The Amazing Benefits of Stinging Nettles, with Recipes

If I told you there was a plant that offered an amazing range of nutrients, eased allergy suffering, reduced inflammation, treated arthritis, healed rashes, cured anemia, and improved energy, you would want to know about it, right? Stinging nettles (Urtica dioica) are a superfood, super-medicine, and all around superstar of the plant world.

Nettles have a long history, appearing in the writings of the ancient Greeks, ancient Egyptians, and Roman armies. Their fibers were found in artifacts from the Bronze age and early indigenous American cultures. Nettles are found growing all over the world and in forests and fields near you. They are readily available as a bulk herb and supplement at health food stores. You can incorporate nettles in your diet by creating amazing culinary delights or by steeping them as a tea when you just feel like you need some super powers. There is a lot that you should know about nettles.

Nettles – the Super-Green Superfood!

Nettles pack a powerful punch of nutritional value, making them an excellent superfood and tonic. They contain high levels of iron, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin K, potassium, magnesium, and more chlorophyll than almost any other plant. They have been used throughout history to restore energy to the sick and stimulate sluggish metabolic and lymphatic systems in the spring.

When consumed as a broth, tea, or even a traditional beer, nettles are an age-old cure for scurvy, anemia, low energy, and general depletion from illness or fever. Nettle tea can be extremely useful as a mother’s helper to bolster prenatal nutrition and to increase milk production for breastfeeding. The high nutrient content, combined with all the other positive benefits, makes nettles a worthy daily health supplement. Whether this is in the form of a capsule, tincture, or fresh herb, it’s a good way to ensure you are taking care of yourself.

Nettles as All Around Medicine

Stinging nettle is one of those plants I like to call “Nature’s medicine chest.” It addresses such a wide variety of ailments both internally and topically, that it is always worth having on hand. Aside from the more prevalent treatments for arthritis and allergies, nettles act as an anti-inflammatory agent, addressing a variety of related conditions from sore muscles to gastrointestinal discomfort. The diuretic properties of nettles make them a useful treatment for urinary tract infections, issues with the bladder and kidneys, and enlarged prostate (BPH) for men. A reliable women’s health herb throughout the entire reproductive

Nettles alleviate a variety of issues encountered during menstruation, pregnancy, the postpartum period, and menopause making them a reliable women’s health herb for the entire reproductive cycle.

It is also thought that nettles aid in reducing blood pressure and lowering blood sugar. Externally, nettles treat eczema, burns, rashes, hives, and stimulate hair growth. As an astringent, it stops bleeding and can be applied in a powdered form to arrest nosebleeds. When it comes down to it, nettles belong in your medicine cabinet in some form, much like band-aids. Really.

Nettles as Arthritis Treatment

Although the sting of the stinging nettle is uncomfortable when you encounter it out on a walk, the prickly hairs on the stem and leaves actually reduce the pain and swelling of arthritis. If you pick  nettles with your bare hands, your fingertips may be numb for hours afterward. Urtification, or basically flogging the affected area with stinging nettles, is a practice documented over the last two thousand years. Research has shown that the “sting” of nettles both interferes with pain signals in the body and releases anti-inflammatory compounds to treat arthritic conditions. Taken internally, nettles have been found to support bone and joint health, deliver a healthy dose of boron, balance hormones that affect arthritic conditions, and flush uric acid buildup from the affected joint areas. With plenty of not-so-great-for-you pain relief available these days, it’s nice to have this natural, safe, herbal go-to available for daily management.

Nettles as Allergy Treatment

For a large number of the population suffering from allergies and hay fever, nettles can be a great ally. It is most commonly taken in the form of freeze-dried capsules during periods of seasonal allergies, to reduce inflammation of the affected tissues. Nettles are thought to reduce the histamine levels produced by the body as an allergy response, thus alleviating the allergy symptoms. Many people have reported that itchy eyes, sneezing, runny noses, and stuffy sinuses are treated as effectively, if not more so, by stinging nettle than over the counter allergy medications. They will also leave you feeling energized rather than drowsy. I have always thought it was a wonderful coincidence that nettles start growing in the spring just as pollens are coming out, and continue into the summer and height of pollen season.

Benefits and Use of Stinging Nettles for Other Ailments

Stinging nettles are a blood purifying, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, detoxifying antioxidant with more health benefits than we can list.

