Arthritis
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Arthritis - Editor's Choice

Over the years, Earth Clinic readers have sent us many reports about their treatments for Arthritis. The editors at Earth Clinic consider the below posts to be some of the most helpful and informative and have named them 'Editor's Choice'. We hope that you will find this useful.
The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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Pectin in Grape Juice

Posted by Tony Walker (Knoxville, TN) on 07/29/2024
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

In response to "arthritis in my hands and wrists and bad knees", A simple inexpensive solution that removes all pain for many people is to mix one oz. of canning "pectin" in 12 oz. of hot water then mix that into 1/2 gal. "Concord Grape-juice" and drink a glass each day that you have arthritis pain. This I do about once a month or every other month whenever the pain shows up and then it is gone within 6-48hrs.

Borax

Posted by Golfwrench (Tigerville, South Carolina) on 07/22/2023
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I've been a wrench (mechanic) for nearly 40 years and over that time developed arthritis in my hands to the point that if I tried to make a fist, my knuckles weren't even visible. I started using the recommended dose for women several weeks ago and within the first week my knuckles became visible again and it hurt less to make a fist. Well now, I'd say most of the swelling is gone and the pain is not nearly what it once was.

I also had pain in my shoulders and neck from various injuries over the years and the pain seems to be lessened in those areas as well. My range of motion seems to be increasing week by week and I'm gonna stay on the borax for life as long as I see no adverse reactions, and so far, there have been absolutely none! I can't thank you enough for this website! Gonna try other remedies I find here as well!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Erin (Calgary) on 05/15/2021
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I've taken Apple Cider Vinegar for 30 years. Took a break for 2 or three years, I just always felt amazing. Lately, I've been super stiff. Joints, body, etc. Groaning when getting up, all that stuff. I started using Apple Cider Vinegar on my fish sticks and fries (I like salt and vinegar on fish and chips). I use like 6 or 7 cap fulls at a time on it. A couple capfuls per stick. Of course, after like 3 days of doing that, I'm magically, completely NOT stiff anymore.

I don't like drinking it in water, but I will. I prefer to just put it in a shot glass and shoot it if it's not on fish or french fries. ACV doesn't care if it's mixed with food. It's not picky. But wow, does it work.

Niacin, Vitamin C, and Avoid Glyphosate

Posted by Paracelsus (Orlando, Fl) on 07/08/2020 46 posts
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Although I've been very health conscious all of my life, including a diet which is mostly organic and vegetarian, I started to develop pain in the joints of my fingers, my knees and my neck. This was very frustrating to me, since I took a lot of pride in my health and my lifestyle. This wasn't supposed to happen to me.

Of course, most people told me that it was simply age that was causing this pain. I refused to accept that, since my Dad was still snow skiing at age 79. And my Dad was not really health conscious. The only difference between the two of us was that he lived in Switzerland, while I left Switzerland and had been living in the US for about 30 years.

So my intuition told me that it had something to do with the US food supply and/or water supply. By the way, the pain in my neck was really bad to the point I could barely move my head. I went to see a chiropractor, thinking I injured my neck exercising. Luckily, after a couple of sessions the chiropractor told me that it was probably arthritis. (of course, he too wrote it off to getting older).

I had previously read a couple of books and old studies on niacin and niacinamide (the form of niacin or Vitamin B3 that does not cause a flush when taken in large doses). So I knew that doctors in the past have cured all forms of arthritis with niacin. So I started taking 1500 mg Niacinamide with 1000 mg of vitamin C 2x daily. I started feeling better almost immediately but the pain didn't completely stop until about 2 weeks later.

I now take 1500 mg of Niacinamide and and 1000 mg of time released or liposomal vitamin C daily. I'm totally pain free.

Getting back to the difference in the food and water supplies between Switzerland, or Europe in general, and the USA. In Europe, GMO foods are illegal. But even more important, Europeans do not use glyphosate ("round up") as an herbicide.

Why is this important? Per Stephanie Seneff, researcher at MIT, glyphosate is responsible for a wide range of diseases in Americans. Glyphosate, which btw was derived from the Vietnam era "agent orange", is not only an herbicide but also an antibiotic, which means it wrecks havoc in your gut. Furthermore, glyphosate has a very similar molecular structure to the amino acid glycene. So in the production of proteins, glyphosate may inadvertently be substituted for glycene, producing defective proteins, which in turn cause all kinds of havoc to the body.

The bottom line is that glyphosate is responsible for widespread inflammation, including inflammation of the joints. So avoiding glyphosate is very important if you want to reduce or eliminate the cause of many forms of arthritis.

