Throughout life, a person is exposed to a wide variety of environmental factors.He does not always eat correctly and rationally, often has bad habits, moves little or, on the contrary, experiences excessive physical exertion.Of course, for the body the influence of these negative conditions does not pass without consequences.All internal organs and systems suffer, including bone and joint structures, the damage to which can sometimes be very serious.
Many people suffer from joint diseases, and the causes of pathologies are factors such as injuries, infections, age-related changes, autoimmune processes or combinations thereof.If the disease affects the lower extremities, in particular the knee joints, then the person’s motor activity is reduced to the maximum, performance is impaired, and social adaptation deteriorates.These negative consequences are especially pronounced in cases of arthrosis of the knees, or gonarthrosis, which can result in a disease of the knee joints of any origin.
Features of the disease
Knee joints constantly experience increased physical stress, providing various types of human motor activity, so their healthy condition and functionality are extremely important.But inflammatory processes in joint tissues (arthritis), metabolic and dystrophic disorders or traumatic injuries, especially if treatment is started late, can lead to the development of a very dangerous disease called arthrosis of the knee joints, or gonarthrosis.
This pathology has a progressive course and is most often diagnosed in old age, which is associated with the accumulation of negative multifactorial effects on the body.However, gonarthrosis can also develop in younger people, especially after serious injuries.
The disease goes through three stages, which are characterized by certain symptoms and have varying degrees of ability to “respond” to treatment methods.This is how gonarthrosis develops (each stage is expressed by a corresponding degree of pathological changes and destruction of the knee joints):
- With the first degree of arthrosis of the knee joint, degenerative-dystrophic processes begin in the cartilaginous layer.
- Stage 2 pathology is characterized by the progressive destruction of cartilage tissue, which is accompanied by a response growth of bone structures with the appearance of so-called osteophytes.It is at this stage that a person begins to experience knee pain and difficulty moving, so the diagnosis of gonarthrosis in most cases occurs in the second degree of joint destruction.
- Grade 3 is the almost complete absence of the cartilage layer or the presence of its individual small fragments.As a result, severe deformities of the knees are formed, mobility is lost (which leads to disability of the patient), there is maximum physical and psychological discomfort, as well as intense pain.Due to the active participation of bone tissue in the pathological process, arthrosis is often called osteoarthritis, and due to the formation of an X or O-shaped curvature of the lower extremities - deforming osteoarthritis, or DOA.
Each stage and degree of the disease is expressed by increasing destructive processes in the joints, which determines both the therapeutic approach and the choice of the most effective methods.
In addition, therapeutic tactics are also significantly influenced by the form of the disease, which is identified during the diagnostic process.Therefore, in order to achieve the most possible positive treatment result, it is important to distinguish the following types of gonarthrosis:
- primary, developing mainly in old age against the background of degenerative changes and being bilateral;
- secondary, formed against the background of articular pathologies or after injuries (for example, as a result of extensive hemorrhage inside the joint capsule, hemarthrosis of the knee joint can develop, the treatment of which has its own characteristics).The secondary form is most often unilateral and is diagnosed at any age.
The role of traditional medicine in the treatment of arthrosis
As mentioned above, with arthrotic changes in the joints, very serious destructive processes occur.They can begin with inflammation, an autoimmune reaction of the body, metabolic disorders, or traumatic injuries.Unfortunately, gonarthrosis is a chronic and steadily progressing pathology, which, however, does not mean that no methods can have an effect on the painful process that stops or slows down its development.
As the disease progresses and moves from stage to stage, the impact of provoking and predisposing factors continues.Therefore, treatment of knee arthrosis, regardless of its origin, should be aimed primarily at them.Thus, in acute or indolent forms of the inflammatory process, anti-inflammatory drugs, steroidal or non-hormonal in nature, are needed.Steroids also have a suppressive effect on the immune system, which is indispensable, along with other groups of immunosuppressants, in cases of autoimmune origin of arthrosis.The initial stages of destruction of hyaline cartilage can still be slowed down by introducing chondroprotective agents into the patient’s body, which can partially restore its integrity and functionality.
