What You Need To Know About Arthritis, Herb, Rheumatoid Relief

If you have unexplained pains in your bodily joints (knees, hips, fingers, toes, neck) then you need to see a doctor. You might have arthritis. And, since arthritis is an umbrella term for over one hundred kind of illnesses and afflictions, you need an accurate diagnosis as to what kind of arthritis you have. You may choose to treat your pain with a known arthritis herb. Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most usual types of arthritis. Any herb touted today as an "arthritis herb", rheumatoid arthritis is most likely the only kind of arthritis the herb will help.

Grasp The Nettle

There are many herbs touted as an anti arthritis herb, rheumatoid or otherwise, but the only personal experience this writer has had with herbal treatments for inflamed joints has been with stinging nettle.

Yes, stinging nettle, otherwise known as Urtica dioica. It bloody well hurts when you brush your hands or toes on the jagged, emerald green leaves. Get used to the pain. If you grasp the nettle firmly, oddly, it doesn't hurt. So, what can you do to best help this anti arthritis herb, rheumatoid or otherwise help you?

Herbal Preparations

I have only tried using stinging nettle as an anti arthritis herb, rheumatoid pain relief, on my hands, wrists and ankles. At the time, I could not get to a doctor, but I could get to a field of fresh stinging nettles. I wish I could have gone to a doctor first.

Anyway, I brushed my aching joints across the nettle leaves. God, did it hurt. Actually, in the level of pain, bee stings and paper cuts are much worse. Within a few minutes, I realized that the only pain I was feeling was the nettle sting and not the aches in my joints. Resist the urge to scratch. If you use fresh nettles continually, you get used to the pain.

Another thing I would do is drink at least one cup of nettle tea a day. I often made my own, but there are delicious and nutritious ready made nettle teas available. Nettle is an overall tonic and blood purifier as well as an anti arthritis herb, rheumatoid or swollen joints. I drank it straight, but you might prefer adding honey or crown sugar. The benefits of the nettle tea do not come right away, but over time.

And I am not alone in touting stinging nettle as an anti arthritis herb, rheumatoid painkiller. The University of Plymouth did a scientific study in 2000 of fresh stinging nettles on subjects with rheumatoid arthritis, and found that 63% found it helpful.