Reasons To Use Natural Remedies For Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative bone disease, which is recognized by the symptoms of painful, inflamed and stiff joints. This is generally thought to be caused by accumulated damage to the connective tissues that the body can no longer efficiently repair, which is why most of the people affected are of more advanced years. While injuries, disease and general wear and tear of the connective tissues are factors that increase the chances of developing osteoarthritis, the exact causes are yet unknown.

Because of this, there is no known cure to osteoarthritis, and most treatments instead seek to relieve the symptoms of the disease. This usually allows most people with osteoarthritis the ability to live relatively normal lives, despite having the disease.

Conventional medicine's first approach is to prescribe analgesics to deal with the pain, while anti-inflammatory medication may also be prescribed to deal with any inflammation in the joints. Stiffness and the loss of mobility are treated with physical therapy, and most will also be advised to follow a regimen of moderate exercise to strengthen surrounding muscles. These methods are usually very effective, though more extreme cases may require other steps, such as surgical replacement of the joint.

Aside from conventional methods, alternative natural methods of treatment are also available. These methods include a wide range of disciplines within the classification of alternative medicine, including but not limited to herbal medicine, acupuncture, and the use of natural supplements. In general, conventional medicine does not advocate the use of alternative methods, though some doctors are beginning to accept the use of some alternative methods.

Despite the lack of support from conventional doctors and medical professionals, alternative natural remedies for osteoarthritis continue to be used, with a growing number of affected individuals admitting to have at least tried out these remedies. In fact, a good number claim to continue to use alternative methods, and testify to the effectiveness of various natural methods.

Why do these people choose to use natural remedies to treat their osteoarthritis? Here are some of the most common reasons:

1. More Practical: In some cases, these natural remedies are considered more practical, as well as economical. Many natural methods advocate the use of remedies that are readily available at home, reducing the expense of treating osteoarthritis. Many of those same methods are also easy to take, or apply, with little need for special instructions or even equipment. In some cases, even using natural supplements for treatment can cost substantially less than prescription drugs.

2. Safe To Use: Most people who take natural remedies for osteoarthritis perceive these remedies to be safer to use than conventional drugs and medications. Most conventional medications, specially those which are more potent in nature, carry with them risks of harmful side effects, particularly through long-term use. Generally speaking, most alternative natural methods do not have such harmful side effects, or if they do, they are relatively minor when compared to the risks carried by conventional drugs.

3. Healthier: The growing perception of many people today is that "natural" equates to "healthy" and that carries over to the remedies and methods used to treat osteoarthritis. While this is not always the case, the fact is that a good number of natural remedies are healthier for the body. Herbal remedies, for example, may also include vitamins and minerals that the body needs, and are also often used to treat more than one condition as well.

4. They Are Effective: Perhaps the best reason that natural remedies are used to treat osteoarthritis symptoms is the fact that they are effective. This is after all the bottom line in any arthritis treatment, and the bottom line for anybody who has arthritis. Proof of their effectiveness may come in the form of a few tests and studies, or even from testimonies of others with arthritis, but for many, these are enough reason to believe that they are effective.