Herbs For Arthritis

Improve Your Quality of Life With Herbs For Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory illness that affects about one percent of the world’s population, and in my family it has been passed down from mother to daughter for at least 5 generations. It seems I have always lived with the pain of arthritis. I used to just accept the fact that I was helpless to do anything about it. Not anymore. Since I have begun to explore the possibilities of herbal medicine my quality of life has improved and my daily arthritic pain level has decreased markedly. Here is a few of my favorite home remedies.

Balm of Giliad Oil
The resin of popular buds contains salicin, the same painkiller and anti-inflammatory as aspirin. When infused in oil, they have a light, pleasing scent and are very soothing to Arthritis Pain

Crush the dried buds then infuse in organic olive oil following the directions for herb infused oils. I get the best results by applying very low, direct heat for 2 weeks, rather than using a solar heat method. Filter and bottle oil. Balm of Gilead oil makes a great base for salves when thickened with beeswax. Add Juniper, Eucalyptus, and or Marjoram essential oils to create a wonderful soothing balms. Good for soothing deep tissue pain, and tough Arthritis Pain.

Rosemary infused oil is one of my favorite ways to use cuttings from my rosemary plants. Rosemary oil makes a fabulous base oil to massage sore muscles, backaches, and soothe Arthritis Pain. According to Dr. Duke’s database rosemary contains the compounds rosemarinic acids, borneol, thymol and carvacrol, all which help relieve painful muscle spasms.

Tips: Only make small batches, allow fresh cuttings to wilt overnight, to reduce the amount of moisture in your oil. Strip the leaves from the woody stems, and bruise to help release the essential oil. ( a rolling pin works well for this) Infuse using a slow and steady heat source, like a sunny windowsill, or an over set to warm. To reduce spoilage, sterilize your jars, add a tablespoon or so of vinegar to the oil while infusing, and allow to stand overnight to allow any water to separate from the oil. Add and a pinch of Vitamin E oil to the finished oil, if you have it on hand. Store finished oil in a dark colored bottle, and keep in a cool place.

Author: Annie Stage

Annie has been exploring the world of natural herbs and home remedies for years, and writes extensively about home herbal remedies at her website.
http://www.anniesremedy.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Annie_Stage

Information on Arthritis Natural Treatment and Arthritis Foundation Indiana Chapter.