Arthritis is a common disease in elderly. The severity of arthritis differs from mild to severe arthritis depending on cause of arthritis. The arthritis of the hand is one of the most common type of arthritic observed in all age group. Most arthritis causing pain in hand often results from breakdown of the cartilages that supports the skeletal structure of the hand. We use our hands for almost all task that involves lifting object, writing, eating and using fingers while communicating with each other. So, one can imagine how difficult it must be for a person with arthritis of the hands that restricts all day to day activities as well as suffer with pain and then go on with one’s daily life. Arthritis in hands totally disrupts the quality of life of the patient. The arthritis of the hand causes stiffness, pain, swelling and inflammation of the bones and soft tissue of hand and finger joints.
There are many new medications and treatment available for controlling the symptoms of arthritis. One has to consume these medications for probably the rest of their remaining life. In most cases side effects become significant that leads to several ER visit or visit to physician office. Sometime individual suffering with hand pain secondary to arthritis want to try natural home remedies to prevent further advance in disease as well as control pain. The mild to moderate pain during early phase of the disease as well as stiffness of hand is relieved in most cases with home remedies. Some of these home remedies are available in your very own kitchen. These home remedies are highly effective in improving the symptoms of arthritis of hands thereby improving a person’s quality of life.
Home Remedies for Arthritis in Hands
- Honey and Cinnamon-An Effective Home Remedy for Arthritis in Hands
- Turmeric for Arthritis Pain in Hands
- Olive Oil for Arthritis in Hands—A Natural Home Remedy
- Potato for Arthritic Pain in Hands
- Garlic to Ease the Symptoms of Arthritis of Hands Naturally
- Epsom Salt for Arthritic Pain in Hands
- Castor Oil for Arthritic Pain in Hands
- Hot Water Therapy
- Ice Therapy
- Apple Cider Vinegar for Arthritis in Hands
We have given below some tried and tested home remedies for hand arthritis, for which you don’t even have to step out of your house, as you can find them in your own kitchen.
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Honey and Cinnamon1– An Effective Home Remedy for Arthritis in Hands
The combination of cinnamon powder and honey is very effective in treating arthritic pain in hands, as they have very effective healing properties. Cinnamon contains antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Honey contains antiseptic properties; and when both honey and cinnamon are combined, they help in controlling the inflammation and relaxing the stiffness of the joints. Mix ½ a teaspoon of cinnamon powder with 1 tablespoon of honey and eat this mixture every morning, daily on an empty stomach.
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Turmeric for Arthritis2 Pain in Hands
Turmeric is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties, antiseptic and antibacterial properties and can be effective in dealing with arthritis of hands. Turmeric also helps in protecting the affected finger from micro-organisms. Take a glass of warm milk and mix 1 teaspoon of turmeric and some honey in it and drink it. You can also mix turmeric powder with warm water and drink this daily for relief from arthritis symptoms in hands and finger. Another remedy is, take 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder and add some drops of mustard oil to it. Mix this into a thick paste and apply this paste on to the affected fingers. Leave it for 30 minutes, and then wash it off using lukewarm water. This remedy helps in giving relief from pain, swelling and inflammation of finger joints and hand due to arthritis.
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Olive Oil for Arthritis3 in Hands—A Natural Home Remedy
Olive oil is very beneficial in treating inflammation of arthritis in hands, as it contains a special compound, oleocanthal, which prevents the production of COX-1 and COX-2 pro-inflammatory enzymes. For reducing the arthritis related pain and inflammation in hands or joints; olive oil can be used in cooking. It can also be used for massaging on the hands and fingers. For massaging the hand and finger joints, take equal quantities of warm olive oil and lavender oil and mix them. You can use this mixture to massage the hand using gentle strokes.
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Potato for Arthritic Pain4 in Hands
Potato is a natural source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents, which is why it is beneficial home remedy in treating hand arthritis. Cut a medium-sized potato into thin sections without taking the skin off. Put these potato pieces in cold water overnight. Strain this solution the next day and drink this potato juice on an empty stomach daily. This raw potato juice helps in giving relief from arthritis pain and helps in relieving the stiffness of the hand and finger joints and thereby making them more flexible.
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Garlic to Ease the Symptoms of Arthritis5 of Hands Naturally:
Garlic is another kitchen ingredient which can be used as an effective home remedy in treating arthritis of hands. Garlic has an anti-inflammatory property which reduces the pain and inflammation of the arthritis. Garlic also contains, allicin, which is a compound that helps in preventing the reproduction and growth of micro-organisms, which aggravate the symptoms of arthritis. You can consume garlic daily, either in raw or cooked form, according to your preference. Another way is to heat some garlic cloves in mustard oil, then let this oil cool down. You can use this oil concoction for gently massaging your hands and fingers many times a day for relief from arthritis in a natural way.
