Pain relief

[jnoelj]

Since going raw a little over a month ago, my Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms had diminished until last night. I was in so much discomfort that I could not get any sleep, nor could I move much today. My question is, do any of you have experience, and can share the knowledge of a natural pain reliever, or food that will help with joints? (I know cherries and pineapple have pain relieving properties, but other than that my memory fails me at the moment) I really don't want to take any over the counter pain relievers, but I'm getting desperate!

Thanks

[RowanC]

In my town, Portland, there is a women's spa where for $20 you can go lie in a room filled with HOT sea salt. It is the BEST thing for my arthritis when I'm in pain. They also have a sauna and a steam room and a shower room and a place where you can sit in hot water (not a tub, but a big old barrel!).

If you can, find a hot tub or dry sauna.. the heat really will help.

Also, those microwavable thingies.. I call it my "worm" ... really helps the neck & shoulders when I'm in pain. I even use it up against my right hip when it acts up.

Getting enough water and enough oil in your diet is important. And movement is VERY important. Slow, gentle yoga stretching or callanetics or even tai chi is very very good for the pain.

The other thing that works WONDERS for me is cupping! I just love it. When I'm really in pain, I can cup an area and it will turn almost black under the cups. It relieves the pain immediately for me. I bought one of those guns that vacuums the air from the various sized cups and it was under $30. I love that thing, but you can buy Chinese cups for $2 each if you have someone to place them for you.

Avoid wheat and all grains during a flare up.

Hot rubs like cayenne tincture helps. Ginger tea will help, as will feverfew tea or tincture. Cat's claw can often be found in hispanic markets and is excellent for arthritis pain. And for medical reasons, you may want to consider a cold fish oil daily. or 1 tablespoon of flaxseed daily. grind it up in your smoothie or sprinkle it on your salad. It really will help!

Look for veggies with Zinc.

Alternating hot and cold packs really works. You wouldn't think the cold feels good, but it does. This stimulates the circulation to move out toxins from the joints and painful areas.

10 minutes hot, then 5 minutes of ice, then hot, then ice, finishing with hot.

Swimming is the best exercise for you if you can find a heated pool.

That's about all I can find in my books right now. Many of them are packed away.

Good luck !

[DavidZaneMason]

The capsacin compounds in hot peppers are the same ingredient in many joint pain-reliever remedies.

-David Z. Mason

[jnoelj]

Thanks! Last night was terrible too! I will try the hot water thing this morning. I'm not a big grain eater (never have been), but I am into flax seed, and have some everyday (along with an avocado and coconut). I'm going to try to eat more hot peppers though (what an excuse, eh?) and since I live in a predominately hispanic area, that won't be a problem to find a wide variety! I will try everything else too - except more excercise. That is what really aggravated it last night. I will take it easy and stretch more. Thanks for the input!

[RowanC]

the capsicum is good for putting ON the joints too! It irritates the skin, bringing blood to the area. I hope you feel better today.

Where do you live? Is the weather unseasonably cold or wet? You might have what the older folks refer to as rheumatism, which is a flare up of joint pain during weather changes. If that's true, just keep the joints warm and wait it out... doing what we've suggested during the worst of it. Keeping warm and hydrated and moving are of utmost importance.

[jnoelj]

Actually, I live in So. California of all places! The weather has been going back and forth, but not cold by any stretch of the imagination!

I was pretty surprised when I was diagnosed with the Rheumatiod Arthritis - I'm only 44! Oh well...

[harmony]

RowanC,

Where did you find your massage cups for under $30.00. I have a set but I need another and I haven't found them that cheap...help!

thanks,
Harmony

[startootsie]

Hello!

I have read that as healing progresses, symptoms appear and disappear in the reverse of their original chronological order of appearance. How do you feel about this?

You might just be healing even more then you think!

Love to all!

Christianna