis with folk remedies at home

The process of fighting this disease is always long, mostly treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis (at home). It is important to observe an integrated approach to eliminating the problem: limit the load on sore joints, adhere to the motor regime, regularly perform therapeutic exercises (exercises selected by the doctor) and massage. The goals of the osteoarthritis treatment regimen are:

• preventing the development of contractures;
• improving joint function;
• slowing disease progression.

Treatment of osteoarthritis by folk methods aims to perform the same tasks, and in addition should eliminate unpleasant symptoms: pain, inflammation. Internal intake of decoctions and tinctures helps to restore cartilage tissue in the initial phase of the disease, improves metabolic processes and blood circulation. When properly combined with other therapeutic methods, folk remedies for osteoarthritis can prevent further development of the disease. Some important rules:

• Do not stop the therapy when you feel improvement: the elimination of the basic cause is always long-lasting, and the symptoms can disappear in a week.
• Strictly adhere to the prescribed doses (even with folk remedies you can overdo it) and adhere to the schedule of procedures.
• Do not neglect the diet: without it there is no point in taking folk remedies and making compresses, because nutrition at the heart is the cause of osteoarthritis. Get rid of salt, sugar, all artificial additives, pay attention to a diet based on plant foods, sources of omega-3 fats (fish, olive oil) and monitor body weight. Jelly, gelatin, aspic, cottage cheese, mild cheese will be useful.
• Coordinate traditional methods of treating osteoarthritis with your doctor, especially if the disease is not in its infancy, or you have a large number of chronic diseases, suffer from allergies. When treating children, it is forbidden to choose therapy independently.
• If side effects occur, discard the selected drug or method.

Compresses for arthrosis of the joints

Local treatment of degenerative-dystrophic processes includes the use of ointments, rubbing or dressings (applications, dressings). The latter are more effective in relieving pain and swelling, improving blood circulation and can help nourish cartilage tissue (if the product is gelatin-based). Compresses are hot, which are forbidden in the active inflammatory process, but perfectly remove pain, and cold, which better remove edema. Effective folk remedies for osteoarthritis:

• Pour boiling water (4 tablespoons) over the oatmeal (glass). Cook over low heat for 7-8 minutes to get a thick, slimy porridge. If there is too much water, add more oatmeal. The resulting mass must be cooled, laid on three times folded gauze, used as a compress before bedtime. Be sure to cover it with cling film and secure with a bandage.
• Take fresh horseradish root, rub finely without peeling. Put double folded gauze, put on a sore wrist. You can keep the compression for 1-2 hours, apply - 2 times a day.

Velcro

Popular folk remedies used for compresses in diseases of the musculoskeletal system are the leaves of the plant, which are lightly squeezed to get the juice. For this purpose, take cabbage, fern or burdock. The latter option is not the most affordable for city dwellers, as fresh leaf is needed, but it is very effective, helping to quickly relieve swelling and pain. The principle of operation is simple:

1. Boil a large amount of water (3-4 liters) in the sherpa.
2. Soak the washed burdock leaf there, hold for exactly 30 seconds.
3. Treat the affected area with warm olive oil or honey (about 1-2 tablespoons, the exact amount depends on the size of the joint).
4. Place the scalded burdock sheet on top, fasten with a bandage for an hour. The procedure can be performed daily until the pain and swelling are completely eliminated.

