Osteoarthritis: Treatment lies in your menu

It is a common knowledge that our eating habits determine our state of physical wellbeing to a great extent. Hence, researchers lay enormous emphasis on the importance of what we consume, more so, when it comes to chronic ailments like osteoarthritis.

It is precisely for this reason that herbs play a vital role in dealing with osteoarthritis. Here’s more on how these natural products work in the treatment of Osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis or the Degenerative Joint Disease, basically results from the wear and tear of joints, causing the cartilage in them to breakdown. Once the cartilage breaks down, the joints lose their protective cushion. This in turn leads to direct friction between the bones and reduces the smooth movement of joints causing excruciating pain every time there is movement.

People heading towards osteoarthritis may experience deterioration of joints due to constant bone rubbing in the absence of cartilage, fluid accumulation in joints, structural changes and bony overgrowths.

Generally, this problem affects the joints of knees, ankles, hips, neck, fingers and spine. If not managed at an early stage, this chronically painful situation might aggravate and over a period of time results in loss of mobility in the patient.

As more and more people are suffering from this disease world over, researchers are trying out different therapies, especially the herbal and more natural methods, to tackle this problem.

This disease, which is caused mainly due to obesity, low mineral density, Vit-C, calcium and Vit D deficiency; of late started effecting people in their late forties. You can effectively fight this disease through dietary changes and adding of some herbs in your daily routine.

The most important prerequisite for the treatment of the disease is to identify the inflammatory elements of your diet. Either completely remove them from your menu or introduce the herb -- ginger.  Ginger helps fight inflammation and pain in the joints caused due to bone friction during movement.

A few other herbs known to cause the same effects are Cat’s claw, Boswelia, Stinging needle and Devil’s claw.

Introduction of avocado and soybeans oil extracts in the diet is also known to help prevent osteoarthritis by simply reducing cartilage breakdown. Even Willow bark, from the Willow trees commonly found in India proves an efficient pain-killer and analgesic.

However, it is important to know that many herbal remedies are known to intervene with ongoing medications of the patients. Therefore, before introducing any of the above mentioned or any other herbs in your routine, it is important to consult your doctor to avoid any harmful side-effects.

And while you are at it, you might as well reduce fatty, non vegetarian foods from your diet. This has known to help many. Dieticians also suggest a complete removal of dairy products from the diet as well. Instead a Vit C rich diet, full of green leafy vegetables, fish, regular Vit-D and calcium supplements, as well as foods with high glucosamine and chondroitin content, are sure to help in treating osteoarthritis.

In general, with a timely introduction of the right herbs (only after consultation with a professional), regulated diet and lifestyle changes like elimination of alcohol, tobacco and coffee; it is possible to keep osteoarthritis at bay, the natural way.