Hip pain is a common musculoskeletal health complaint that may be caused by many different factors or conditions. Possible causes of hip pain, notes the Family Doctor website, include hip fractures, bruised hips, osteoarthritis, sciatica and ruptured spinal disc. Tendonitis and bursitis are two other common hip problems. Certain vitamins and herbal extracts may help reduce your hip pain, although it is always wise to visit your doctor before using these natural healing substances for this health purpose.
Hip Pain Info
Hip pain affects Americans of all ages, although most hip pain manifests in older individuals. According to the American Academy of Pain Medicine, hip pain accounts for 7.1 percent of all reported pain cases in the United States. Hip pain describes pain within your hip joint itself or pain that radiates down your thigh or into your groin. Hip pain may be caused by problems within your hip joint or structures in your low back. In many cases, the location of hip pain can help your doctor determine the underlying cause of the problem.
Helpful Vitamins
Certain vitamins may be helpful in treating hip pain or the factors that may be causing it, including vitamins A, B complex, C, D, E and K. Vitamin A, is needed by your body to help repair damaged tissues, while vitamin B complex boosts circulation throughout your body by dilating small arteries, notes certified nutritional consultant Phyllis A. Balch, author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing." Vitamin C possesses anti-inflammatory action. Vitamin D deficiency is a common finding in people with osteoarthritis -- one of the most common causes of hip pain. Vitamin E is important, too, as it possesses antioxidant action and helps improve your joint mobility.
Beneficial Herbal Extracts
Extracts from various herbs may be beneficial in treating your hip pain. Some of the most commonly used herbs for this health purpose include cayenne, corydalis, American skullcap, passionflower, phyllanthus, valerian and willow, writes author Alan R. Gaby, M.D., of "The Natural Pharmacy." Historically, extracts from these herbs were used in treating pain, including pain of a musculoskeletal origin. However, a greater volume of clinical evidence may be needed to evaluate the true health benefits of these herbal extracts.
Considerations
Hip pain, though a common health complaint, may be caused by numerous factors, including serious low back conditions. If you develop the characteristic signs and symptoms of hip pain, report to your primary care provider for assessment and treatment. Your doctor can counsel you on the most beneficial vitamins and herbal extracts to use for this health purpose. Not all vitamins and herbal extracts may be right for you. Some of these natural remedies may cause unwanted health effects within your body.
References
- Family Doctor: Hip Problems
- American Academy of Pain Medicine: AAPM Facts and Figures on Pain
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C.; 2010
- "The Natural Pharmacy"; Alan R. Gaby, M.D.; 2006
