The Mayo Clinic defines joint pain as,
“Joint pain can be discomfort, pain or inflammation arising from any part of a joint — including cartilage, bone, ligaments, tendons or muscles. Most commonly, however, joint pain refers to arthritis or arthralgia, which is inflammation or pain from within the joint itself.
Joint pain can be mild, causing soreness only after certain activities, or it can be severe, making even limited movement, particularly bearing weight, extremely painful.”
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Causes of joint pain
There are a number of causes of joint pain, the most common being,
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid
- Tendinitis
- Strain
- Bursitis
- Arthritis
- Gout
- Sprain
- Injuries that have affected the ligaments or the tendons around the joint or the bursae
- Dislocation
- Leukemia
- Lupus
- Lyme disease
- Rickets
- Underactive thyroid
Joint pains mainly occur in the knees and the shoulders. They are also common in the hip area. The pain ranges from minor to severe, and sometimes is accompanied by a feeling of soreness, swelling and stiffness in one or many joints.
If your joint pain is caused by a degenerative condition, such as arthritis, you need to consult a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment. Also, if you notice the swelling and the soreness last for more than a couple of days, you need to get it diagnosed. In this regard, the MAYO Clinic says,
“See a doctor immediately if your joint pain is caused by an injury and is accompanied by joint deformity, inability to use the joint, intense pain and sudden swelling.”
But why bother a doc for mild joint pain when you can treat it at home, right? Here are the 10 ULTIMATE home remedies for joint pain.
Home remedies for joint pain
1. Massage
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To get relief from joint pain, you need to improve the blood circulation to the affected area and soothe the inflammation. What better than massage therapy to get both the results? Massage, according to a number of studies, helps reduce the pain caused by arthritis, and also helps do away with the stiffness in the muscles. Massage therapy encourages motion in the joint you have affected.
Remedies
- Heat a small quantity of oil. You can use coconut or olive or mustard oil. Garlic and castor oil are also good alternatives.
- Massage the affected area with the oil.
- Apply very gentle pressure while massaging.
2. Hot and cold compresses
Joint pain can be cured by alternating hot and cold compresses. While the heat therapy will allow you to reduce the pain, enhance the flow of blood and calm the sore and swollen muscles and joints, the cold therapy will reduce the inflammation and anesthetize the area surrounding the affected joint.
Remedies
- Use two separate towels for the hot and cold compress. You should not wrap the compresses directly on the skin.
- Now, place the hot compress on the joint that is affected, first, and keep it for about a couple of minutes.
- Remove the hot compress, and quickly place the cold compress in its place. Keep the cold compress for only one minute.
- Keep repeating the remedy for 15-odd minutes, until you get some relief.
A word of caution: If the area around the affected joint is swollen, red or irritated, avoid the heat therapy. If you have problems of blood circulation, do not use the cold compress.
3. Fenugreek
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This is one of the most popular natural remedies for joint pain. Fenugreek has both anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory values, which make it an amazing antidote for joint pain, especially joint pain caused by arthritis.
Remedies
- Ground some fenugreek seeds.
- Once they look dust-fine, swallow a teaspoon.
- Follow this with a glass of lukewarm water.
- This treatment should be done every day, for best results.
- On the other hand, you can soak half a tablespoon of fenugreek seeds in water, and leave it for the night. Next morning, strain the water and eat the fenugreek seeds.
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4. Turmeric
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Turmeric has an active agent, Curcumin, that cures joint pain due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant qualities.
Remedies
- Heat a glass of milk.
- To it, add half a tablespoon of turmeric powder and a teaspoon of honey.
- Mix well, and drink it every night before going off to sleep.
- The other way you can go about this is by taking 250 to 500 mg of turmeric supplements every day. Before you take these supplements consult a doctor about the dosage and the suitability of turmeric supplements to your condition.
A word of caution: Turmeric can interfere with medications like blood thinners, so you need to be careful. Also, it can worsen gallbladder problems, and so if you have this issue, you should stay away from turmeric.
