5 Secret Natural Arthritis Remedies that Work

You may be familiar with the many natural remedies for joint pain, arthritis and even rheumatoid arthritis (RA).These might include the popular, study driven treatments of turmeric (curcumin); the formula: glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM; as well as tart cherry juice, and Omega-3 fish oils. These along with a low processed, low refined food diet replaced with more fresh, plant-based choices like dark green leafy vegetables, show great results. Yet, these popular natural remedies may not work the best for you or you might want to experiment with others but aren’t sure of what’s available. 

These 5 secret natural arthritis remedies that work also have good science behind them along with centuries of ancient medicinal use. They are considered a secret simply because most people, especially Big Pharma Corp, are not familiar with these at this time. They are remedies that sit on the periphery of mainstream complimentary and alternative medicine (CAM). They are also remedies you may react to more significantly, possibly giving you the natural relief you’ve been searching for. 

Herbal Anti-inflammatories

The compounds found in certain herbs have shown some significant effectiveness on reducing inflammation associated with arthritis. These are some secret herbs that may help (always check with your doctor for contraindications).

• Thunder God Vine

In 2014 the Washington Post reported the results of a study on how the Chinese herb, Thunder God Vine aka Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, or TwHF, helped rheumatoid arthritis. The results cited, 

“207 adults (average age, 51) with rheumatoid arthritis were randomly assigned to take the herb TwHF in pill form three times a day, methotrexate [RA pharmaceutical] once a week, or a combination of the herb and the drug. After six months, the herb and methotrexate yielded similar results, with 55 percent of the herbal group and 46 percent of the methotrexate group registering at least a 50 percent improvement in symptoms such as painful, swollen joints. People who took both the drug and the herb fared best, with 77 percent of that group achieving improvement of 50 percent or more.”

Side effects of TwHF rarely may involve minor gastrointestinal discomfort. 

• White Willow Bark

Often referred to as nature’s aspirin, white willow bark has been known to reduce pain just as well as conventional over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers. 

The Oxford University journal Rheumatology published the results of a six month study of white willow bark extract for low back pain stating,

“About 60% of the patients in each group responded well to the treatment. The improvement was also reflected reasonably well in the physicians’ and patients’ judgements of the effectiveness of treatment, which were largely concordant.” 

White willow bark should only be taken as directed and not on a daily basis. 

• Cat’s Claw

The Arthritis Foundation(AF) reported on a study of another oddly titled herb called Cat’s Claw aka Uncaria tomentosa. It was stated that compounds extracted from the bark and root of a woody vine that grows in parts of South and Central America have anti-inflammatory properties which inhibit the tumor necrosis factor (TNF – secreted by inflammatory cells, which may be involved in inflammation-associated carcinogenesis, initiation of cancer). 

On a protocol of 250-350 mg per day, subjects responded positively to reduced arthritis pain. According to the AF,

“In 2002, the Journal of Rheumatology published a randomized double-blind study of cat’s claw for the treatment of RA. Researchers found in 40 people with RA the supplement reduced joint swelling and pain by more than 50 percent compared to placebo.”

Cat’s claw can cause headache, dizziness and vomiting, and can lower blood pressure, so don’t use if taking an anti-hypertensive medication or blood thinner. Do not use if you have tuberculosis or are taking drugs that suppress the immune system. 

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)

If you ever had to go to physical therapy (PT) you may have experienced transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). A TENS machine delivers minimal electrical currents to muscles allowing your body to dull pain senses and increase the production of the natural pain reliever found in endorphins. 

A study published in the journal Pain Management described TENS as,

“…a non-pharmacological intervention that activates a complex neuronal network to reduce pain by activating descending inhibitory systems in the central nervous system to reduce hyperalgesia [sensitivity to pain].”

A TENS unit can be purchased online through some companies or prescribed by your doctor. 

Alpha-Lipoic Acid

Unless you’re a child of the 60’s, consuming acid may not sound so great. Yet, alpha lipoic acid (LA), which your body makes itself, has been linked to helping reducing joint inflammation. 

In a study by researchers from the Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran, it was confirmed that,

“The results suggested that consumption of 1,200 mg LA per day beneficially affects several inflammatory cytokines including INF-γ, ICAM-1 TGF-β and IL-4. Further investigations are needed to verify the beneficial role of LA on other cytokine profiles among MS [multiple sclerosis] patients.”

Thinking outside the box can sometimes reap great benefits. Try one or more of these 5 secret natural arthritis remedies that work to see if your out-of-the-box thinking pays off.