If you are diagnosed with arthritis, you need to deal with joint pain, swelling, and inflammation regularly. However, these symptoms can be easily managed with natural and medical options or a combination of both. Learn the best natural and pharmaceutical options for joint pain relief in this article. Log on to www.doralhw.org for a consultation.

Natural options for joint pain relief
Besides medical treatment, joint pain can be treated at home with the help of certain natural herbs, including:
1. Aloe vera:
Aloe vera is an immensely popular plant for its health benefits. It is also used as an alternative medicine in the form of pills, powder, gel, and leaf. While the majority of people use aloe vera to treat small skin abrasions, such as sunburn, it can be helpful with joint pain as well.
Aloe vera has anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, and anti-rheumatoid properties. These compounds can remove free radicals from the body which reduces inflammation. Aloe vera can be well tolerated by the majority of people and doesn’t cause any negative gastrointestinal effects like NSAIDs, which are commonly used to treat arthritis pain. However, some people may experience some side effects if they take aloe vera like lower glucose levels and interaction with some diabetes medications.
2. Frankincense:
Boswellia serrata, also known as frankincense, is extracted from the resin of the Boswellia tree. It is also used as an alternative medicine for its anti-inflammatory properties. Its resin has a strong aromatic quality, which makes it also a popular ingredient in perfumes, incense, and essential oils.
According to a 2019 review, boswellic acid’s anti-inflammatory effects can be used to treat people with RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis), bronchial asthma, ulcerative colitis, and other inflammatory diseases. Results from these trials found that frankincense capsules may improve pain, function, and stiffness caused by OA. However, these are small studies, more research is required to understand its benefits.
3. Cat’s claw:
Uncaria tomentosa, also known as cat’s claw, is an anti-inflammatory herb found in plants native to South and Central America. A 2020 study found that cat’s claw supplements along with other supplements may improve pain and joint function in people who have knee or hip osteoarthritis. However, researchers said they need further studies to support these findings. Some people may experience certain side effects like nausea, dizziness, low blood pressure, and headache. This herb shouldn’t be used if you take blood thinners, medications that suppress the immune system, tuberculosis, and you’re pregnant.
4. Eucalyptus:
This herb is used for many conditions due to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Its leaf extracts are used in topical remedies to treat arthritis pain. The plant leaves contain tannins, which are chemical substances that reduce swelling and pain related to arthritis. Some people use heat pads later on to maximize the effect. It’s essential oils may reduce pain linked with RA. Make sure you dilute the essential oil with a carrier oil before use.
While research shows the health benefits, the FDA doesn’t approve the purity or quality of essential oils. So, you should consult with your healthcare professional before starting to use essential oils, make sure you research the quality of the brand’s products to get the best essential oil and do a patch test before trying a new essential oil.
5. Ginger:
Ginger can not only be used in cooking but also for medical benefits as well. According to a 2019 study, inflammation and oxidative stress are intricately linked with the pain and severity of joint conditions like RA. Ginger has anti-inflammatory compounds that can work as a natural remedy for easing pain and stiffness in people with osteoarthritis. The study found that ginger may alter gene expression and lower RA symptoms. You can intake ginger in several ways like putting it in tea by chopping small pieces and boiling it for 5 minutes, adding powdered form to baked goods, or grating fresh ginger onto a salad or stir-fry.
It’s unclear whether ginger tea has the active ingredients to relieve symptoms. Consuming ginger in food and drink will be low compared to oral supplements which produce a therapeutic effect. For that, you should consult with your doctor to ensure how much ginger intake you take and or if you need ginger supplementation to get its benefits.
Medication options for joint pain relief
Your doctor may prescribe medication based on the severity of joint pain and other symptoms. It may include:
6. Disease-modifying medications:
These medications are prescribed when you have an inflammatory form of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or psoriatic arthritis. It improves your pain by managing the underlying cause. Luckily, many medications have been developed in recent decades that make disease control possible. Here are some common drugs that control the disease process include:
• Traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs or DMARDs such as methotrexate or leflunomide.
• Biological agents (biologics): these drugs are genetically designed to block or modify the components of the immune system, including B cells, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interleukin (IL).
• Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors: This is a class of drugs that block signaling molecules in cellular processes that lead to the progression of RA.
Make sure you work with your doctor to find the right drug or combination of drugs that work best for you.
7. Oral pain-relieving medications:
These medications are designed to either relieve pain or treat other conditions but are found to relieve pain. Some of them are available over the counter while some require a doctor’s prescription to take. It includes:
• Acetaminophen: This over-the-counter medication can be used to treat mild to moderate osteoarthritis pain. Its prescription version is combined with a narcotic analgesic that is used for short-term pain relief after joint surgery.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): This OTC drug class includes ibuprofen and naproxen sodium, which helps relieve pain. High prescription doses can also lower inflammation. However, some people may experience certain side effects.
• Duloxetine: This medicine is designed for treating depression as an antidepressant, but also approved for treating chronic pain related to osteoarthritis.
• Tramadol: This is a prescription medicine, prescribed when OA pain doesn’t improve by other medication. It is an opioid pain reliever, which can put you at risk of addiction, that’s why its use is highly regulated.
8. Joint injections: These injections are used to treat acute painful, inflamed joints. It includes:
• Corticosteroid injections: These injections can provide quick relief from pain and inflammation. These injections are only recommended for people who are experiencing severe pain and don’t get relief from other medications.
• Hyaluronic acid injections: These injections provide severe pain relief from osteoarthritis. You need to take this injection in series, 3 to 4 injections are given a week apart.
9. Topical medications:
These drugs can be directly applied to the skin of painful joints to relieve pain. It includes sprays, creams, ointments, and patches, and works alone or in combination with the following ingredients:
• Capsaicin: This is a chemical compound found in hot chili peppers that can deplete the nerve cells of substance P, chemical messengers that transmit pain messages.
• Salicylates: These are the same ingredients used in aspirin or aspirin to relieve pain.
• Counterirritants: It has ingredients such as menthol and camphor, that produce a burning cooling sensation that distracts your mind from the pain.
• Diclofenac: This is a prescription NSAID that works similarly to oral NSAIDs to relieve pain.

For joint pain relief, many natural and pharmaceutical options are available. Natural options for joint pain relief can relieve your pain and inflammation but don’t slow down the progress of the condition, but medication can. So, you should use herbal remedies alongside conventional therapies to get better outcomes.

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Your pain needs professional assistance, visit our pain management clinic in Brooklyn today or call to get a consultation. The location at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212 is well-served by public transportation, including many bus routes, and the subway line. Visit our website at http://www.painmanagementbrooklyn.com/ or contact us on +1-347-384-5690 for additional details.