  • May treat many skin problems from acne to eczema
  • Stimulates lymph system
  • Stimulates immune system
  • Support adrenal glands
  • Supports thyroid
  • Supports prostate
  • Supports the spleen
  • Supports the pancreas
  • Supports entire endocrine system (hormonal system, glands)
  • Good for menstrual cramps, bloating, PMS
  • Relieves menopausal symptoms
  • Relieves arthritis symptoms
  • Promotes release of uric acid from joints
  • Supports the kidneys
  • May break down kidney stones
  • Helps with respiratory tract infections and respiratory inflammation
  • Helps asthma sufferers
  • Strengthens the fetus in pregnant women
  • Promotes milk production for breastfeeding
  • Improves blood clotting
  • Relieves pain and symptoms from osteoarthritis
  • Reduces inflammation
  • Reduces likelihood of prostate cancer
  • Eliminates allergic rhinitis
  • Reduces hypertension
  • May reduce nausea
  • Alleviates diarrhea
  • Helps with gastrointestinal disease, IBS, and constipation
  • Reduces gingivitis (when used in mouth)
  • Removes and helps prevents plaque buildup (when used in mouth)
  • Has been shown to help treat Alzheimer’s disease
  • Provides relief for neurological disorders like MS, ALS, and sciatica
  • Destroys intestinal worms and other parasites
  • It’s antifungal. Kills Candida along with other yeast and fungi

How to Find Nettles

Nettles can be found growing in moist soils at the edge of forests, in fields, along ditches and near streams or marshy areas. With a good plant ID guide and advice from local foragers, you can venture out and gather your own nettles all through the spring months. You can also purchase nettle seeds from heirloom seed companies and plant them in your garden. I have found that the rhizomes from wild nettle patches transplant nicely into my garden. They love my compost pile. With a little water, you can keep them going through the summer. Nettles are very easy to dry and use throughout the rest of the year when they aren’t found growing outside. If you do not have access to foraging areas or garden space, you can always purchase dried nettle leaf and a variety of nettle supplements. In the Spring, grocery stores will sometimes carry fresh, wildcrafted nettles.

Wellness Nettle Broth Recipe

I have found when I am feeling under the weather, or I am just in need of some solidly green food at the end of the winter, a nettle broth is perfect. It leaves me feeling healthy and energized.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups of fresh stinging nettle tips (or 1 cup dried)
  • 1 medium onion finely chopped
  • 4-5 cloves fresh minced garlic
  • 2 Tbs fresh grated ginger root
  • 1 burdock root peeled and chopped fine (or 4 Tbs dried)
  • 4 cups vegetable broth, miso broth, or bone broth
  • 1 Tbs olive oil
  • dash of tamari or Bragg’s Liquid Aminos
  • salt and pepper to taste

In a large pot, sauté onions until translucent. Add burdock root, garlic, and ginger and sauté a few more minutes. Add broth and bring to a boil. Add nettles, turn down to a simmer, and stir occasionally until the nettles are soft and fully cooked. (This breaks down the prickly hairs, and your tongue will thank you.) Add tamari or Bragg’s and season to taste.

Stinging Nettle Homemade Toothpaste Recipe

The boron in stinging nettles is an essential element for bone health that helps bones and teeth retain calcium. Therefore, it is a great addition to homemade toothpaste.

Homemade toothpaste is easy. If you don’t have one of the ingredients, leave it out or substitute something similar. Mix it up, and experiment.

  • 2 Tbsp nettle powder
  • 1 tsp Irish moss powder
  • 1 tsp bladderwrack powder
  • 1 drops liquid stevia
  • 5 drops peppermint essential oil
  • 1 tsp unrefined sea salt
  • 1 tsp baking soda

Add dry ingredients together and mix. Add wet ingredients and a little bit of distilled water to get your desired consistency.

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Four Techniques to Relieve Joint Pain Using Essential Oils

Joint pain may result from injuries, rheumatism, arthritis, or by maintaining bad posture for long periods or time. Essential oils are widely used for relieving joint pain due to their anti-rheumatic, anti-inflammatory, and antispasmodic properties. These effective oils may be used individually or blended together before they are applied to the affected area.

Depending on the location and severity of the pain, application of the essential oil may be through massage, soaking in the bath, or hot or cold compresses. The best essential oils for joint pain alleviation include clove, rosemary, lavender, ginger, marjoram, chamomile, peppermint, eucalyptus, and juniper.