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Epsom Salt for Arthritic Pain6 in Hands
Epsom salt contains magnesium sulfate. The published research data suggests, injection of magnesium sulfate inside the joint reduces the symptoms of osteoarthritis. Magnesium sulfate enhances oxygen usage by cells and tissue. Magnesium sulfate also prevents hardening of the arteries and formation of blood clots. Mix some Epsom salt in warm water and soak your painful and arthritic hands in this solution for 30 minutes daily. This is very effective home remedy in alleviating the inflammation, muscle stiffness, and pain in the hands and finer due to arthritis. Another method is to mix two handfuls of Epsom salt, one handful of rock salt, juniper oil and fennel oil in warm water. Soak your hands for 15 minutes daily in this concoction. This home remedy is also beneficial in alleviating pain, stiffness, and inflammation of the arthritis.
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Castor Oil for Arthritic Pain7 in Hands
Castor oil has potent medicinal and curative properties. Castor oil is a vegetable oil produce from castor beans. Ricinoleic acid is a fatty acid which is present in castor oil and it has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and analgesic properties, which help in giving relief from arthritis pain naturally. Castor oil can be used to gently massage the affected hands about twice a day. Another remedy is, take 2 tablespoons of castor oil and boil it. Add this to a fresh glass of orange juice and drink it on an empty stomach. In a few weeks, you can see improvement in your arthritis pain.
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Hot Water Therapy 8
Moist heat application and warm compresses are very effective home remedy in relieving finger joint pain from arthritis. Warm compresses help in encouraging blood circulation, which in turn helps in relaxing the stiff muscles and joints. You can soak a towel in hot water and wring the excess water out of it and put it on your hands and fingers. Do this many times a day and you will find improvement in movements of your hands and fingers. If you do light exercises along with using warm compresses, then it will help you more.
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Ice Therapy 8
A simple home remedy of cold application and ice therapy also can be done for hand arthritis, as it helps in reducing irritation and soreness of the hands and fingers. You can use ice packs or a fill a plastic bag with crushed ice or frozen greens from your refrigerator. Put this cold pack on the affected area for some few seconds. Repeat this process a few times and make sure you are applying the cold compress to one or two joints at a given time and always, always use a thin towel in between the ice pack and your hands/fingers to prevent frostbite. Cold therapy has a different affect in different people.
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Apple Cider Vinegar for Arthritis in Hands
Apple cider vinegar contains natural anti-inflammatory and alkalizing properties which help in decreasing pain and stiffness in the fingers and hands caused due to arthritis. Mix 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, some honey to a glass of warm water and drink this daily. Another method is, warm some apple cider vinegar and add some amount of cayenne pepper to it and mix it into a paste. Apply this lukewarm paste to your painful finger joints and leave it there for around 10 minutes. This will help you in giving relief from the pain, stiffness and soreness of hand arthritis.
So, as you can see, we have given you some common and effective home remedies for arthritis in hands. Keep in mind that these home remedies are helpful in relieving the pain caused due to arthritis but it cannot reverse the damage to the joints caused due to arthritis. However, you should also follow the treatment given by your doctor and combine this with light exercises and physical therapy for better improvement in joint movements of the hands and fingers.
References:
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Cinnamon Consumption Improves Clinical Symptoms and Inflammatory Markers in Women With Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Shishehbor F1, Rezaeyan Safar M2, Rajaei E3, Haghighizadeh MH4., J Am Coll Nutr. 2018 May 3:1-6.
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Efficacy of Turmeric Extracts and Curcumin for Alleviating the Symptoms of Joint Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.
Daily JW1, Yang M2, Park S2., J Med Food. 2016 Aug;19(8):717-29
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Anti-inflammatory and joint protective effects of extra-virgin olive-oil polyphenol extract in experimental arthritis.
Rosillo MÁ1, Alcaraz MJ2, Sánchez-Hidalgo M1, Fernández-Bolaños JG3, Alarcón-de-la-Lastra C1, Ferrándiz ML4., J Nutr Biochem. 2014 Dec;25(12):1275-81.
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Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis with Dietary Interventions
Shweta Khanna,1 Kumar Sagar Jaiswal,1 and Bhawna Gupta1,*, Front Nutr. 2017; 4: 52.
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Garlic: a review of potential therapeutic effects
Leyla Bayan,1 Peir Hossain Koulivand,1 and Ali Gorji1,2,*, Avicenna J Phytomed. 2014 Jan-Feb; 4(1): 1–14.
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Intra-articular magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) reduces experimental osteoarthritis and nociception: association with attenuation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunit 1 phosphorylation and apoptosis in rat chondrocytes.
Lee CH1, Wen ZH, Chang YC, Huang SY, Tang CC, Chen WF, Hsieh SP, Hsieh CS, Jean YH., Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2009 Nov;17(11):1485-93.
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Comparative clinical trial of castor oil and diclofenac sodium in patients with osteoarthritis.
Medhi B1, Kishore K, Singh U, Seth SD., Phytother Res. 2009 Oct;23(10):1469-73.
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The Efficacy of Thermotherapy and Cryotherapy on Pain Relief in Patients with Acute Low Back Pain, A Clinical Trial Study
Morteza Dehghan1 and Farinaz Farahbod2, J Clin Diagn Res. 2014 Sep; 8(9): LC01–LC04.
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