Joint pain can be of several kinds; the most common phenomena are related to problems of wear and tear or repeated friction.
Have you thought about natural treatments to relieve your joint pain before rushing to take medication? From joint supplements to osteopathy to grandmother’s remedies, some natural treatments can be effective in restoring mobility to combat painful joints as well as preventing joint pain: Joint Pain Home Relief.
Types of joint pain
Even if we all have an idea of what a joint is, it is worth remembering the definition: a discontinuous junction between two bones allowing the movement of its two bony structures. Our body is lined with 350 to 400 joints, so joint pain can affect a large number of areas, but the most common locations are the upper and lower limbs as well as the spine and pelvis.
Joint pain can have several origins:
- Trauma: pain following a trauma, a fracture or a fall
- Osteoarthritis: pain of mechanical origin, linked to wear and tear and the pressure that has been exerted on the articular cartilage which, in response to this, will thicken. Osteoarthritis will therefore generally cause stiffness in the morning, which gradually diminishes during the day when the joint in question is used. The most frequent locations of osteoarthritis: knee, hand, hip, vertebrae (cervical, dorsal and lumbar).
- Arthritis: pain of inflammatory origin, linked to an inflammatory reaction in the joint capsule creating pain that is prevalent at night. The mechanism of these pathologies is still poorly understood. The most common types of arthritis: ankylosing spondylitis (adults or elderly people), rheumatoid arthritis (adults or elderly people), juvenile arthritis (children).
Food to relieve joint pain
Since the dawn of time, diet has been known to have an effect on the improvement or worsening of a given pathology. Adapting one’s diet could therefore be a good way of preventing or reducing the effects of a joint pathology. Certain foods should be favoured and others avoided.
Foods to avoid when suffering from joint pain
- Acidifying foods: these foods will acidify the metabolism and therefore promote and maintain inflammation. They should therefore be avoided, or at least greatly reduced in our diet (white bread, so prefer wholemeal bread, red meats, cold cuts, lentils, soya, coffee, sugars and other by-products, etc.)
- High temperature cooking: promotes the development of inflammatory cytokines.
- Processed foods (high sugar and saturated fat content): promotes inflammation (sweets, soft drinks, fried foods, etc.)
- Alcohol: high proportion of aggravating inflammation, sometimes even after just one drink.
Foods to be favoured during joint pain
- Vegetables (fruit and vegetables): 70% of the plate helps neutralise the acidity contained in animal proteins (broccoli, cabbage, pumpkin, tomato, garlic, blueberries, blackberries, peaches, apple, etc.)
- Hydration: our joints are essentially made up of water, sufficient hydration (1.5/2 litres of water) helps to lubricate the joints.
- Rebalance the intake of omega-3s rather than omega-6s: our fatty acid intake is essentially made up of foods rich in omega-6s (peanut oil, sunflower oil, etc.) whereas omega-3s have properties in the construction of cell membranes and help to combat inflammation (oily fish, flaxseed oil, etc.)
- Prefer wholegrain cereals: high fibre content (wholegrain bread, wholegrain pasta, etc.)
Foods supplements for the joints
Food supplements can be an effective natural treatment for joint pain. The Nutri&Co website offers a wide choice of food supplements with different compositions and purposes.
Turmeric is good for your joints
Turmeric has long been recognised and used in Indian medicine for its antioxidant and joint-benefiting properties, among others. It is in fact the curcumin contained in turmeric that has interesting therapeutic properties. Nutri&Co’s turmeric food supplements are dosed in such a way that they have a high bioavailability (the ability of the body to absorb an active ingredient so that the greatest amount reaches the target cells). The properties and bioavailability of turmeric make it an ally for joint problems by relieving pain and increasing flexibility.
Collagen to support joints
Collagen is one of the most common tissue components in the body, and is responsible for the flexibility of the skin and joints.
A collagen treatment supports the joints, as the cartilage of the joints is essentially made of collagen. However, with time and wear, the body’s collagen reserve decreases more and more each year. The marine collagen treatment, together with vitamin C, will improve the elasticity, tone and texture of the skin and joints.
There is a growing body of scientific literature on this body component. Its bioavailability has therefore been studied and it has been established that small peptides are the most effective. Nutri&Co has therefore created a formula that meets the bioavailability standards while maintaining a fruity taste.
Chondroitin to protect your joints
Chondroitin is a nutrient that is naturally present in the body; together with glucosamine it is necessary for the composition of cartilage and connective tissue. A chondroitin treatment strengthens the cartilage and the joint capsule to protect our joints.
Harpagophytum to limit inflammation
Harpagophytum is a plant also known as “devil’s claw” which has anti-inflammatory properties. These properties make it a natural treatment of choice to treat rheumatic diseases, arthritic diseases or arthrosis, which are inflammatory diseases. A course of Nutri&co food supplements will help to limit the inflammatory phenomenon that causes joint pain.
Natural tips for treating joint pain
Green/red clay to reduce joint pain
Applying clay as a poultice can be a good natural remedy for many types of pain.
Green clay has anti-inflammatory and remineralising properties, and when applied to the joints it will reduce pain in the first place. Silica can repair bones and tendons, thus strengthening the joint and healing in case of trauma.
Red clay has blood circulation and soothing effects, and when applied to a painful joint it will drain the area and reduce the pain sensation.
A baking soda bath
Baking soda is known for its relaxing properties, in a bath it will relieve muscle pain. Indeed, when we suffer from joint pain, the surrounding muscles will contract in order to protect the area. Pour 4 to 5 spoonfuls of baking soda into hot water or directly into the bath and bathe for 15-30 minutes to relieve the body of the tension caused by rheumatism.
Herbal teas that are beneficial to your joints
Several herbal infusions can have beneficial effects on painful joints:
- Ginger infusion: ginger is a powerful anti-inflammatory as well as a natural painkiller.
- Flaxseed tea: flaxseeds are rich in omega-3, which will have a beneficial effect on the joints.
- Nettle infusion: Nettle will have a direct effect on reducing pain, but its diuretic properties will also allow the drainage of joint inflammation.
Cold / hot
To relax the muscles, you can also apply heat with a hot water bottle or with a shower or bath, as this helps them to relax. In the case of inflammatory pain, however, it is advisable to apply cold to the area to limit the effects of the reaction.
Osteopathy to relieve joint pain
Osteopathy is a manual medicine based on the use of precise techniques to prevent, diagnose and treat pain. To do this, the therapist will treat the patient according to their social, personal and professional context.
Joint pain can be the cause of significant muscle contractions and a reduction in mobility. These lack of mobility can therefore, through muscular and tissue links, be the cause of pain at a distance from the initial point of tension.
Osteopathy is based on a global vision, in the case of joint pain; the practitioner will ensure that the mechanics of structures such as the lower and upper limbs, the spinal column and the pelvis are functioning properly. But he will also investigate the consequences of these pains, namely the muscular contractions of the incriminated zone. He will also ensure that the body’s fluid exchanges are good in order to allow the drainage of the inflammation and to ensure that it is not self-sustaining.
Your osteopath will be able to advise you on exercises and stretching so that the treatment lasts over time and your comfort level improves.