As a side note, not only do American farmers dump millions of tons of glyphosate on so called round-up ready GMO crops, but they use it for a totally unrelated purpose. They use it as a desiccant on wheat and other crops, right before harvest. (A desiccant dries the wheat, making it easier to harvest). So you get a really heavy dose of glyphosate when you eat bread or other wheat products. And this is also the reason, imo, that so many Americans claim to be gluten intolerant. It's not really the gluten but the glyphosate. That also explains why many Americans who visit Europe are able to eat the bread over there without any problems.

So in summary, if you want to get rid of arthritis, avoid glyphosate like the plague (only eat organic whenever possible), and supplement with Niacinamide and vitamin C. If your body is already saturated with glyphosate, bentonite clay and charcoal are great in eliminating toxins, including glyphosate.

DMSO

Posted by J.Park (United States) on 09/16/2019
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

DMSO spray or lotion to affected area to be first choice of Arthritis remedy (whether rheumatoid or osteo). There are plenty of authoritative documentations as to how effective DMSO is. It is surprising that not many people seem to use it. The typical 99.9% is too strong to spray, best skin absorption is 70-80% they say, but one shouldn't use such high concentration since it stings too much. There shouldn't be any rush, I use 40% spray to hip joints (which I have been suffering few years & getting worse), and I saw much improvement in only few days!!! I don't feel much stings with 40% (just add 6 parts of distilled water to 4 parts of 99.9% DMSO, this will HEAT the solution, don't be surprised, this is normal reaction – this is NEVER mentioned in any literature I saw). Some plastic melt in DMSO, so preferably buy DMSO spray bottle. Also don't forget Red/NIR Light Therapy too. This is very effective on arthritis as well as many many body conditions, you will be surprised to find so many health benefits in Red Light Therapy including skin rejuvenation. Again plenty of documentations. Study them. This is NOT UV high frequency light, but low frequency red and beyond NIR (Near Infrared that is invisible & has longer wave length than red).

Vitamin C

Posted by Alfredo (Alpine, Tx.) on 12/07/2018
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I had moderate pain in my joints and muscles for 4 months.For the last 3 days, I took 2 vitamin c capsules, 1,000mg each, morning and evening. Now 95% of my pain is gone. There is definitely a connection between Inflammation and vitamin c. I am a person who does not eat many fruits or vegetables, especially raw, to get my vitamin C..

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Bel1954 (Santa Fe, Nm) on 04/03/2017 2 posts
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I had painful knee Arthritis with swelling and stiffness everyday. I tried a Cortisone shot helped for a month only and knee surgery was out of the question. I was desperate for relief! All I did was search on the internet for help. I found an article on benefits of drinking Organic Apple Cider Vinegar. Since last Summer I drink 1 tablespoon with 6 oz. warm water everyday faithfully! I no longer suffer with pain or swelling my stiffness is very minimal to none. I am also not a big fan of taking OTC pain relievers and definitely no prescribed drugs!! Today I am a healthy pain free camper and feel healthier

Organic Sulfur

Posted by Arete (Rancho Dominguez, Ca) on 11/08/2016
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I am 74 yrs old and am a massage therapist. I put my hands through a lot of work. In the morning I used to wake up with stiff hands and pain during the day. I started taking organic sulfur and in two days the pain disappeared. There are different sources of sulfur, but make sure it is organic. I take the powder- it doesn't taste good, so camouflage it. Caps would be better.

Flax Oil and Cottage Cheese

Posted by Sj_texas (Dallas, Texas, Usa) on 06/14/2016
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

10 years ago a friend started me on a tablespoon of flax oil and a tablespoon of cottage cheese daily (the Budwig cure for cancer). After taking it daily for 3 weeks, I woke and my arthritis was gone. I called her up and two others had called recently with the same report. I'd had arthritis in my hands for 10 years by then, since around 35 years old. My mother had the same problem, and her knuckles changed shape in her 60s, causing constant pain and difficulty in movement.

This is not a 'magic bullet': it only helps about 20% of arthritis sufferers. There are several types of arthritis, and this apparently helps my type. It's certainly more useful than the NSAIDs that were only masking the symptoms. I've experimented over the years, and the type or brand of flax oil doesn't matter, nor does the cottage cheese. I do recommend cold-rolled flax oil and not heat extracted, though. The cottage cheese acts as a surfactant, and makes the oil more water-soluble and able to penetrate the cell walls. In Germany Dr. Joanna Budwig used something called 'quark', and cottage cheese is the closest American equivalent. I use low-fat 2% cottage cheese since I'm older and less tolerant of milk fat.

