4 Herbs That Are Good For Managing Joint Pain

Joint pain can occur due to osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or an old injury. It can be the result of doing too much manual labor or of exercising excessively. Regardless of what causes your joint pain, you're likely looking for a way to manage it. Consider herbal medicine. Therapeutic herbs are generally safe, and there are several that are commonly used to manage pain in the joints. 

Aloe Vera

You may be familiar with aloe vera as a treatment for burns and dry skin. If you take it orally, it can help ease joint pain due to its natural anti-inflammatory properties. Aloe is also easy in the digestive tract, which makes it a good option if other pain relievers and herbs irritate your stomach or intestines. There are aloe vera capsules you can take, or you can purchase a container of aloe vera juice and sip it throughout the day.

Cat's Claw

Cat's claw is a unique herb sourced from the bark of a tropical vine. It has been used for pain relief in some Central American cultures for years. Cat's claw is a particularly good choice for people whose joint pain is due to rheumatoid arthritis since it both relieves pain and supports a healthy immune system. This herb is almost always taken in capsule form, although there are some cat's claw teas available.

Ginger

Ginger has been used to manage a wide range of health ailments and has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. It is not only easy on the digestive tract but it can ease digestive irritation — which you may have if you've been taking NSAID pain relievers for your joint pain up until this point. If you have powdered ginger or candied ginger in your cupboard, you can just take that. When you need to restock, though, consider buying some ginger tea. It's an enjoyable way to get your ginger.

Tripterygium

Sometimes known as "thunder vine" or "thunder god vine," this herbal remedy has a long history of use in Chinese medicine. It's good for easing joint pain due to injuries and overuse since it soothes inflammation throughout the body. Not only can you take it orally, but there are topical preparations that you can rub on the joint.

Now that you know a bit more about these herbal medicines for joint pain, you can decide which is best suited to your needs — and give it a try. Relief is just around the bend.