Technique 1: Massage Clove Oil on the Affected Area

Clove oil is a popular essential oil with strong antibacterial, antimicrobial, and hemostatic properties that is used to counter inflammation. Apply small quantities over the painful muscle or joint to avoid skin irritation or you can dilute clove oil with a carrier oil (such as coconut oil) if you have sensitive skin. Add up to 12 drops of clove oil to 2 ounces of carrier oil, and massage it into the affected area.

During pregnancy and breastfeeding, clove oil should be avoided.

Technique 2: Apply a Blend of Essential Oils

A blend of clove oil with other essential oils such as cinnamon, rosemary, peppermint, lavender, and geranium is also effective for alleviating joint pain. Mix at least three of the oils with your preferred carrier oil to make a 1% dilution (6 drops of essential oil to 1 ounce of carrier oil). Apply to the painful joint two times a day.

You may increase the concentration to 3% (20 drops of essential oil to 1 ounce of carrier oil) or more or apply more than twice a day depending on the reaction.

Another combination that works well with sore joints is 1 drop of black pepper, 1 drop of ginger, 2 drops of V’Nilla blend, 3 drops of rosemary, 3 drops of coriander, 4 drops of marjoram, and 6 drops of roman chamomile with 2 ounces of carrier oil. Massage the area with this blend on a daily basis until the pain decreases.

Technique 3: Bath Soak With Oils

Pain involving many joints is best relieved by taking a warm bath in water blended with essential oils. Mix 2 drops of rosemary, 4 drops of juniper berry, 2 drops of cypress, 2 drops of lavender and 1-2 cups of bath salts. Make the bath salts by mixing Epsom salt and baking soda in equal amounts.

Add a few flakes of sea salt and magnesium chloride, and pour the mixture into a tub. Fill the tub with water and allow it to blend for about 30 minutes  before bathing.

Technique 4: Hot and Cold Compresses

Medics have found that hot and cold compresses alleviate joint pain, and adding essential oils improves the effectiveness of this therapy. Heat water to a favorable temperature. Select at least three essential oils and add 4 drops of each oil. Dip a towel in the water, squeeze out the excess water, and place it on the affected area. Apply the hot pack for 15 minutes for each session, alternating with a cold pack after a few hours.

Conclusion

Applying the right combination of essential oils on affected areas is an effective way to relieve joint pain. These oils also reduce muscle spasms and muscle tension and create a soothing effect.

To learn more about essential oils, subscribe to our email updates and get 2 free audiobooks on essential oils and a 9-day free essential oil eCourse.

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Eating For Aging

Our bodies go through a whole lot of wear and tear as we go about our daily lives, which leads to some challenging conditions during our golden years. We’re already predisposed to ailments thanks to genetics and our environment, but poor nutrition takes those risks even higher. The common diseases that come with age have some debilitating symptoms that nobody wants to encounter, so nutrition isn’t something we can afford to put off. Start reducing your risks for common aging problems today.

Arthritis

Our joints have a soft cushion of fluid and cartilage that keeps them moving smoothly and painlessly, but this cushion can be compromised by injuries, infections, and extra weight. As time adds to the wear and tear of our joints, the damage can grow and lead to the painful inflammation we call arthritis. There’s no known cure for the pain, stiffness, swelling, and reduction in strength and motion, so prevention is the way to go.

  • Omega-3 Fatty Acids: These critical fats offer your joints important lubrication that will keep them moving smoothly. Fry up your omega’s with some fatty cold water fish like mackerel, wild salmon, and sardines.
  • Antioxidants: Vitamins A, C, and E and phytochemicals like ellagic acid, lutein and anthocyanin all serve as antioxidants. Meet your needs with colorful foods like berries, grapes, greens, sweet potatoes, and wash it down with some green tea.
  • Sulforaphane: This compound acts as an anti-inflammatory, and it’s showing big potential in the prevention and slowing of osteoarthritis. You can work the benefits of sulforaphane into your diet by eating cruciferous greens like broccoli, brussel sprouts, and cabbage.
  • Oleocanthal: This compound has shown to be a powerful anti-inflammatory that can actually help treat arthritic conditions. Get a spoonful from a bottle of extra virgin olive oil.

