Home Remedies for Joint Pain

Home remedies for joint pain run the gamut from simply not using the affected joint for a bit to filling your kitchen pantry with beneficial teas and juices. Each remedy serves its purpose of making your daily life more comfortable and decreases your chances of needing professional medical assistance. However, if the joint pain persists for more than a few days or becomes more generalized, consult your physician to rule out rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions.

Rest

• Do not use your painful joint. Let your body heal itself for at least a couple of days; this will speed up your recovery process. Lay off aerobics classes or any other jarring activity that could further traumatize the area and cause greater pain or damage.

  While resting, take an over-the-counter medication. There are various anti-inflammatory medications (particularly Advil) that you can easily purchase that will provide pain relief and decrease joint swelling.

Elevation

• Elevate your joint. Lay onto a flat surface such as your bed or sofa. Place your weakened joint onto a pillow that is above your heart level. Use as many pillows as needed to place your joint at the correct height. Elevating the joint will help your blood flow back to your heart, decreasing inflammation.

Using Water

• Immerse your joint in warm water. A warm bath with Epsom salts can be very beneficial for easing joint pain. A warm swimming pool or jacuzzi can serve the same purpose.

  Drink water. Water helps flush your system of toxins and assists in keeping your system healthy.

  Exercise in water. While immersed in warm water, gently stretch your affected joint. The water's natural resistance and buoyancy lessen joint pain without providing any jarring impact on the joint. The warm water loosens up your muscles, increases circulation to the area and can help you have a greater range of motion.

Hot and Cold Treatments

• Apply warm packs to the joint area. Heat treatments can relax your muscles and increase blood flow to the injured area. Place a towel directly on your joint before placing the heat pack on your body, which prevents potential skin burns.

  For the best results, alternate hot compresses with ice packs. Cold treatments "freeze" your affected joint and can provide immediate pain relief. Be sure not to place the ice bag directly onto your skin to prevent ice burn. Use ice for 20-minute increments three to four times daily.

Pantry Help

• Eat and drink healthy items. In particular, drink carrot juice, which is purported to strengthen ligaments. You can also drink papaya-seed tea six times daily to help decrease joint pain. Ingest some apple cider vinegar throughout the day to ease your joint pain; you can drink it straight, or mix 2 or 3 tsp. per dose with some water to make it more palatable. One-half tsp. turmeric mixed with warm water is also recommended, taken three times daily.