How To Use Herbs For Joint Pain

Especially in the morning, the joints can be painful and prone to stiffness. Getting out of bed and going to the bathroom becomes all the more difficult. For rheumatism or other joint problems, it is therefore not only necessary to fight the cause, but also to relieve the pain in a timely manner, so that you can start the day with more enthusiasm and joy. 

The causes of joint pain vary. Often with increasing age, the cartilage layer which protects the bones in the joint, usually decreases, creating uncomfortable friction within the joint. Also, diseases or risk factors such as rheumatism, gout, arthritis, obesity or mental distress can cause discomfort in the joints. 

The most pain-affected areas tend to be the knees, the back, the cervical or lumbar vertebrae, the finger and toe joints. Occurring symptoms include not only pain but also redness, stiffness, and muscle tension that results from the pain. 

It is therefore vital that a doctor first make a correct diagnosis, who can then suggest the appropriate remedies in your individual case before beginning self-care with medicinal herbs.

How Herbs Can Help

Using herbs is one of the best natural ways to ease the pain. Not only traditional medicines help against rheumatism, but also healing herbs can be used as effective support in the fight against mild joint pain. The curative power of nature, which can bring significant relief even in aching joints, is the marigold or arnica. Both medicinal herbs are available in the form of an ointment to buy in almost every pharmacy. 

These herbs are nowadays used as low-side-effect support for drug therapy, for example in rheumatism, or as a home remedy for mild joint pain. Certain herbs, such as arnica, have traditionally proven to be helpful against these joint complaints. The following selection of natural medicinal herbs that can be used against rheumatism and other joint problems and can be a delicious addition to your herbal recipes. 

Stinging Nettle
Stinging nettle is a classic and well-known medicinal herb which can be used in a variety of ways to help with joint pain. This includes tinctures and even smoothies. A smoothie that contains stinging nettle allows the body to access a full range of healthy nutrients such as flavonoids, carotenoids, vitamins and mineral salts. The herb also has dehydrating and anti-inflammatory effects.

Cannabis
Medicinal cannabis can easily be purchased online from a Cannabis company, and have been used to treat pain for thousands of years. Among others, applications have been described as an analgesic for surgery, as an anti-inflammatory agent, as an antidote for gout, against neuralgia (nerve pain), migraine, toothache, and also as a remedy for painful menstrual cramps. 

The mechanisms of action for pain therapy by cannabinoids are very well researched and proves to have a considerable effect over several uses. The inhalation of cannabis is often avoided, as the results are short-lived and must, therefore, be given several times. The oral administration of cannabis is consequently usually preferred because the duration here is many times longer and thus even chronic pain can be treated.

Marigold
Applied internally, the marigold can be invigorating and anti-inflammatory due to its ingredients such as flavonoids and saponins. Used externally, it nourishes pain and strengthens the tissues. It is also often used in many creams and other cosmetics because of its nourishing and anti-inflammatory character.

Arnica
This yellow-flowering plant contains essential oil, tannins, and flavonoids and combats inflammation in joint pain. In addition, the herb has a decongestant effect.

Rosemary 
The aromatic herb rosemary with its contained essential rosemary oil is said to have a circulation-promoting effect and is therefore considered as a tonic in joint complaints helpful.

Hay Flowers
Hay flowers consist of several plants, for example, couch grass or meadow grass. Essential oils and coumarins in the flowers can also help to relieve pain and at the same time have a relaxing effect.

How To Use The Above Herbs

The uses of medicinal herbs for joint pain vary depending on the optimal effect on the areas to be treated. Some herbs help best internally, some more externally. The following forms of preparation have been proven in certain herbs:

Teas
Hot tea like infusions can be made, for example, from nettle leaves or willow bark. Willow bark tea should last for around ten minutes, and stinging nettles should be enough for five minutes.

Bathing
An infusion of hay flowers or rosemary can be used for bathing. For this, pour 500 grams of hay flowers with 3-4 litres of water and let it soak for 30 minutes, then add to the bath water. Or you can take 50 grams of rosemary on 1 litre of water.

Tinctures
Tinctures of arnica, calendula or rosemary are applied externally to the affected areas. For this, you need to mix 250 grams of the flowers with 500 millilitres of alcohol (for example, a spirit of wine) and leave the mixture in a sunny place for 3-4 weeks. Then filter and pour the finished tincture into a dark bottle.

It is sometimes helpful to combine herbal treatments for joint pain with heat. For example, an arnica tincture can also be applied to a warm damp cloth, which can be used to wrap around the aching joints several times a day. 

Conclusion

For joint complaints, the variety of medicinal herbs from nature is vast, and in many cases has fewer side effects than chemical drugs. Nevertheless, you should consult a doctor for symptoms or complaints. Joint problems can be very individual, and other diseases should first be excluded, which, in case of pain, affect the joint structures. Thus, a diagnosis can only be made by medical specialists. 

Support with natural remedies is generally still possible after consultation with their doctor.  Many of these traditional herbal-based medicines are freely available in the pharmacy and tested as effective.

In addition to using herbs, other particularly effective types of treatment include the application of healing clay, which is placed on a cloth and placed around the painful joint like an envelope. Also, exercise should always be on the programme every day, but this should be done very gently and without any noticeable excitement. Lastly, smearing fat on the joints as well as cooling the painful areas with ice relieves the pain and soothes the inflammation.
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