Osteoporosis

Our blood requires a constant level of calcium to keep clotting, pH, and muscle function where they need to be. The good news is that we have a supply of calcium our body can always rely on. The bad news? Those calcium withdrawals are coming straight from our bones. The worst news? Millions of people don’t even have a clue they’re at risk of osteoporosis until they’re suffering a broken bone. Rebuilding weak and porous bones is too little too late, so learn the basics of bone health.

  • Vitamin D: Calcium has gotten all the credit for bone health, but it’s thanks to Vitamin D that our bodies can absorb it. This is one vitamin you can’t source from food, so get yourself a supplement or a dose of sunlight.  
  • Vitamin K: Studies are showing that Vitamin K can help regulate calcium and form bones, and research in Japan suggests that it can increase bone mass and reverse bone loss. Get your Vitamin K from dark leafy greens like kale, spinach, collards, and broccoli.
  • Omega-3’s: On top of fighting the inflammation of arthritis, omega-3’s show promise in maintaining bone mass and helping us absorb calcium. Get a fish-free serving from walnuts, or hemp, flax, and chia seeds.

Dementia

When brain cells are damaged, the communication of neural networks are impaired. As this degradation spreads, regions of the brain responsible for things like memory, speech, and visual perception are no longer able to function properly. This degeneration of the brain produces the challenges of memory loss, hallucinations, and communication faced by dementia sufferers everywhere. The brain is the control center of our entire body, so there’s two dietary needs that shouldn’t be skimped on.

  • Omega-3’s: If there’s anything we’ve learned today, it’s that omega-3 fatty acids are a critical part of a healthy diet. Studies and stats show 3’s playing an important role in healthy, functioning, and developing brains, so grab a handful of walnuts (their shape says it all) for a quick fix of brain benefits.  
  • B-Vitamins: Science shows a strong connection between high levels of homocysteine and Alzheimer’s. B12 deficiency is another common factor in Alzheimer’s risk, making this a worthy dietary addition, but B-vitamins are also showing they can drop the levels of this concerning neurotoxin. B’s are mostly found in meat and fish, but nutritional yeast offers an astounding (and quick) B-fix.

 Eat Well and Live Long!

There are a lot of important factors contributing to disease, but now you have some easy and simple aids for prevention. Do you have your own tricks and tips for longevity and vitality? Share in the comments below!

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Joint Pain – What Causes it? How to Stop it Naturally

If we hyperextend or twist a joint, we know exactly what caused the pain. But there are times when joint pain sneaks up on us and we have no idea what started it, much less how to stop it. Before you pop a pill or two, or regularly fill a prescription for the rest of your life, why not discover the cause, rather than just treat the symptoms? If you heal the body, you end the pain.

Joint Pain

Joint pain has many presentations and symptoms. The joint may be weak, stiff, locked, or exhibit a limited range of motion. It may be warm, tender, and swollen. The skin surrounding the joint may be red. Pain may be present at all times or only when the joint is moved. The pain may be restricted to one joint or affect multiple joints; it may migrate from one to another. Pain and other symptoms may be acute or chronic. Joint pain may be the only symptom of disease or it may be one of many.

An injury or other ailment may affect one or multiple structures inside or outside of the joint: the tendons, ligaments, cartilage, bursae (fluid filled sacks or cavities that help cushion the joint), the synovial membrane (lining of the joint that secretes fluid to help lubricate the joint), or the bone itself.

What is arthritis?

Arthritis is pain and inflammation of a joint. While some sources say there are around 100 causes of joint pain, Arthritis Care states there are around 200 causes, which fit into three classifications:

  • Inflammatory Arthritis – such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, gout
  • Non-inflammatory Arthritis  – such as osteoarthritis, scoliosis, torn ligaments
  • Connective Tissue Disease – such as lupus, sclerosis, Sjogren’s syndrome

Joint Injury

A joint injury is not always caused by a bruise or sprain. Repetitive stress injuries from sports, hobbies, work or an injury caused by a workstation that is not ergonomically correct can cause joint pain. For instance, a desk that may be too high or a chair may be too low causing undue stress and strain on joints. Old, sagging mattresses that do not properly support the body for a third of our daily life can also contribute to joint injury and pain.

Viruses, Bacteria, and Candida Can Cause Joint Pain

Viral illnesses that can cause joint pain include (but are not limited to) hand, foot and mouth disease; hepatitis B and C; HIV, human parvovirus; mumps; rubella; influenza; polio; pericarditis; and encephalitis.

Bacterial infections that can cause joint pain include (but are not limited to) staph, strep, gonorrhea, chlamydia, tuberculosis, and Lyme’s disease.