Cabbage

A simple and effective alternative treatment for osteoarthritis and arthritis involves the application of cabbage dressings. They stop the inflammatory process, relieve edema by secreting fluids, have a positive effect on the metabolism of nutrients, and reduce the intensity of pain. Whole cabbage leaves and juice squeezed from them are also used for the procedure. The most effective recipes:

• Remove the leaf from the cabbage head, wash well, make a few shallow cuts on the inside. Refuse with a hammer, if the veins are very thick, apply to the affected joint. For greater efficiency, you can lubricate the inside of the leaf with honey mixed with mustard powder (1 teaspoon). Cover with foil, fix with a bandage and a warm scarf. For the knee it is worth using 2-3 leaves, for other areas - 1. Hold the compress for an hour, and then, if necessary, you can make a new one. It is allowed to do 4-5 procedures a day, the duration of treatment - until the patient feels better.
• Take 4-5 leaves from the head of cabbage, chop with a knife, remember with your hands in a small glass jar. Squeeze the juice, saturate it three times with folded gauze or a thick woolen cloth (always of natural composition). Apply a compress on the painful area, cover with foil. Hold it 1, 5-2 hours. The juice can be stored for up to 3 days, after which it is made fresh. The procedure is repeated 2-3 times a day. The course of treatment is not limited.

Tinctures of alcohol and vodka

Universal folk remedies for osteoarthritis, which can be used internally and externally, are tinctures with alcohol or vodka. For their preparation, take the flowers of saber, dandelion, elecampane, lilac, which have anti-inflammatory properties. They can also be used to prepare water decoctions for drinking, if alcoholic tinctures are not allowed. Particularly effective recipes:

• Take 2 tbsp. l. saber, pour a glass of vodka. Keep the mixture in a cool place for 2 weeks. The tincture should be drunk in 1 tbsp. l. , which is diluted in 100 ml of warm water, before meals. Additionally, it can be applied externally, gently massaging the wrist for a minute, 2 times a day. The treatment lasts a month.
• Sort 1 kg of rye grains (for a complete therapeutic course), pour cold water (7 l). Let it simmer over medium heat, turn off the stove. When the soup has cooled, strain it. Stir in liquid honey (1 kg), vodka (500 ml) and barberry root (3 tsp). Keep the tincture in a cool, dark place for 3 weeks. Drink 3 tablespoons. l. before meals until the product is consumed.
• Grind peeled garlic cloves (200 g), add alcohol (200 ml). After 10 days drain, leave for another 2 days. Take 3 drops, diluted in 100 ml of milk, morning and evening, one hour after meals. The treatment lasts a month.

Medicinal decoctions

A useful and simple folk remedy for osteoarthritis is a simple herbal tea with fresh ginger that improves blood circulation, reduces pain and inflammation. To do this, simply rub 2 cm of ginger root, add a clove bud and 1 tsp. green tea. Everything is filled with hot (80 degrees) water, heated for 10 minutes in a water bath, infused for half an hour. Then add a teaspoon of honey, drink warm tea. The remedy can be taken 1-2 times a day, the duration of treatment is not limited. In addition, the following decoctions are useful for osteoarthritis:

• Take dried bay leaf (10 g), pour boiling water (200 ml), leave to simmer for 10 minutes. Insist, wrapping the dish in a towel, for 5 hours. If possible, it is recommended to keep the soup in a warm oven and cook it in a thick pot. Drink in small portions daily. The treatment lasts only 3 days, after a weekly break the course is repeated.
• Mix marigold flowers, nettle leaves and birch, pour 2 tbsp. l. half a liter of boiling water. Boil, cool. Drink 100 ml before meals for half an hour 4 r / day for 3 weeks.

Grease and rubbing

If the joint affected by arthrosis is not inflamed, the skin is not red, the local temperature is not elevated, home rubbing can be prepared to reduce pain and normalize circulation. They are used during a light massage: caressing, spiral movements, rubbing. They can be used up to 2 times a day, after which it is desirable to wrap the treated area with a woolen cloth. The course for moderate arthrosis lasts 2-3 weeks. For such procedures you can squeeze the juice from the leaves of aloe, use warm honey or prepare a multi-component composition:

• Take 100 g of olive or other vegetable (sunflower, corn) oil, add a similar amount of propolis, which must be finely grated. Heat in a water bath to obtain a homogeneous mass (propolis should dissolve), leave to cool. Use the resulting product to rub into the area affected by osteoarthritis 2 times a day until the unpleasant symptoms disappear completely.
• Grind 20 g of Caucasian couscous with a pestle to a fine powder. Pour 20 ml of vegetable oil and a similar amount of liquid (you can heat) honey into it, add 5 g of mustard. Heat everything in a water bath (on low heat), stir, leave to cool to room temperature. Rub into joints with severe pain 2-3 r / day.
• Take equal amounts of birch buds, wild rosemary, Maryina root, white lilac flowers, sweet clover, cook 1 tbsp. l. collecting a glass of boiling water. Insist for an hour. Melt 150 g of internal lard in a water bath, add 50 ml of infusion to get a thick paste. When the product has cooled, rub the affected area in the morning and evening.
• Whisk 2 chicken eggs, add 2 tbsp. ammonia and turpentine. In the evening, massage the affected joint with this mixture. The duration of treatment is 2 weeks.

Baths

If the patient does not have diseases of the skin and cardiovascular system (especially hypertension), tumors, therapeutic baths can be taken to improve the condition of the musculoskeletal system. They contribute to general warming, stimulate cell renewal, strengthen immunity, relieve swelling, pain, muscle hypertonia, normalize blood circulation and restore mobility. The effect depends on the selected product added to the water. Traditional medicine for osteoarthritis advises the use of:

• sea salt;
• iodine;
• needles;
• hay;
• turpentine;
• herbal preparations;
• mustard powder.

It is important that the water temperature is pleasant: 35-37 degrees, but exceptions are allowed for some folk recipes (temperature increase up to 40 degrees). The procedure is carried out for 10-30 minutes, depending on the agent used, with a frequency of 1 time in 2 days or less often - according to tolerability. To achieve a noticeable result in osteoarthritis, the course should last a month (15 procedures), if necessary, repeated after a break: this should be discussed with your doctor.

With salt and pine

Baths, for which sea salt (1 kg) and pine branches (2-3 pcs. ) Are used, have a good effect on the musculoskeletal system. In addition, to improve the heating effect, you can add:

• honey (2 tbsp. l. );
• turpentine (1 tsp).

First, the pine branches are placed in a tub and boiled. After half an hour, sea salt, honey and turpentine are added here. The bathroom is filled with hot water. When it has cooled to 37 degrees, you can start the procedure. The duration is 20 minutes, the course consists of 12 procedures. If there are no pine branches, you can take any essential oil of conifers (3-5 drops), but add it when the water starts to cool.

Herbal bath

Nettle, chamomile, calendula, St. John's wort are popular and effective plants on the basis of which can be prepared decoctions used for therapeutic baths for osteoarthritis. They relieve pain and have a relaxing effect. These plants are used individually or together. Several options of traditional medicine:

• Mix marigold, St. John's wort and oregano in equal proportions. The resulting mixture in an amount of 3 tbsp. l. pour with a couple of glasses of boiling water. Leave to stand for an hour, pour into the tub. Due to the low concentration of the infusion, it is recommended to use for local baths: to warm the elbow, knee, ankle. The duration of the procedure is 10-20 minutes, the course consists of 10 sessions every other day.
• Take nettle, birch leaves, tansy flowers (ratio is equal). Pour 100 g of the mixture with a liter of boiling water, leave for half an hour. Add to the finished bath and hold for 15 minutes. Procedures should be performed for 2 weeks every other day.

Soda-salt

In case of damage to the small joints of the hands and feet (phalanges, wrist), they can mate in small baths. They use such folk remedies for the treatment of osteoarthritis as coniferous and soda-saline solutions. The latter is a mixture of equal amounts of baking soda and sea salt, filled with hot (75-80 degrees) water. For 1 liter take 1 tbsp. l. of each product. The bath is done for 15 minutes, gently massaging the arthrosis zones. After that, it is recommended to wear woolen socks or gloves on them. The procedure is repeated every other day for 3 weeks.