I did another experiment to prove the effectiveness: I quit taking it and went 'cold turkey'. After 2 months, the arthritis returned. I stayed off for a few more months, just to make sure. Then I started taking one tablespoon of flax oil and one tablespoon of cottage cheese again, and 3 weeks later my arthritis was gone again. I duplicated the same experiment 4 years later, just to be doubly sure. Same results: 2 months of no dietary addition, and the arthritis came back, 3 weeks taking it and I'm cured again. Obviously you can skip a week or two while on vacation with little-or-no ill effect.

If you research the 'Budwig Cure', it was originally a solution for cancer, but it's not a 'magic bullet' for cancer, either. You don't need to blend the two as Dr. Budwig suggests; I take one and then the other and let my stomach do the mixing. I do chew the cottage cheese thoroughly to make sure it mixes well in the gut.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Robert Henry (Ten Mile , Tn) on 01/13/2016
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

HI U OLE PATOOTS, , , , , , , , , got a wild and strange story to pass on via the lady who cuts our hair.

She is 74 and took in her 98 year old aunt 3 years ago. The aunt has an attitude problem, but is healthy as a horse now at 101. The Aunt worked in a school cafeteria until she was 92 and quit to care for her ailing husband. She takes no medicines or supplements. She started drinking ACV and honey at age 17 and does not miss her morning dose regardless.

Our hair lady says her aunt has no arthritis and will probably out live her.

I thought the EC bunch would appreciate this tale.

=========ORH============

MSM

Posted by Chris (Lancaster, England) on 03/28/2015
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Hi anyone with hip arthritis, I started using MSM 3yrs ago it helped with the pain but then I read that to get a significant relief if you take a higher dose, you need to take more than the stated dose on the package.

I was taking tabs 2gms a day. Now, very gradually, I take 9gms. Hey what a difference, wonderful, but I have rose hip tab as well,

I take 4 MSM with breakfast, 4 for lunch and 2 early pm with a snack.

My arthritis was caused by a very bad fall from a horse straight onto the back of my hips when I crunched into the road 18 years ago. I would hate to be without MSM. But go easy at first, just a low dose, also I take glusamine. I don't have any side effects at all and would consider taking more dosage if needed.

,

Cinnamon and Honey

Posted by Lou In Texas (Somewhere, Texas) on 07/02/2011
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

My husband began taking 1 tablespoon of Really Raw Honey and 1 teaspoon of ceylon (sweet) cinnamon about 5-6 weeks ago for his arthritis in his knees. He takes this first thing in the morning on an empty stomach and does not eat for at least an hour afterward. He could see a definite improvement after the first week and every week since. He now has no pain in his knees at all, unless he stands up too long at one time. Before, his knees were always in pain.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Gavin (Manganui, Northland, New Zealand) on 04/28/2011
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I has Heberden's nodes at my finger joints and I've been on ACV for a year and they have all gone but one, and that has definitely reduced.

I pour a capful of Apple Cider Vinegar into a glass and put about three times that amount of water with it.. Then take a spoonfull of honey and keep it in the side of my mouth whilst sipping the Apple Cider Vinegar I let the honey go down with each sip.. I think the Apple Cider Vinegar and honey must go down together to get the full benifit, as the vinegar cracks the honey in the stomach.. I'm taking it morning and evening for the last eighteen months. I have one last nodule left on my right hand second finger but that might have been joint damage due to an accident and not a nodule. They were on most of my finger joints to some degree.

I must say that after trying the stuff out at earthclinic my health has never been better.. Just about all the agues of age have cleared up. After not seeing my daughter for about four months when I started on the Apple Cider Vinegar she said "My god you look like you have lost twenty years".. I must admit I feel it as well.. Im on other stuff as well.. I smoke and drink moderately.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Nickieb (Ruislip, Middlesex Uk) on 01/28/2010
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I started using Apple Cider Vinegar with mother two weeks ago for arthritis. Four times a day I take 1/3 mug apple juice, 2/3 hot water with 1 tabsp vinegar. Tastes very acceptable rather like lemonade. You could make with cold water but it's winter here and this is comforting. In the last few days I've also tried adding a teaspoon of Blackstrap Molasses. Put that in mug first and then 2/3 fill with hot water to dissolve before adding apllejuice and vinegar. It's really nice and more importantly it has helped the arthritis no end. Scarcely any hip or knee pain after the first couple of days; still have some stiffness but haven't really started exercising yet so that could be the reason and solution.

Also I have dabbed ACV neat on skin irritation which stopped after a few minutes. This occurs from time to time and I can't figure what causes it except maybe chlorinated water.