Candida overgrowth (or any other kind of fungus), can infect the body in ways that are similar to a virus or bacteria and can cause auto-immune symptoms, including joint pain.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It is classified as non-inflammatory and is characterized by deterioration of cartilage. This type of joint pain is more severe after rest.

Autoimmune Diseases That Cause Joint Pain

Autoimmune diseases that cause joint pain include (but are not limited to) polymyalgia rheumatica, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, systemic lupus erythematosus, type I diabetes, celiac sprue disease, pernicious anemia, vitiligo, scleroderma, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, Hashimoto’s disease, Addison’s disease, Graves’ disease, reactive arthritis, and Sjögren’s syndrome. Candida overgrowth is typically at the root of autoimmune disease.

Natural Treatment for Chronic Arthritic Conditions

Naturopathic medicine and natural treatments focus on healing through nutrition, detoxification, exercise, and appropriate herbal remedies when indicated. Natural treatment begins with diet.

Diet

First and foremost, our bodies require nutrition that is abundant in fresh, whole, organic foods. The most nutrient dense foods are produce. The healthiest diet consists of 80% (or more) fresh, whole, organic produce – more vegetables than fruits. We also must include healthy fats in our diet.

While filling the body with the most nutrient dense foods, we must avoid adding toxins to the body and we must be vigilant about removing toxins from the body that we cannot help but accumulate from our polluted environment.

To avoid adding toxins and other damaging substances to our bodies, we must eliminate artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives; MSG; trans fats; GMOs, high fructose corn syrup, and all other processed sugars. We also must minimize caffeine intake.

In other words, we need to eat real food – not processed foods.

Detox

If we are eating right, we are detoxing our bodies through the food we eat. Green leafy vegetables, along with other produce high in fiber, help to balance the microbiome in the gut, reducing bad bacteria and increasing good bacteria. Garlic, cilantro, cruciferous vegetables, spirulina, and chlorella all help chelate heavy metals and other toxins and remove them from the body.

By eating the right diet, we are helping our bodies detox on a daily basis. It is still a good idea to go through a good, healthy detox regimen twice a year if you are exposed to a heavy toxic load (generally anyone living and urban lifestyle).

Exercise

Yes, exercise is vital. Not only is exercise needed for bone density and muscle strength, our immune system requires movement to do its job. The lymphatic system is a circulatory system that is dependent on body movement to push fluids through the body. Walk, run, dance, jump rope, swim, do yoga – whatever you can do to get moving. Mix it up and have fun.

Next Steps to End Joint Pain

When the body receives the proper nutrition, detoxification, and exercise, it will begin to heal. But we can help the process with supplements and targeted foods.

Anyone familiar with natural healing is aware of leaky gut syndrome. Antibiotics and a poor diet start the deterioration of the gut. Gluten and Candida continue the destruction and imbalance. When a leaky gut allows foreign particles direct access to the bloodstream, allergies and autoimmune disorders result. In order to stop joint pain, you must heal your gut.

“I have noticed a pattern that many women who suffer from joint pain also have digestive issues. Ongoing digestive imbalances in the GI system (such as leaky gut, dysbiosis and inflammatory bowel disease) have long been associated with allergens and chronic inflammation.” Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP

While the general belief system is that autoimmune diseases are the result of the immune system running amuck and attacking healthy tissue, the leaky gut connection and systemic Candida suggest a different scenario – that the immune system is attacking foreign particles that have escaped the gut. One thing is for certain; many people who suffer from autoimmune disease report a decrease or a complete resolution in joint pain and other symptoms after healing their gut and following a healthy diet that eliminates gluten, milk, known allergies, and sugar.

An increase in omega 3 fatty acids is also crucial. Flaxseed oil or Udo’s 3.6.9. with DHT oil are both great sources of omega 3 fatty acids. Use either on salads or cooked vegetables. Check out Johanna Budwig’s anti-inflammatory recipe. (See suggested reading).

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is another common cause of arthritis, frequently associated with pain in the wrist, shoulder, elbow, neck, knee, and hip. Hypothyroidism also causes pain in the arches and triggers headaches, including migraines. Again, it seems that health begins in the gut as hypothyroidism often follows leaky gut syndrome, gluten sensitivity, and Candida overgrowth. Healing the gut and the thyroid can resolve pain in the joints and connective tissues.

