Currently, more and more people are trying to treat chronic degenerative-dystrophic joint pathology (osteoarthrosis, arthrosis, spondylarthrosis, polyosteoarthrosis, etc. ) at home using traditional medicine. However, as clinical practice shows, it is not worth switching exclusively to non-traditional treatment methods.
With great success, they can be used as an adjunct to the basic therapeutic course, but only after prior consultation with the attending physician. What methods of treating osteoarthritis of various locations can be used at home:
ethnoscience
How can osteoarthritis be treated with folk remedies? Often patients with degenerative-dystrophic joint disease put compresses, rub ointments for arthrosis, rub the affected areas with tinctures, take baths, drink decoctions, etc. Some important points for those who are going to treat osteoarthritis with folk remedies at home:
- The use of any alternative therapy method must be agreed in advance with the physician. If you do not want to harm your health, do not ignore the opinion of an expert.
- Many traditional medicine recipes are well known to doctors. They can easily tell you which ones will be most appropriate for you.
- When preparing ointments, tinctures (tincture of cinquefoil), decoctions and rubs, use only high-quality raw materials, which today can be purchased in pharmacies or specialized stores. Do not buy ready-made medicines from folk remedies.
- Carefully read the composition of the drug. You should not have an allergic or hypersensitivity reaction to any of its components.
- If side effects occur, you should immediately stop using this medication and seek professional medical help.
The use of traditional medicine for osteoarthritis is best combined with traditional methods of treatment.
compresses
At night, almost all patients suffering from osteoarthritis develop swelling of the affected joints and the painful sensations intensify. Compresses will help to cope with these unpleasant clinical manifestations of chronic rheumatic pathology. Among all the recipes, we list the most common:
- Clay compress. Clay and water are mixed to form a homogeneous mass. Then spread on gauze or fine natural fabric. The compress should be placed on the inflamed joint. The duration of the procedure is 60 to 90 minutes. The compress can be repeated every day for a week.
- Compress with cabbage and honey. It is considered one of the most popular recipes in traditional medicine as it does not require much effort to prepare and use. Grab some fresh cabbage leaves before going to bed. Lubricate one side of the leaf with honey and apply to the affected joint. To wrap the entire joint, we need about 3-4 cabbage leaves, pre-lubricated with honey. To increase efficiency, we additionally wrap the joint with polyethylene and wool fabric. As a rule, the compress is put on all night. There are no special restrictions on the duration of the procedure.
- Oat compress. Five tablespoons of oatmeal should be boiled for 7-8 minutes. To get a slimy porridge, you need to take in less water than with standard cooking. After cooking, the porridge should cool down. Then we spread it on a dense fabric, wrap it and apply it to the joint. As in the previous recipe, you can wrap the top with polyethylene and a wool cloth (eg a scarf) to increase efficiency.
- Kefir compress. Eggshells are completely ground into a fine powder. Kefir is added and this mixture is stirred. Then it is wrapped in plain cloth. Apply to the affected joint. From above, we wrap it with polyethylene and a wool scarf.
- Chalk compress and dairy products. Sometimes chalk is used instead of bark. As a rule, a type of chalk is used, which is used in school. Construction chalk is not suitable as it can irritate the skin. Dilute the powder mixture with any dairy product such as kefir, sour cream or yogurt. The mixture should be homogeneous, but thick enough. Apply to the joint, wrapping it with plastic wrap on top. Usually, a compress is placed at night.
- Horseradish compress. Finely chop the horseradish roots. We put it on a slow fire, but we try not to boil the water. We spread the steamed horseradish on a linen cloth. It is then applied to the affected joint. The duration of the procedure should be 2-3 hours.
- Significant relief brings the application of fresh fern leaves. From above, the joint can be wrapped with gauze or plastic wrap.
Many patients use ordinary vacuum bottles as a folk remedy for osteoarthritis, which often have a positive effect.
ointments
In most cases, traditional methods of treating rheumatic pathology include the use of various medicated ointments, creams and gels as topical therapy. Traditional medicine also uses drugs in the form of ointments. Natural herbs are generally used for its preparation. Here is an example of several recipes that can be used to treat osteoarthritis at home:
- Complex ointment. Three types of herbs are taken approximately 10 grams each: sweet clover, hops and St. John's wort. We mix all these herbs in 50 grams of Vaseline. We bring the ointment to a homogeneous state. It is necessary to lubricate the affected joints up to 3 times a day for 10 days.