I've noticed quite a few people on this site snivelling about the taste of ACV. Maybe they're not hurting enough but they should find a recipe that works for them. Take less at a time and do more often, whatever, because it's brilliant. Can't remember how I found this site but I'm so glad I did and thank you all so much. Nickie

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Jim (Madison, Wisconsin) on 03/16/2009
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I have spinal stenosis and scoliosis and my back got so bad that I started limping. I had severe pain especially if I bent over. My back literally was killing me with pain. I was taking prescription naprosen (1000 mg/per day). That had little effect on the pain. I had arthritis in both index fingers, both shoulders and my back was full of it. I remembered that I had heard or read somewhere about ACV. I found this web site and read everything I could on ACV. I was so encouraged! I went out that day and bought a qt of organic ACV. The first time I took it I wondered how could I continue taking it. However the taste was not as bad as the pain I was going through. I quit taking the pain medication and just used ACV. I take about 3 ozs. to 4ozs a day in some water. After about 3 or 4 days, I noticed the pain throughout my body starting to subsiding. By the end of 2 weeks the pain was literally gone. I can bend over with no pain, hop around with no pain and play with my cat. No more NSAIDS, only ACV. I have been telling everyone I see about this MIRACLE CURE FOR PAIN. I hope I have encouraged someone sitting on the fence to try this. By the way, there are other benefits to taking ACV.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Jack (Sheffield, United Kingdom) on 11/11/2008
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Hi to all those in the UK who are thinking of using ACV, it is absolutely amazeing! I am a 60 yr old RN and have had severe pain in my hips and lower back for 3 years, medics said it is because Im on my feet all day on the wards and gave me NSAIDs which were not effective and I would wake up in pain every morning and it was becoming so restrictive I'd even contemplated a double hip replacement. I then read about ACV on this site and gave it a go,WOW!! within 48 hours all the burning in my hips had gone! I could not believe it,even my wife noticed how fluently I was moving again, I use 2 tablespoons with honey twice a day, its even more effective with 72.5mgs Aspirin with my night time dose, Aspirin is a known anti inflammatory, I really cannot thank this site enough.As a person who has worked in the health profession for thirty years and put my complete trust in its remedy,s it is a real eye opener and has definately changed my opinions, Good luck everyone.

Cayenne

Posted by Peter (Slate Hill, New York) on 10/16/2008
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I read that cayenne pepper could alleviate excruciating pain of arthritis that I had in two fingers on my left hand. I'd awaken daily in pain to find my pinky and ring finger locked in a bent position and it would hurt very much to straighten. I would run hot water over them and it would get worse as weeks went on. I had been playing the piano several hours daily and most likely was the cause of this very painful arthritis, a common piano players ailment that if left unchecked would end my piano playing and use of two fingers. My fingers were dying it seemed. I met several ex-piano players who had exactly the same symptoms and quit playing because of the pain. Anyway, after reading Edgar Cayce's remedies with topical use of Castor Oil I thought it would be good to mix the Cayenne Pepper with Castor Oil so the mixture would stick to my fingers. So before bedtime, I'd take a paper hand towel and cut it to about 10x6 inches, wet it and squeeze excess water out until just very damp, then fold it to 10x2 (triple thick); now I'd mix some cayenne into some castor oil until very orangey/red and smear it on the first four inches (to cover both sides of fingers) of the paper towel and also smear some on my fingers; then I'd wrap my fingers with this bandage and excess paper, and finally a rubber band not too tight holding it all together. Every night I'd do this and take it off in the morning and there was noticeable reduction in pain immediately first day and more use of my fingers and after three months I was 80% normal and within nine months I was completely healed.

Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda

Posted by Davey D (Victoria, BC Canada) on 07/30/2008
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Hi Ted!

I would just like to say how wonderful the site is.

About a year ago I started to search for natural cures for arthritis because my hips were giving me terrible pain and some pain in my knuckles as well. I am a male of 60 years with Muscular Dystrophy.

I started taking 2 tbs apple cider vinegar with 1/2 tsp of backing soda twice a day for 5 days on and 2 days off. I can say that today I am almost pain free. I have found that the Omega 369 has taken care of my suicidal depression, but one a day is all I can afford because our Government will not help me.

Your simple affordable remedy has saved my life because I can live more comfortably now. There was a story of a man of 53 found dead in his truck on day from carbon monoxide poisoning and I had been contemplating this method before I found Earth Clinic. Maybe if he had of known he would still be alive. No cuddo's for our gov.

God Bless you Ted.

Thank you so much for your help.

Davey D.