Conclusion

Joint pain and disease is not a necessary part of aging. It is a sign that your body is crying out for you to make changes in your life – especially in your diet. Pay attention. Give your body what it needs. It will repay you with years of pain-free living.

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Arthritis – How To Relieve the Pain and Heal Naturally

Arthritis is painful inflammation of one or more joints in the body. There are more than 100 types of arthritis, though the best-known types are osteoarthritis (which breaks down cartilage), rheumatoid arthritis (which is an autoimmune disorder affecting the lining of the joints), and gout (caused by deposits of urate crystals in the joints).

Any form of arthritis can both emotionally taxing and physically limiting due to pain and stiffness. Over time, damage to the joints can be extensive.

As with any disease, the first essential step is to change your diet. Every cell in the body requires two things: nutrition and detoxification. The proper diet achieves both; it gives the body dense nutrition and aids the body in daily detoxification.

What to eat:

  • Eat a wide variety of nutrient dense, organic whole foods, not processed foods.
  • Eat lots of produce – more vegetables than fruits; 80% of your food should be fresh, raw, organic produce!
  • If you eat meat, always eat organic
  • Omega 3 fatty acids – oily fish, fish oil, blended Omega 3 oil, flax seed oil, flax seeds
  • Soak nuts and seeds before eating them
  • Eat raw garlic, cilantro, and turmeric regularly to help detoxify
  • Add nutrition powder to your daily diet

What not to eat:

  • Artificial flavorings, colors, or preservatives
  • MSG
  • GMOs
  • High fructose corn syrup
  • Sugar (in its many forms)
  • Gluten

Stop all dairy for two weeks then challenge yourself with it (eat a lot of it). See what happens. If you feel ill, see dark circles under your eyes, or experience diarrhea, stop eating dairy.

Doc Shillington recommends the following vitamins and supplements for anyone suffering from arthritis:

See the first link below for the rest of Doc Shillington’s protocol.

When we are ill, especially with anything autoimmune, it is very likely that we are suffering from leaky gut syndrome and Candida. It is vital to stop eating gluten and to get Candida under control so the gut can heal. The goal is to heal your gut followed by every other cell in your body.

Again, this is primarily accomplished by diet and aided by supplements. If you suffer from vaginal yeast infections, itchy skin, raw skin, athlete’s foot, nail fungus etc. these are definite signs that Candida is a problem. [See the second link below.

How to relieve the pain of arthritis

Step one is filling the body with dense nutrients. Step two is getting those nutrients into each and every cell of the body while cleansing each cell of waste and toxins. To accomplish this both blood and lymph need to work in harmony to bathe each cell.

Hot and cold hydrotherapy

Hot and cold hydrotherapy not only relieves pain, it aids the body in healing. It is simple and easy to do but it takes some fortitude. Alternate hot and cold water on the afflicted area for 20 minutes. Start with hot water for a minimum of two minutes then switch to cold for two minutes, back and forth. End with cold.

Hot water drives the blood to the surface of the skin. Cold water drives it deep into tissues. This agitation of the blood helps to cleanse the tissues, much like the agitation of a washing machine. See Hot and Cold Hydrotherapy.

Exercise

Exercise is important. You need to move. The afflicted joints need to move. Exercise is also necessary to move your lymph. Lymph aids the blood in removing toxins and waste from the cells and their surrounding fluids.

Massage

A good masseuse can also help with both pain and healing. Massage aids with circulation of both blood and lymph.

Epsom Salts Bath

If done correctly, Epsom salts baths can be very beneficial. The first thing is to use enough salts. The second issue is to soak for 40 minutes. The first 20 minutes draws out toxins. During the second 20 minutes, you soak up magnesium and sulfates.

The amount to use is determined by weight to a standard size bath:

  • 60-100 lbs: 1 cup
  • 100-150 lbs: 1½ cups
  • 150-200 lbs:  2 cups
  • For each addition 50lbs, add another ½ cup

Herbs That Ease Arthritis Pain

All disease begins and ends on a cellular level. Nutrition, circulation, and detoxification are the core elements to end the pain and damage caused by arthritis. The first step to eliminating almost any disease is here: How To Kill Candida and Balance Your Inner Ecosystem. Many other ailments, including arthritis in the elbows, wrists, knees, hips and shoulders are caused by, and/or exacerbated by thyroid problems as well. Check out Understand Hypothyroidism – Prevention and Natural Remedies.

