Joint diseases with the current development of medicine can not be completely cured. Science does not stand still, but a drug has not yet been found that can restore tissue damaged by pathology. Patients should try all kinds of medications and methods in search of a cure. Often, traditional medicine can not provide an effective way. And then the patient begins to wonder how to treat osteoarthritis of the knee joint with folk remedies.
The pros and cons of traditional medicine
Traditional medicine for osteoarthritis of the knee joint is used quite often. The disease is difficult to treat, limb mobility is gradually limited. Even traditional therapies focus only on relieving pain and preventing complications. Patients and doctors are ambivalent about traditional medicine, but they still use it when traditional medicine does not bring the desired result.
Treating knee osteoarthritis with folk remedies has both disadvantages and advantages. Pros include:
- availability and low cost of most materials;
- many herbs help strengthen the immune system;
- few side effects;
- ease of use.
The raw materials used to treat the knee with folk remedies are often included in the preparations of pharmaceutical companies. Therefore, in most cases alternative medicine is safe if the doses and rules of use are followed. It is also worth noting that the recipes that people use to treat knee osteoarthritis are passed orally and have stood the test of time. However, care must be taken. Before using any medicine, tell your doctor and listen to his recommendations.
Like any other method, popular methods also have their drawbacks:
- risk of allergic reactions;
- many methods are denied by traditional medicine, their effectiveness has not been confirmed by research;
- some of the recipes available online or published on the pages of newspapers and magazines are inaccurate. For example, they may contain incompatible components;
- the same plant material produces a different effect, for example, herb or fruit of different degrees of maturity, etc.
Doctors for the most part are sympathetic to the use of traditional medicine prescriptions for this disease. Moreover, they themselves sometimes advise the patient on some methods. But for treatment to be effective, it must be comprehensive. Therefore, using folk remedies, you should not refuse even traditional medicine.
Effective methods of treatment
Basically, the popular folk recipes for knee osteoarthritis suggest how to prepare medicines that have anti-inflammatory effects. The effect is achieved by accelerating local metabolic processes. This allows you to relieve pain, thus improving knee mobility and suspending pathological processes.
Traditional medicine in this case is not limited to decoctions and ointments. It, like the traditional one, involves many techniques and methods of influence. Most often, all kinds of ointments, rubs, compresses and applications are used, namely local agents. It is their effect that is most noticeable. Rarely, infusions and decoctions are used for oral administration.
It is important to remember that alternative medicine is most effective in the early stages of pathology. So, treatment of grade 2 knee joint osteoarthritis with folk remedies will no longer show such a good result as at the onset of the disease.
Local compress
It is hard to imagine treating knee pain with folk remedies without bandages. This form of treatment is often preferred by patients. The compress improves blood microcirculation, thus relieving inflammation and swelling. This makes the joint looser, facilitates the movement of the limbs. A big plus of compresses is that they can usually be made from products that are always on hand.
Consider popular recipes:
- Oat compress. Pour boiling water over 5 tablespoons of Hercules. There should not be too much water. Cook the flakes on low heat for 8-10 minutes. The porridge should be viscous, not thick or liquid. Cool the mass and wrap it with cheesecloth or natural fabric. Apply to sore knee for several hours. Can be fixed to the foot with plastic wrap and left overnight.
- Horseradish compresses. The root is crushed, covered with water and placed on low heat. Do not let it boil, just let it evaporate while the water heats up. Then shake the water, but do not squeeze it. Wrap the horseradish with cotton and apply on the knee for 2 hours. This recipe helps relieve pain.
- Cabbage compress. You need vegetable juice. Dip a woolen scarf in the juice. Apply to wrists before bed. You can use a cabbage leaf dyed with honey. Then fix with foil. It is convenient to leave such a compress overnight.
As you can see, all components are completely safe. They can only harm those who suffer from allergies. Compresses should be applied until the main symptom - pain - is relieved. You can perform the procedure every day, but it is recommended to take a break after a course of 21-30 days. It is more convenient to apply compresses at bedtime and leave them on overnight.
Tincture and decoction
Tinctures are made with alcohol or water. Plants or their ingredients are used as raw material. Some infusions and decoctions can be used inside, while others are used to prepare compresses or ointments. Infusions and decoctions are usually prepared from herbs that have anti-inflammatory effects. You can use funds from one component or from several. But do not forget to study their interactions with each other.
