Numerous herbs may help treat your knee pain. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, or NIAMS, knee problems are common, occur in people of all ages and often are the result of disease or injury. Knee pain ranges from mild to severe, depending on the cause. Before taking herbs to help treat your knee pain, talk with your doctor about possible side effects and proper dosage.
Willow Bark
Willow bark is an herb that may be helpful for treating your knee pain. According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, or MSKCC, willow bark, also known as Salix alba, treats numerous health problems, including fever, headaches, influenza and excess body weight. Willow bark, which contains salicin -- a phytotherapeutic precursor of acetylsalicylic acid, or aspirin -- also treats muscle pain and inflammation, both of which may be responsible for your knee pain. Dr. Sharol Tilgner, a naturopathic physician and author of the book "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth," states that willow bark is an astringent, anti-inflammatory and analgesic. Willow bark, notes Tilgner, may be especially effective for fevers, headaches and rheumatism. Before taking willow bark to help treat your knee pain, talk with your doctor about possible side effects and proper dosage.
Wintergreen
Wintergreen is an herb that may be beneficial for treating your knee pain. The website Botanical states that wintergreen, also known as Gaultheria procumbens or mountain tea, is a small, shrubby, creeping evergreen plant that grows to a height of about 5 to 6 inches. It is often found under trees and shrubs, especially rhododendrons. Wintergreen grows in large patches on sandy and barren plains and on mountainous tracts. The leaves of the plant are used medicinally. According to Dr. William A. Mitchell Jr., a naturopathic physician and author of the book "Plant Medicine in Practice," wintergreen is a tonic, stimulant, astringent, anti-inflammatory and aromatic that contains salicylates, or pain-relieving chemicals. Mitchell states that wintergreen oil can be applied topically to treat myalgia, or muscle pain. Before taking wintergreen to help treat your knee pain, talk with your doctor about possible side effects and proper dosage.
Yucca
Yucca is an herb that may be effective for treating your knee pain. According to Botanical, the succulent plant yucca grows throughout the southern United States. Native Americans used the leaves medicinally for hundreds of years to treat numerous health problems, including psoriasis, dandruff, hair loss, skin sores and joint inflammation associated with rheumatism and arthritis. Tilgner states that yucca is an antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory whose taste is astringent, slightly acrid and soapy. Yucca, a member of the Agavaceae family, is particularly helpful for treating arthritis, including knee arthritis. Tilgner notes that if you are pregnant, you should avoid taking yucca, unless you are under the guidance of a qualified health care professional. Before taking yucca to help treat your knee pain, talk with your doctor about possible side effects and proper dosage.
