10 Natural Remedies for Arthritis

Fromstiff joints to inflammation, dealing with arthritis can be a pain (literally).Luckily, hitting up your doctor for a heavy-duty prescription isn't the onlysolution. There are a number of all-natural remedies for arthritis (not to goall crunchy granola on you) that experts agree can bring you some relief. Evenbetter: Many of these are probably already in your kitchen cabinet.

Natural Remedies for Arthritis: Tart Cherry Juice

Pucker up! Tart cherry juice can act as anantioxidant—eliminating pain by reducing the stress on cells, says JillianFinker, ND, a naturopathic doctor in Bellmore, New York, and author of It's About Wellness, Naturally.It also helps calm down inflammation by lowering certain proteins that causeswelling. Healthy side effect alert: The fruit elixir increases melatonin,which means it will help you sleep and reduce pain. Sip one to twotable spoons before bed.

Natural Remedies for Arthritis: Ginger

Ginger contains chemicals that help deflateinflammation, says Lawrence Taw, MD, an assistant clinical professor at theUCLA Center for East-West Medicine. If you're not quite sure how to sneak someof the knotty herb into your daily diet, try adding it into some of yourfavorite dishes, like stir-fry, or picking up a instant ginger tea.

Natural Remedies for Arthritis: Boron

This mighty mineralis a pain-relieving powerhouse, says Kimberly Wilson, NMD, a naturopathicdoctor in Plano, Texas. It's found in a variety of foods, including almonds,avocados, broccoli, carrots, chickpeas, and plums. It can be difficult to getfrom food alone, so consider taking a 10mg supplement daily.

Natural Remediesfor Arthritis: Fish Oil

Two types of omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oilcould be just what you need to combat those pesky aches and pains. The oil works bydecreasing inflammation, which gives joints a chance to heal, even in moresevere rheumatoid arthritis cases, Finker says. A typical dosage runs from1,000 to 3,000mg—depending on your weight. Just make sure the fish oil is pureand that it's been tested by a third party for heavy metals and othercontaminants.

Natural Remedies for Arthritis:Acupuncture

A study published in the Archives ofInternal Medicine shows that acupuncture helpseliminate chronic pain associated with arthritis. The exact reason is still a littlecloudy, but it's thought that the treatment helps regulate the body'sperception of pain by promoting the release of endorphins.

Natural Remedies for Arthritis:Turmeric

This spice helps increase jointmobility and health—and it's been shown to be as effective asibuprofen at combating pain,according to Finker. But you can't just throw a few dashes on your favoritedish and expect to be ache-free. You need to take an actual 400 to 800mg dailysupplement (the amount depends on your weight and health).

Natural Remedies for Arthritis:Vitamin D

Vitamin D deficiency can leadto increased arthritic flare-ups and pain, so make sure you're taking a dailyvitamin D supplement to preempt any irritating symptoms or joint dysfunction,Finker says. Bonus: It will strengthen your bones, too.

Natural Remedies for Arthritis:Eat the Right Vegetables

A category of veggies called"nightshades"—consisting of eggplant, peppers, potatoes, andtomatoes—has been linked to increased inflammation. But don't dump all your garden produce. Load up on plenty of anti-starchyvegetables that are high in vitamins A, C, and K—all arthritis-approvednutrients. Spinach, kale, and collard greens are great choices.

Natural Remedies for Arthritis:Glucosamine Sulfate

When the body lacks the capabilityto produce glucosamine (usually due to old age), the cartilage loses itsgel-like nature and ability to act as a shock absorber, which may worsenarthritis pain and joint deterioration, according to Wilson. A good dosage is a500mg supplement three times a day.

Natural Remedies for Arthritis:Thermal Baths

Relief from arthritisdiscomfort and a trip to the spa soundslike a win-win to us. According to Wilson, arthritis sufferers who take a soakin a sulfur bath have less morning stiffness, better walking ability, and lessinflammation, pain, and swelling in the joints. Book a spa sesh pronto.