A joint is where two bones meet and is made up of a number of different parts that all work together so that we can bend, stretch, twist and turn easily, but within certain limits.
The ends of your bones are covered in a thin layer of cartilage. Over time, the cartilage that forms the joint can deteriorate.
In addition, there are fluid sacs in the knee capsule to keep the joint lubricated. These bursae can become irritated or inflamed if injured, resulting in bursitis.
There are many potential causes for knee joint pain:
- Osteoarthritis – A chronic condition that occurs when the cartilage between bones breaks down.
- Rheumatoid arthritis – An autoimmune disease that affects joints, causing swelling.
- Bursitis – Inflammation of fluid sacs either in front or directly behind the kneecap.
- Immuno-inflammatory conditions.
- Injury/over-use.
- Infection.
- Tendonitis – Inflammation of tendons.
- Gout – A form of arthritis in which uric acid accumulates and crystals of it settle in a joint.
Fortunately for our joints, there are natural remedies to decrease inflammation and relieve the pain.
The following recipe is a knee joint pain relieving rub. It contains effective anti-inflammatories and analgesics.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons cayenne pepper powder
- 1 cup raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar or 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, warmed
- 1/2 inch ginger, grated
Instructions:
Add the grated ginger and the cayenne pepper to the apple cider vinegar or warm olive oil. Stir this mixture well until you get a fine paste.
Apply this paste on the affected areas two times a day and leave it for 20 minutes.
You may want to experiment with the recipe and mix half the amount of apple cider vinegar with the olive oil; sometimes the rub can be quite strong and the olive oil will lessen heat and make the paste easier to apply.
Cayenne pepper
Capsaicin is a phytochemical in this spicy pepper that relieves pain through a variety of mechanisms. First, capsaicin blocks chemical pain transmitters from reaching the brain. Second, when applied topically, it penetrates the skin to defunctionalize fibers that respond to pain stimuli. Lastly, capsaicin prevents pain from spreading to other areas.
Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is a potent anti-inflammatory that can relieve joint stiffness. The acetic acid in apple cider vinegar penetrates the skin and can help to break up acid crystals that can form in the joint. Also, acetic acid has been found to provide effective relief for tendonitis and other joint inflammation
Olive oil
Anti-inflammatory and emollient, olive oil is a wonderful carrier oil.
Ginger
A potent anti-inflammatory, the phytochemical gingerol inhibits excessive immune response that results in inflammation. A 2014 study of the daily topical application of ginger on joints of people with osteoarthritis resulted in pain relief within a week and continued for the 24-week duration of the study.
source: http://www.healthiestalternative.com/
