Joints act as pivotal connections where two or more bones meet in the body. Various joints—hips, shoulders, wrists, knees, elbows, and more—facilitate smooth movements due to the tissues between bones. However, these joints may swell due to fluid accumulation within these tissues. Fortunately, numerous home remedies exist to alleviate swollen joints effectively.
Swelling in joints often signals underlying concerns. Potential causes encompass dislocation, torn ligaments or tendons, gout, bone fractures, osteoarthritis, as well as rheumatoid, septic, or psoriatic arthritis, and sprains. Identifying the root cause is vital for effective treatment and management of joint swelling.
# Apple Cider VinegarWhen dealing with swollen joints, apple cider vinegar can help alleviate some of the pain. Apply the apple cider vinegar directly to the affected area or you can add two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and two tablespoons of honey to a glass of warm water and drink it. The drink should have the same effect as applying topically.
# Epsom SaltsMagnesium is in abundance in Epsom salts. The magnesium helps the muscles to relax while helping to draw extra fluid from the joint tissues. Three times a week, take 15 to 20 baths with a half cup to a cup of Epsom salts and you should see some kind of improvement.
# Ice and HeatIce packs can help the inflammation itself goes down and give the added benefit slightly numbing the affected area. A heating pad helps to get the blood flowing and this in itself can relax joints and muscles, thus easing the pain. You can use one for 10 minutes and then switch over the other. If that does not work, use one for ten minutes, wait five minutes, and then use the other for ten minutes.
# GingerGinger has components that stop inflammation and the stop of inflammation should lessen the pain that you are feeling. You can get ginger tea or add the spice to your meals. There are also lotions with ginger in it that you can buy over the counter or you can add ginger powder to lotions of your own to apply to the affected area.
# TurmericTurmeric works very much in the same way as ginger, but it is much stronger. Many studies have shown that turmeric is just as strong as ibuprofen. You can get turmeric in teas and lotions.
# R.I.C.EThis tip one that works for sprains and strains though should be able to help with breaks as well as the uncomfortableness in general. R.I.C.E stands for rest, ice, compress, and elevation.
Rest can help your body to heal more quickly; the ice helps to calm the pain and some of the swelling; the compression can be done with a real brace or with simply an elastic-cloth bandage; and elevating the swollen limb above your heart can help the swelling to go down.
# ExerciseWhen you are suffering from swollen joints, the movement might be the last thing you want to do. However, gentle movement such as swimming, walking, and yoga can actually help the swelling a lot. Keeping a sore joint still can make the stiffness worse. You do not need to spend too much time (about 20 minutes a day) with exercise and do not push yourself. This tip most for those with arthritis.
# DietThis is another important tip for people with arthritis and gout. You want to keep yourself at a healthy weight. If you are overweight, it is more pressure than needed on your joints and can cause you even more pain. Being overweight can make your joints swell more and make them become stiffer.