Blackstrap Molasses

Posted by Joyce (Chippewa Lake, Ohio) on 05/22/2008
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I saw one comment from someone on blackstrap molasses for arthritis. I had been up every night in pain, particularly in one knee. The first day I ate 1 Tbs. of blackstrap molasses, and the pain was completely gone. I take it every day. If I go to bed and have a little pain in my knee, instead of pain medicine, I have another Tbs. of the molasses, and the pain subsides in 20 minutes. My uncle was a chiropractor who was into holistic medicine, and use to tell us that there are many benefits of Blackstrap molasses.

Turmeric

Posted by Linda (Eugene, OR) on 01/07/2008
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I just want to thank the people who set up this website. I was experiencing painful arthritis in both shoulders and I found your site and read about using Turmeric. That was several weeks ago and now I can truly say that taking the Turmeric has changed everything! The pain is nearly gone. I still have some slight discomfort, but nothing like I was going through before the Turmeric. I am praising God for His wonderful herbs and for inspiring all of the folks who write in with their testimonies. I take two 400 mg capsules three times a day and one 500 mg ginger capsule 3 times a day. This site is the best!!! Plus, I have contacted several people on the site who were so helpful and responded with great advice and encouragement. Health and blessings to all.

Ginger

Posted by Katherine (Los Angeles, USA) on 03/20/2007
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Arthritis Remedy: Ginger Root/Mint tea. I have found that making tea out of ginger root and mint is more helpful than any capsules. Take about a 1 1/2 inch piece of fresh ginger root, peel and then slice root into mug, add some fresh mint leaves, pour good boiling water over and steep at least 1/2 hour (the longer the better) drink before you retire for the night. This not only helps with the joint pain but has also helped me sleep more sound. The mint is important as it helps the stomach - ginger root tea alone can be a bit difficult if one is no longer 20 . This is an acquired taste. DO NOT get carried away like I did the first week and drink more than one huge mug a night. As my Chinese Dr. friend said "it is like listerine for the body". Cleans out the toxins and it is a natural anti inflammatory.

Apple Pectin

Posted by William (Lexley, Alabama) on 09/30/2006
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Apple Pectin:

Two 500 mg caps per day taken with either grape or orange juice (Vitaimn C) cures Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Gout, TMJ and Arthritis.

I have given it to over 50 people in my job as EH & S engineer for a manufacturing company as well as having used it myself for the past ten (10) years with complete success for pain in both of my thumbs. Lasting results have occurred within 48 hours. Will correspond. WEH

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Sharon (British Columbia)
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

In the mid to late 1980's I was working in an Extended Care Unit in a hospital, working as a Care Aide. All through out this time I had been seeing my doctor because of constant pain due to arthritis. My back and knees hurt so bad sometimes it was near unbearable. My knees were so bad I could not touch a knee cap with a finger it hurt so bad. X-rays were taken of my knees, showing spurs under the knee cap itself. X-Rays also take of the small of my back, the doctor said he'd never seen arthritis so bad in someone so young, that everything was becoming one, even my fingers were beginning to twist. He tried me on different arthritis pills to see which would work the best, one finally JUST eased the pain slightly. Now working in the hospital that your doctor works is not to good at times. I was attempting to kneel down and had a extremely hard time of it trying to stay more on my side and very hard time trying to stand; my doctor happened to be on the floor at that time and saw this, told me to make an appointment to see him, he then told me I would have to find other work because I couldn't live like this. The pills the doctor had me on cost $60 a month. He said I would have to take them the rest of my life. At home I thought of this, then remembered something my chiropractor told me, take 2 teaspoons acv, 2 teaspoons of honey in water, adjust to taste. One day (no longer working at the hospital) I ran out of pills, out of money, then remembered what my chiropractor said. I thought there would be a transition period for the acv to work, I was preparing myself for a whole lot of unbearable pain. I started the drink that night and every night for 1 week. Besides flushing my kidneys out, there was NO transition at all. There was no pain, absolutely nothing...and still there is no pain. So I followed my chiropractors instructions because obviously he knew what he was talking about. I then stopped taking it. I found I would get cravings for it, so I took this as my body telling me it needed it. To this day I had not taken any pills from the doctor for arthritis. It has now been 16 years. If you read the instructions how to clean a drip coffee machine, it says to use vinegar. Vinegar dissolved calcium build in the machine and I've found it dissolved the build up in my body. I am back taking acv, this time daily...do not plan on stopping this time. This really is a miracle for me and do advise people to try it, it really does work, besides what have you got to lose other than pain, and you can't beat the cost. It won't hurt and anything as far as I'm concerned is better than taking pills from doctors who treat symptoms...not cure.


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