4 ways to naturally relieve arthritis pain

Relieve your aching joints without medication using these four natural arthritis treatments.

Arthritis sufferers are often forced to deal with severe joint pain day after day, and there are many medications that can help soothe the pain. However, sufferers of arthritis can also take non-medicinal steps on their own to help ease the condition.

Acupuncture is a type of eastern medicine that involves inserting thin needles into specific pressure points in your body. Eastern medicine specialists believe that by placing a needle into these points, you can reroute the energy coursing through the body to heal pain or an ailment.

If you're suffering from severe arthritis pain, do some research about good acupuncturists in your area. Your acupuncturist will discuss his or her ideas about treatment and may also incorporate a massage.

It is common for a person's arthritis pain to be exacerbated by extra pressure on their nerves, often caused by a body that's carrying more weight than it's built for. If you're suffering from joint pain, consider losing weight through an improved diet or gentle exercise.

Losing weight lessens pressure on several specific joints including the knees, hips and feet, making it a good tactic for people who suffer from the arthritis in the lower half of their body.

Soaking in an Epsom salt bath has proven to ease pain in many arthritis sufferers because the salt contains magnesium sulfate, an ingredient that has been shown to relax muscles and ease tension.

If you suffer from arthritis throughout your body, add two cups of Epsom salt to a warm bath. If you have arthritis in your outer extremities, a more effective approach is to create a small soaking bath in a large mixing bowl.

Exercise might be painful with arthritis, but experts have shown that being active is often one of the best ways to ease arthritis. Since stiffness is often increased when you're sitting still, consider getting up and taking a stroll or walk.

Start by doing a gentle 15 minutes every day. Not only will your joints become less stiff, but you may also lose some weight while you're at it. Slowly easing yourself into longer walks is a great natural arthritis discomfort reliever that can help you continue to build muscle resistance, which can help relieve some pain, too.