- External agent based on celandine. Grind the celandine leaves and stems. We will need 3 tablespoons of this medicinal herb, which we put in a small container and add a glass of sunflower oil. It must be insisted for at least 2 weeks. After this period, the solution must be filtered. The resulting external agent can be applied to the affected area with massaging movements every day. The duration of the therapeutic course is about 25-30 days.
- Hellebore ointment. Grind 20 grams of Caucasian hellebore. Then add a tablespoon of vegetable oil, honey and mustard powder. The resulting mixture is heated in a water bath and poured into a small container. According to patient reviews, the ointment is quite effective for pain in the small joints of the arms and legs.
- External agent based on hop cones. We mix hop cones and medicinal Vaseline in a ratio of 1: 4. It is recommended to use it up to 3 times a day for 1-2 weeks.
Treatment of osteoarthritis with folk remedies at home is not able to completely get rid of the disease, but it is quite possible to reduce clinical symptoms such as pain, swelling and inflammation.
Means for rubbing the joints
Both in inflammatory and degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the joints, various types of folk remedies for friction are widely used. To date, these recipes are well represented. Let's look at the most effective:
- Dandelion tincture. You should get a small container made of opaque glass. About half of the bottle is filled with dandelion heads. After that, vodka is poured into it. For the prescription to be effective, the liquid must be infused for at least 30 days. After the required period, the contents of the bottle are filtered. Use the resulting dandelion tincture to rub the affected joints before going to bed.
- Angelica Infusion. To prepare this infusion, you will need a tablespoon of angelica medicinal herb, which we pour into a glass of hot water. Let the liquid infuse for 20 minutes. Then it is necessary to strain, and the infusion can be used as a massage on the affected joints. Multiplicity of use - 3 times a day for 2 weeks.
- Zoster tincture. To prepare a hawthorn tincture, you will need 5 tablespoons of a medicinal plant and half a liter of vodka. Insist for 10-12 days. As time expires, the liquid must be filtered. Apply joster tincture to joint rubs twice a day for a week.
- Scrub complex. In equal parts we take honey, glycerin, iodine solution and alcohol. If there is no alcohol, you can take vodka or natural fruit vinegar. Mix all these components well and let it ferment for two hours. This friction is very effective in relieving pain.
- Medicinal collection for rubbing. We take the following types of plants in a tablespoon: eucalyptus, needles, hyssop and chamomile. Fill the medicinal collection with vegetable oil. Corn or olive oil is also sometimes used. It is recommended to insist on about a day. Apply this massage twice a day. Also, it can be used as a massage lubricant.
- Propolis-based rubbing. A small amount of propolis must be melted (about 70-100 grams). Add sunflower oil. Then cool the mixture and rub it on the affected joint area when pain occurs.
Without receiving the approval of the attending physician, it is not recommended to treat arthrosis using various folk remedies at home.
therapeutic baths
Balneotherapy is almost always prescribed for the treatment of most degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the musculoskeletal system. It should be noted that in folk medicine this therapeutic method is also widely used. Some popular recipes that help with osteoarthritis:
- Mustard bath. We will need about 150 grams of mustard powder, which must be diluted in 2-3 liters of warm water. When diluting mustard powder, primary attention should be paid to ensuring that there are no lumps. Pour the resulting mixture into a standard bath you plan to take. The duration of the procedure is 15 to 20 minutes. After taking a therapeutic bath, we wash off the remains of the mustard mixture under the shower, put on warm pajamas and lie down under the covers.
- Bath with mint. To prepare this bath, dry mint grass is used, collected during the flowering period. The mint is poured into a small iron pot or bucket and poured with water in a ratio of 1: 3. The solution is then boiled for 20 minutes. Also, after boiling, it is insisted for about half an hour. Then, pour the mint solution into the bath. The duration of the bath is determined individually. It is necessary that the body has vaporized. After that, dry and put on warm clothes.
- Medicinal bath. Take three tablespoons of St. John's wort, oregano, calendula, nettle and burdock root. They are insisted separately in a small container with hot water for an hour. Then pour the herbal infusion into the bath. The bathing procedure should not exceed 20 minutes.
Urgent request - if you decide to complement traditional osteoarthritis treatment with several traditional medicines, please consult your doctor first, who will help you choose the most optimal medicines and methods for your use.