Home Remedies and Herbs for Rheumatism

Rheumatism is a nonspecific term that refers to medical conditions affecting the body’s joints and connective tissues. The term is commonly used in reference to rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition that leads to joint inflammation and pain.¹ The study of rheumatism is called rheumatology. This area of medicine covers a range of medical problems, including:

• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Osteoarthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Lupus
• Ankylosing Spondylitis
• Connective Tissue Diseases
• Raynaud’s Phenomenon
• Amyloidosis
• Scleroderma
• Sjogren’s Syndrome

Any patient with one of these conditions can be said to have rheumatism.

What Causes Rheumatism?

Rheumatism causes vary depending on the joint condition a patient is suffering from. One of the most common, rheumatoid arthritis, is caused by an interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Age, genetics, and smoking can all impact your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.¹

Another common rheumatic condition, osteoarthritis, can be caused by age and genetic factors as well as excess body mass or previous joint injuries.³ A similar condition, osteoporosis, can be caused by dietary factors or as a secondary condition resulting from hormonal problems. Age and gender also impact your risk for osteoporosis.⁴

With so many conditions falling under the rheumatism umbrella, it’s clear to see that there are many factors at play that can lead to joint problems. While many causes are still unknown, age, weight, and genetics tend to play a large role in many rheumatism conditions.

Rheumatism Symptoms

Rheumatism symptoms typically manifest in pain or tenderness to the body’s joints. You may have a rheumatoid condition if you experience one or more of the following rheumatism symptoms:

• Pain in the joints (including the spine)
• Stiffness in joints, especially after periods of immobility
• Soreness to the touch in joints
• Pain after moving joints
• Worsening of pain from climatic changes like air pressure
• Improvement when warming the area
• Improvement after mild exercise

Natural Remedies and Herbs for Rheumatism

Rheumatism treatment options vary depending on the condition affecting you. To provide some relief, however, talk to your doctor about using the following rheumatism herbal remedies:

• Labrador Tea - This rheumatism home remedy is said to help ease joint and muscle pain. Take it daily, but reduce your dosage if you begin to experience headaches.
• Cibotium - Cibotium is an herbal tea that helps relieve muscle stiffness and pain. Drink it several times per day to help fight rheumatism.
• Cedar Leaf Oil - This essential oil helps fight rheumatism by improving circulation, reducing inflammation, and helping remove toxins from the body.
• Bur Marigold - This rheumatism natural remedy can be brewed into a tea and taken daily to reduce inflammation associated with rheumatism.
• Benzoin Oil - This rheumatism herb is a topical remedy known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Massage it into the affected area to help reduce inflammation and pain.

While rheumatism herbal remedies can help reduce joint inflammation and pain, they should not be used in place of seeing a qualified care provider. Talk to your doctor about taking rheumatism home remedies to ensure they won’t interact with other rheumatism herbs or medications you’re currently taking.

References

1. https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/rheumatoid.htm
2. http://umm.edu/programs/fpi-in-columbia/services/rheumatology
3. https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/osteoarthritis.htm
4. http://umm.edu/programs/spine/health/guides/osteoporosis.htm
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK267/