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Eliminate Arthritis Naturally

Arthritis is the swelling of a joint. Arthritis has the ability to cause severe joint and muscle pain and loss of the body’s movement (loss of ability to walk, climb stairs, or even brush your teeth). It can also cause stiffness, swelling of the joints and cartilage, inflammation, joint deformities, and bone loss.  Arthritis affects the muscle, cartilage, and the skeletal system at the joints where two or more bones meet.

There are over a hundred different varieties of arthritis that affect more than 46 million adults and more than 300,000 children in the United States alone.

The Most Common Types of Arthritis

Osteoarthritis

A degenerative joint disease in which the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones in the joint deteriorates, causing pain and loss of movement as bone begins to rub against bone. This is the most widespread variety found in North America today.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

This is a serious condition where the cartilage becomes inflamed as a result of body immune system failure. Rheumatoid Arthritis is one of the most serious and disabling kinds, especially for women.

Gout

This type typically affects men who drink alcohol and eat a large amount of red meat.  It is very painful and usually attacks the smaller joints of the body such as the toes and the fingers.

Ankylosing Spondylitis

This rare kind of arthritis affects the spine.  As a result of inflammation, the bones of the spine grow and fuse together over time.

Fibromyalgia

Again, this variation affects mostly women and shows up as widespread pain that hits the muscles and the ligaments attached to the bone.

All these different varieties have a few things in common, which when remedied, will not only bring about relief, but for the most part can bring about a complete reversal of the condition. There is hope! Yes, something can be done about it.

Common Contributing Causes of Arthritis

  • The excessive consumption of commercial red meats and dairy products brings about an acidosis condition which causes the acid/alkaline ratio (the pH of the body) to go dramatically out of balance.
  • Poor quality commercial foods bring about a state of malnutrition.  People are simply not getting enough nourishment in the form of vitamins and minerals from the foods they eat every day. Basically, they eat far too much junk!
  • The large amounts of toxins taken in from pesticide laden foods like alcohol, coffee, soda pop, sugar, and white flour products actually trigger many of these conditions in the first place, including those autoimmune disorders that are all too common.

Relieve and Reverse Arthritis Naturally

Anti Arthritis Diet

The most important thing you can do to reduce and eliminate arthritis is to eat an organic diet with limited meat and dairy. Do not consume factory farm animal products. Focus on produce, produce, and more produce. Few people get enough produce! Eat organic whenever possible. While this kind of diet will rid the body of most disease and ailments, supplementation is necessary for many people and can speed up the process of getting healthy for anyone.

The Body’s pH

Bring the body back to a natural and healthy pH. The Body Balance+ Formula is a great way to help facilitate this quickly. But a healthy diet will also do this for almost anyone in time.

Supplements that Reduce and Remove Arthritis

A multi vitamin/mineral formula such as the Total Nutrition Formula is the easiest way to get in more nutrition. Even a diet focused on healthy organic produce can still use more nutrition, especially with our degraded soil conditions.

In addition to a good nutrition powder, I also recommend a protocol that includes MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane), my Total Tonic Formula, Echinacea, vitamin C (5000Mg a day),  vitamin D3 (5000Mg a day), vitamin E (1200Mg day),  omega 3, coenzymeq10 (100Mg a day), a vitamin B-Complex, vitamin A (50,000IU a day), and finally a digestive plant enzyme with every meal.

For arthritis relief and to speed the healing of the joints, you can do no better than the Bone, Flesh & Cartilage Formula.  It truly is amazing for anyone suffering from joint pains, skeletal issues, muscle aches, and injuries.

Also, exercise! Your body is a use it or lose it kind of a vessel. Yoga and squats are what I recommend for anyone, especially with these health issues. Obviously not everyone can dive right into yoga or even do a partial squat, so start off slow, stay safe, and do what you can.

Take your time with all of it. Be patient. It takes most people years to develop disease such as this, and while it can be reversed much more quickly, it does take time.

Arthritis in the elbows, wrists, knees, hips and shoulders are often caused by, and/or exacerbated by thyroid problems and a leaky gut. Check out , How To Kill Candida and Balance Your Inner Ecosystem and see Understand Hypothyroidism – Prevention and Natural Remedies.

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Natural Arthritis Remedies

What Causes Arthritis?

