As we age, the cartilage in our joints gradually wears down and bony spurs may develop, resulting in pain, joint inflammation and loss of movement. Arthritis to some degree may affect as many as 90 percent of all Americans during their lifetimes, reports the Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Traditional treatment includes diet modification, physical therapy and medications. Some natural supplements may ease the pain, while others may help repair damaged cartilage. Consult your doctor before starting a supplement program to treat your arthritis.
Step 1
Take a ginger supplement to ease arthritic joints. The Mayo Clinic mentions ginger as a potential treatment but advises that it may cause heartburn and diarrhea or interfere with medications used to treat blood-clotting disorders.
Step 2
Add a supplement that combines avocado oil and soybean oil. This treatment, also mentioned by the Mayo Clinic, may benefit some arthritis sufferers by repairing damaged cartilage in the joints.
Step 3
Increase your intake of vitamin C. The Reader's Digest suggests taking up to 500 milligrams of vitamin C daily to increase your body's production of collagen, a lubricating joint substance. Higher dosages may be more beneficial, but talk to your doctor before taking more than 500 milligrams per day.
Step 4
Get more sun or take a vitamin D supplement to encourage collagen production. Follow the recommendations on the supplement bottle or consult your physician for dosage recommendations.
Step 5
Combine a vitamin E supplement with a fish oil capsule, suggests the Reader's Digest, to help your joints fight inflammation from arthritis. You may also take either supplement by itself, but be aware that either one may cause blood thinning.
Step 6
Boost your calcium intake. In addition to eating dairy products, add a supplement to bring your daily intake up to 1,200 milligrams of calcium per day. To increase your body's absorption of calcium, take a vitamin D supplement at the same time.
Step 7
Take a vitamin B-complex supplement to provide your joints with the vital nutrients they need to build protein, which contributes to the production of cartilage.
Things You'll Need
- Ginger supplements
- Avocado/Soybean supplements
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Calcium
- Vitamin D
- Fish oil
- Vitamin B-complex
References
- Mayo Clinic: Osteoarthritis: Alternative Medicine
- Reader's Digest: 6 Supplements for Arthritis Sufferers
- "Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine, Volume 3"; Jacqueline L. Longe; 2005
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