Joint pain is usually caused by inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. But joint pain can also develop after a sudden injury. In any case, the synovium, the thin layer of tissue that lines the joints, is involved. There is a lack of sufficient synovial fluid to lubricate the cartilage, or the cartilage itself is eroding away. Fortunately, there's natural help for joint pain, no matter the cause.
Massage
Massage therapy can relieve joint pain and related muscle aches. Massage promotes increased production of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is based on the belief in traditional Chinese medicine that disease is the result of an imbalance of energy. Needles are used to stimulate the meridian points, which are perceived as the channels through which energy travels. As with massage, this form of therapy is thought to increase endorphin production.
Acupressure
Also known as shiatsu, this form of therapy is based on traditional Chinese medicine, as well. Unlike acupuncture, acupressure stimulates the meridian points via pressure with the thumb, forefinger and palm of the hand.
Nutritional Supplements
Omega-3 fatty acids may be of particular benefit for those with rheumatoid arthritis. In a review published in the May 2010 journal Nutrition Reviews, Rebecca Wall and R. Paul Ross describe the importance of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in regulating inflammation. Also known as EPA and DHA, these fatty acids decrease levels of inflammation-producing agents including cytokines and eicosanoids.
S-adenosylmethionine, or SAM-e, protects the synovium and helps restore joint cartilage by blocking inflammatory enzymes, according to Heather Joy Hosea Blewett of the University of Alberta in Canada. In addition, SAM-e appears to stimulate the liver to produce more glutathione, a potent anti-oxidant that typically diminishes with age. SAM-e seems to be better tolerated than conventional anti-inflammatory medications, such as naproxen and piroxicam.
Botanical Therapies
A 2003 study published in Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology showed that curcumin, the active component of turmeric, demonstrated an ability to inhibit certain inflammatory mediators, namely C-reactive protein and interleukin-1 beta.
Borage seed oil is a rich source of gamma-linoleic acid, or GLA. In a 2000 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a team of British researchers reported that GLA reduces inflammation by blocking the action of arachidonic acid, a type of protein obtained exclusively from animal products. This is significant in relieving joint pain because arachidonic acid would otherwise be converted to leukotrienes and other prostaglandins, which produce inflammation.
References
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: Fatty Acids from Fish: The Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Long-Chain Omega-3 Fatty Acids.
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: Exploring the mechanisms behind S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) in the treatment of osteoarthritis.
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: Italian double-blind multicenter study comparing S-adenosylmethionine, naproxen, and placebo in the treatment of degenerative joint disease.
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: Modulation of inflammatory mediators...
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: Evening primrose oil and borage oil in rheumatologic conditions.
