Joint Health

What herbs and natural remedies are you all having success with in treating arthritis and joint pain ?

When I met my other half, about fifteen years ago, he was frequently crippled with arthritis. We read up about it, took him off pain-killers as the evidence seem to suggest that them made things worse long-term, put him on devil's claw tablets to help with the pain, and gave him a fairly big dose of glucosamine sulphate. If I remember rightly, the glucosamine provides plenty of 'building blocks' so that damaged cartilage can rebuild itself. The pain began to diminish after a few weeks, and after three months (presumably after the cartilage had rebuilt itself sufficiently) there was no more pain and he didn't need to take any devil's claw. For a few years he messed about taking the glucosamine sometimes and then forgetting it for months on end. We found out that if he didn't take it for long enough, then the pain would come back, and it could take weeks to make it go away again. These days he says he takes a tablet 'every now and then', maybe a couple of times a week, and basically he has no trouble at all with joint pain.

My own experience was quite different. I've always had 'womens problems' and a few years ago was reading up about hormone problems and how to correct them. I still wasn't quite convinced enough that I knew what I was doing, so I hadn't started any treatments. Then I got struck down with arthritis in my hips, knees and ankles. I went within a couple of days from pain-free to virtually unable to walk. I didn't really think it could be my joints wearing out the same way as my husband's as it struck too fast and was too similar in all the joints at once. I sent off for a copy of Arthritis be Gone, which has a lot of info on controlling arthritis in people who have failed to cure it with glucosamine. I read it through and immediately noted that in women arthritis can be triggered by hormonal imbalances. So I decided it was time to buy myself some natural progesterone cream, which seemed to be the magic cure all for most of my problems, and twisted my other half's arm for a trip to Spain to buy some as it's not legal to sell it in Portugal and we live near the border. Two days on the cream and all the joint pain disappeared. If I'm foolish enough to stop the cream, the pain comes back within two weeks, but goes again within two days of re-starting the cream.

Hope some of that helps!

Wayne, you got my specialty – 25 years with arthritis. Not rheumatoid though, thank goodness.

I have tried lots of stuff over the years but only within the last 8 months or so did I find THE thing that I wish I’d known years ago.
I eliminated dairy and wheat for 30 days. Joint swelling in fingers, elbows, foot pain, gone.

It was really hard to do and I still eat both, and when I do it hurts. But I, like everyone else would rather find a button to push or a pill to take. In about 5 minutes I’m getting up to make a squash casserole with cheese. (dairy) But I am using wheat free bread crumbs.

I am just so amazed with the results and wish I could get my favorite aunt on board. It runs in our family and she, like me, has the most agonizing foot pain. It is so nice to be able to make it go away. I have taken every kind of over the counter anti-inflammatory that for so long that I now have allergic reactions to most.

Herbal ones that I can still take include licorice root, turmeric, boswellia, and celery seed.

Burra, yes to the glucosamine too! Over the last 20 plus years I have actually seen the bone changes on x-rays of horses being given glucosamine. The vets used to say it didn't do any good but I've seen too many positive results and I do take it myself.

Glucosamine chrondroiton and so on are good, but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Many arthritis symptoms are a result of an inflammation response to things being eaten. Common inflammatory agents include grain (especially wheat), dairy, nightshades, and so on.

Try a strict elimination diet for a month and see if your symptoms go away.

Best thing i have found is the NOW brand Glucosamine/MSM/Arnica topical lotion. Most vitamin shops don't stock it , but can order it if they have NOW, which is a good brand.
Get 3 or 4 in case the economy tanks.

Takes a couple weeks to work down thru the skin, but a split pea size rubbed in on the spine helps lower back, and the same on my neck, works for my rotator cups, so i can sleep on my side.

Usally about 12 bucks for a years worth of bottle, and no stomach upset like the tabs give you.

is the only way i can keep off of painkillers.

Thank You All , and especially for the gender based responses since I was asking question for both me and my beautiful bride. Personally I was thinking about trying more of a paleo type diet anyway - trying to deal with my middleage crisis { me } . Bone broth supplies glucosamine ?

Glucosamine is in the cartilage of the bones, so choose bones with cartilage, or things like pig's ears.