For tinctures and decoctions for arthritis, the following raw materials are widely used:
- lingonberry leaves;
- grass flowers and chamomile;
- chestnut fruit;
- saber;
- birch buds;
- calendula flowers;
- kone hop;
- bar pelin.
Topical application of tinctures and decoctions usually has no side effects. Taking them from the inside, you have to be careful. In addition to allergic reactions, they can also cause disruptions in the digestive tract.
It is worth remembering that it is better to use only a freshly prepared product.
Healing baths with herbs
Many patients, constantly looking for an answer to the question of how to relieve pain in osteoarthritis of the knee joint, discover healing baths. The localization of the pathology complicates the procedure a bit. It will be more convenient to make full herbal baths. With their help, the patient not only acts on the knee, but also relaxes, which is also important for treatment.
Baths with pine needles are useful (can be used in conjunction with branches). The raw materials are immersed in hot water, left to bake until the water has cooled to an acceptable temperature and removed. This bath can be done in 20 minutes. Jerusalem artichoke is also used to prepare baths. Some tubers are washed and chopped and then immersed in hot water. Add a tablespoon of turpentine and take a bath when the water has cooled slightly.
For the effect to be visible, the procedure should be performed for 10-12 consecutive days.
Mud therapy
Peloid therapy is often prescribed by doctors for patients with osteoarthritis. The patient is sent to a sanatorium where mud with suitable properties is used. Saki and Essentuki are popular in our country. Such therapy helps speed up recovery, normalize blood circulation, and local metabolism.
In addition to the effect on the joint, therapeutic clay removes toxins and toxins from the body, which positively affects the medication as well. Usually, after rehabilitation in a sanatorium or a resort, the patient marks improvement and is in high mood, which makes further therapy easier.
Applications with medicinal plants
Applications with various additives are performed on patients during physiotherapy in a hospital setting. But at home, you can do such procedures using herb and paraffin wax. Applications are also made from therapeutic clay or clay, which are enriched with decoctions of herbs.
The difference between this method and conventional compresses is that the lotion should have a chemical, thermal and mechanical effect on the affected area. This is achieved by applying to the knee an herbal gruel, which has an irritating effect. You can preheat it to increase the thermal impact. The mechanical effect can be obtained by applying adhesive tape to the knee with the seeds of watermelon, sunflower, melon or buckwheat glued to it.
Rubbing with camphor and fats
In folk medicine is often practiced treatment of joints with camphor oil. The substance is used both in pure form and in a mixture with other ingredients. It is believed that this helps to partially restore lubrication of the joints, but this is a very controversial statement that has not yet been confirmed by mainstream medicine. One thing is for sure - camphor folk remedies effectively relieve pain. For the treatment of knee osteoarthritis 10% oil is needed, but alcohol is also suitable.
Patients notice a positive effect after rubbing with fats. Badger is used more often, less often pork or beef. The latter usually serve as the basis for herbal ointments. Badger fat is also used in its pure form.
Fats and camphor in the form of friction dilate blood vessels, ensuring blood flow to the knee and improving trophism.
Effective wrapping with zombie and honey
There is another effective recipe that contains the answer to the question of how to cure knee joint. Folk remedies often involve the use of mummy - a resinous substance of natural origin. When mixed with bee products, it has a strong analgesic effect. To prepare the drug, it is necessary to combine 100 g of liquid honey and 0, 5 g of zombie.
Wraps are done in the evening and left overnight, while in the morning wash the leftovers. The procedure is repeated for 10 days, after which they take a break for 2-3 days and, if desired, continue the course.
Hirudotherapy
This method does not fully fit the definition of "folk remedies" because it is only possible in one clinic but is still considered unconventional. As shown by the observations of specialists, hirudotherapy is effective for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint. The use of medicinal caterpillars is possible only as part of complex therapy.
The effect is due to enzymes that are injected into the patient's blood during the bite. Thanks to these substances, blood circulation is improved and pain is relieved.
When to give up alternative treatment
Treating the knee with folk remedies is not always possible and beneficial. It should be understood that with 2 and 3 degrees of joint damage, one should first of all listen to the recommendations of doctors. In this situation, traditional medicine will not help, but rather will aggravate the problem. It is necessary to immediately stop unconventional treatment if new symptoms appear, the pain intensifies or an allergic reaction appears. You should also visit a doctor, where you can consult about the appropriateness of using folk remedies.
Today doctors are looking for a cure that would help cure joint diseases without denying natural remedies. As with any medicine, care must be taken not to ignore conventional medicine.