5. Apple cider vinegar
The alkalizing effect of apple cider vinegar is the reason why it is on this list! The vinegar eliminates accumulated toxin from the affected joint and the connective tissues, providing relief in the process. It is also a very rich source of minerals, such as, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and calcium, all of which are crucial for better bones.
Remedies
- In a cup of warm water, add three teaspoons of natural apple cider vinegar and a teaspoon of organic honey. Mix the solution, and drink it three times a day, before each meal. This treatment can be continued on a regular basis as it not only helps with joint pain, but also promotes overall health.
- The affected area can also be massaged lightly with a mixture of apple cider vinegar and olive oil. You can repeat this treatment for as long as the joint pain is there.
6. Cayenne
The capsaicin in cayenne is a natural analgesic, and therefore, it gives relief from joint pain.
Remedies
- Heat a cup of coconut oil. Once it is lukewarm, mix four teaspoons of cayenne pepper powder and apply it on the area surrounding the joint pain. Leave the oil on for 20 to 30 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water. Repeat this remedy a couple of times a day for a week or until the joint pain is relieved.
- You can also use a capsaicin-based cream on the area that is affected.
7. Epsom salt
Since Epsom salt facilitates the absorption of magnesium, a bath with the salt can cure you of mild joint pain.
Remedies
- Draw yourself a warm bath.
- In it, add a cup of Epsom salt, and few drops of essential fragrant oil of your choice.
- Soak yourself in this water for 30 minutes every day or until you get some respite from the pain.
8. Garlic
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Garlic is great for people suffering from arthritis and joint pain because it is rich in both Sulphur and selenium. Selenium is important for arthritic patients as their levels of the mineral tend to be low.
Remedies
- Chew a couple of fresh garlic cloves every day to get relief from joint pain.
- You can also fry 2 garlic cloves with four teaspoons of sesame oil. Once the garlic turns black, remove the pan from the heat. When the oil is lukewarm, massage it onto the affected area. Keep it on for three hours, and wash it off. This treatment should be repeated twice a day for as long as it takes for the pain to reduce.
9. Ginger
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Owing to its anti-inflammatory properties, ginger has a therapeutic effect on muscle and joint pain. According to researchers who are studying extensively about the effects of ginger on osteoarthritis patients, ginger has encouraging results. It is also great for knee pain.
Remedies
- You can drink ginger tea to get some relief from joint pain. To prepare this tea, heat a cup of water. To this, add a small piece of ginger, and let it boil for 8 to 10 minutes. Now remove it from the fire, and strain it. Add a sweetener of your choice (we suggest you use honey in place of sugar). Stir well and drink a cup every day.
- You can also incorporate fresh ginger root in your diet on a daily basis. Dried ginger powder can be a good alternative to the root.
- On the other hand, you can create a blend of ginger, turmeric and fenugreek powder, in equal portions. Consume a teaspoon of this mix every day, once in the morning and again in the evening for most satisfying results.
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10. Stinging nettle
According to exploratory studies, stinging nettle can be a very useful therapy for joint pain. Also, stinging nettle does not have any major side effects.
Though no one knows why exactly stinging nettle alleviates joint pain, experts say one of the reasons could be that the herb contains many active compounds which contribute greatly to reduce inflammation. Also, stinging nettle is a rich source of the mineral boron, which promotes healthier bones and joints.
Remedies
- Heat a cup of water.
- In it, add two tablespoons of dried nettle leaves. Let it boil for about 15 minutes.
- Strain this tea and drink it three times every day for best results.
- Alternatively, you can just place the stinging nettle leaves (make sure they are fresh) on the area surrounding the joint pain for around half a minute. Carry on with this treatment for a week. Though, initially, you will feel slight discomfort, eventually the leaves will cause the pain to go away.
A word of caution: Stinging nettle leaves intervene with our blood thinners and our blood pressure medications. The herb also interferes with diabetes and heart treatments. Use cautiously.
Was this guide on home remedies for joint pain of help? How about sharing some home remedies of your own with us? Find the comment box below! 
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