  • Inflammation
  • Calcium deficiency
  • Protein deficiency
  • Dehydration
  • Misalignment

This doesn’t mean it’s time to make an appointment with your chiropractor and then go to the grocery store to purchase milk, steak, and Advil. Milk is a terrible source of calcium; the body has a hard time fully digesting and assimilating protein from cooked meat; and Advil is toxic. And chiropractic alone wil not offer anything more than temporary relief for arthritis.

When a body is calcium or protein deficient, it cannot properly regenerate joints, ligaments, bones, and other internal structure with the proteins and minerals needed for proper mobility.

Ridding the body of arthritis is often one of the easiest and fastest natural remedies.

Quick and Easy Natural Arthritis Remedy

This is a quick fix. It’s like a Band-Aid. It’s a natural remedy that works, but you need to change your diet and lifestyle to restore your health.

Mix one packet of Knox gelatin in ½ cup of cold water and drink once or twice a day depending on the severity of the symptoms.

Inflammation

There are three steps for most people to eliminate inflammation. Kill Candida and balance the gut flora (eliminate wheat and refined foods), eat an 80% raw food diet, and balance the body’s fats and minerals.

Dr. Budwig’s quark and flax recipe is the fastest way to infuse anti-inflammatory omega 3 fatty acids into the body. Check out What Causes Chronic Inflammation, and How To Stop It For Good.

Calcium Deficiency

Nearly every calcium supplement on the market is terrible. Conventional calcium supplements are actually likely to cause kidney stones, arthritis and many other degenerative diseases.

An acidic diet is leads to calcium deficiency.

Vegetables are the best way to ingest, absorb, and most importantly, fully assimilate calcium. Beet greens, broccoli, bok choy, swiss chard, dandelion greens, kale, mustard spinach, sprouted soybeans, spinach, turnip greens, and collard greens are all very good sources of calcium. No supplement can replace the benefits of a diet full of these vegetables.

One other way to get some extra calcium into your diet is from raw egg shells, which contain not just calcium, but also other microelements, i.e. magnesium, boron, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, sulphur, silicon, zinc, and more.

Egg Shell Calcium

Place whole raw uncracked organic eggs in a glass jar or container. Add fresh squeezed organic lemon juice (concentrated will not work!) until eggs are completely covered. Cover the jar loosely and put into refrigerator. Agitate the liquid in the jar, gently, a few times a day. Two days later (48 hours) or when the bubbling has stopped, gently remove the eggs from the jar without breaking the egg membranes. The leftover lemony liquid is rich in all the aforementioned minerals and easily absorbable calcium. Store with airtight lid. Consume 2 to 4 ounces daily. Read more Homemade Calcium and Magnesium.

Protein Deficiency

Cooking meat binds the proteins making them hard to digest and assimilate. The more the meat is cooked, the more this is an issue. Some better sources of protein include raw eggs (dangerous if not organic), hemp powder, spirulina, and chlorella. Raw fresh vegetables have proteins as well. Remember, it’s not how much protein or calcium (or any other nutrient) that one eats; it’s how much of the nutrient is assimilated.

Dehydration

This is an easy one, but it’s not always as easy as “just drink water.” If the kidneys are not functioning properly due to an unhealthy diet, drinking more water is similar to dumping more water into a stopped-up toilet hoping to eliminate the clog.

Misalignment

If the neck is not in proper alignment, this can cause pain and limited mobility in the wrists, shoulders, and pretty much anywhere else. While chiropractic adjustments can help realign the neck, a healthy diet along with a low toxin lifestyle is essential to holding a chiropractic adjustment. An example of this is when the thyroid and adrenal glands become overtaxed by stimulants such as nicotine and caffeine, the neck will come out of alinement which aggravates arthritic conditions in the arm from the shoulder to the fingers.

Thyroid Problems

A thyroid that isn’t working right caused pinched nerves in the neck, tension headaches, and poor blood circulation through the whole body. See Understand Hypothyroidism – Prevention and Natural Remedies.

Conclusion

While proper diet and elimination of toxins can eliminate most any disease, some take longer than others. But arthritis is one of those ailments that is easy to completely eliminate in a matter of a few days to a couple of weeks for most cases. Arthritis in the elbows, wrists, knees, hips and shoulders are often caused by, and/or exacerbated by thyroid problems and a leaky gut. Check out, How To Kill Candida and Balance Your Inner Ecosystem and see Understand Hypothyroidism – Prevention and Natural Remedies.

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