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Arthritis is the conditions that causes pain in the joints. More than 100 types of arthritis affect an estimated 54.4 million adults in the United States. 

The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis (OA) and Rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Osteoarthritis (OA)- It is a very common condition, which affect any joints in the body, especially those joints that bear most of the body weight. Pain, stiffness, and swelling (if there is soft tissue) are common symptoms and can result in decreased functionality in joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)- It is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes arthritis due to the immune system attacking healthy tissue. It causes joint inflammation and pain.

Certain medications can provide relief from the pain of arthritis. However, some people prefer a natural approach at home to manage their symptoms. Some of them are as follows: 

Topical gels

Many topical gels and creams like voltaren gel and capsaicin creams are available in the medical shop, which is an anti-inflammatory pain reliever and help to lower pain. These are usually used, when people cannot take over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever due to heart problem or any other.

Similarly over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever like ibuprofen are also available and can be taken when cream or gels are not giving relief. 

Massage

The previous research has found that massage lowers cortisol level and blood pressure and can lessen the pain of arthritis. A published study in the Journal of "General Internal Medicine", also found that 1-hour whole-body massage lessened pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis. 

Eight weeks of Swedish massage showed significant improvement in symptoms and reduced the pain and stiffness in the joints. 

Yoga

Yoga has shown many benefits like loosening the joints to improve the flexibility and the range of motion. It also releases hormones that bring on a feeling of general well-being. Before practising specific yoga, one should discuss with the healthcare or yoga instructor .

TENS unit

Transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS) works through a device that uses small electrode pads near the pain site, to send an electrical signal that reduces the body’s pain response, by triggering the natural pain-relieving hormones in the brain.

One of the study in trial found that TENS treatments reduced the intensity of pain, but results were inconsistent across trials. Current guidelines on the other hand, advise not to use TENS for osteoarthritis pain, as there is no evidence that it can help.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture comes from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In this treatment, a very thin stainless-steel needles are inserted into the specific points on the body to relieve a range of symptoms. Some research shows that this treatment gives relief to the arthritis symptoms, while some research does not understand how it works.

A review of 43 studies found that, acupuncture treatment when given to patients with rheumatoid arthritis, it provided relief without any adverse effects.

Tai chi

It is a low-impact exercise that incorporates slow and gentle movements to increase flexibility, muscle strength, and balance. Previous research found the effectiveness of tai chi for improving arthritis symptoms. It is also found that a 12-week course of it was beneficial in reducing pain and stiffness. 

Swimming

Swimming is another important way that provides ease on the joints due to the decreased effect of gravity on the body’s movements. It is a gentle way to move the impacted joint and maintain muscle strength. Published data suggested that exercises in water, decrease pain by focusing on strength, endurance, balance, and stretching and also improved range of motion. 

Heat therapy

Heat therapy can be one of the best natural remedies for arthritis having chronic pain. It works by expanding blood vessels, which increases the blood and oxygen flow to the injury site. A hot compress or warm shower, heating pad for about 20 minutes, can loosen stiff tissue and help lessen the pain of sore muscles.

Mindfulness meditation

Meditation can help your brain to relax and release endorphins, natural pain relievers and thus ease pain. Research suggest that practising mindfulness meditation may help improve joint stiffness and thus reduce pain, that result from chronic symptoms.  Research also showed that those who underwent meditation training reported a reduction in symptoms of RA. 

Omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3s are a type of essential fatty acid that are found in fish oil supplements and also in vegetarian forms. It converts into an anti-inflammatory in the body and has many proven beneficial effects in treating arthritis.

One clinical review also suggest that omega-3 supplements results in significant decreases in joint pain when compared to other who were not taking these supplements. 

Source of Omega-3 fatty acids includes cold-water fish , such as salmon, tuna, and sardines, nuts, seeds etc. People can also take omega-3 supplements.

Summary

While there is no cure for arthritis, many natural remedies are available that can help to reduce pain, swelling, and stiffness in arthritis patients.  If natural treatment are non-responsive, a person should speak to their doctor.