It is these methods of treating arthrosis of the knee joint, that is, certain groups of drugs and drug therapy in general, that are in first place, excluding those cases of severe gonarthrosis, when only surgical intervention such as endoprosthetics takes on leading importance.Also, with a conservative approach, physiotherapy, physical therapy, and massage are effective.What is the role of treating arthrosis of the knee joint with folk remedies and how effective is it?
Traditional treatment refers to the effect on the human body of means of natural, that is, natural, origin, as well as low or high air temperatures and various parameters of its humidity.In this case, the effect is carried out locally on certain areas of the skin or on its entire area, through the digestive tract or through the respiratory tract.Of course, the most acceptable of these can be considered the local use of folk remedies for arthrosis, when lotions or compresses prepared from plant materials are applied to the knee area.
Meanwhile, other methods of influencing the patient’s body can also be used if permitted by the attending doctor.Why not warm up in a village bathhouse and breathe in the life-giving juniper “spirit” there to restore your defenses and stimulate your immune system?Or not use herbal and berry decoctions or fruit drinks containing a huge amount of vitamins and biologically active substances, which have a very beneficial effect on all internal organs, not only on the joint system?
In general, the treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint with folk remedies, although it does not directly affect the cause and source of the pathology, pursues certain goals that are no less significant than those of drug therapy:
- maintaining immunity in a satisfactory condition;
- providing a local anti-inflammatory effect on joint structures;
- slight stimulation of regeneration processes;
- additional positive effect on other internal organs and systems.
Therefore, treatment of deforming arthrosis of the knee joint with folk remedies, as well as other types of this pathology, is always included in a comprehensive and strictly individual treatment regimen.It plays the role of an auxiliary and additional method, which also traditionally has great psychological significance for patients.The use of all kinds of folk remedies, even at very serious stages of gonarthrosis, when there is practically no real therapeutic help, can still improve a person’s psycho-emotional mood, lift his spirits and inspire hope for recovery.And the psychological perception of the disease and its causes, as is known, underlies the psychosomatic approach to therapy, which cannot be ignored.
However, it is still better not to use these well-known traditional medicine treatments on your own, without taking into account the required dosages, frequency of doses and duration of the course.It is important that the treatment of gonarthrosis of the knee joint with folk remedies, its intensity and the choice of a specific method are approved or recommended by a specialist.Only a doctor who deals with joint diseases can know exactly how to treat arthrosis of the knee joint with folk remedies, at what stage it is necessary to do this and at what stage it is practically ineffective.
It is a specialist in the field of joint diseases or in the field of treatment with folk remedies who can give the patient the following recommendations:
- Before using the method for the first time, be sure to consult a doctor;
- before introducing a medicinal product into the treatment regimen, carry out a tolerance test (for external use) - apply the ointment or solution to the skin of the inner forearm, leave for 1-2 hours and see the result (if there are no changes, then you can safely use it);
- do not make drugs for future use, as much as possible - for 1-2 days (with the exception of products containing ethyl alcohol), observing the storage rules;
- strictly adhere to the dosage, frequency of administration and course duration;
- If adverse reactions occur, you must immediately stop using the method and consult a doctor.
Every doctor knows that the earlier therapy is started, the more successful the result will be.This fully applies to gonarthrosis: using a conservative approach, including a folk one, makes sense at stages 1-2 of the pathology.At the third stage, when the hyaline cartilage in the joint no longer exists and when persistent osteo-fibrous deformities have formed, it will no longer be possible to completely cure the disease, and treatment of arthrosis of the knee joints with folk remedies will only perform a supporting psychological function.
Traditional medicine methods
To relieve pain, reduce swelling in the knee area and thereby help restore the functionality of the joints, several of the most common methods and recipes are used.The raw materials for them are taken only of natural origin, which can be prepared independently or purchased at a pharmacy.
The following methods are mainly used in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint:
- compresses;
- ointments and rubs;
- decoctions and infusions;
- medicinal baths.
When applying compresses, the combined effect of plant materials and elevated temperature, which is created by the insulating layer, is important.All types of compresses are best used at night, when the knee joint is at rest, and 7-8 hours while the person is sleeping will be enough to provide the maximum possible therapeutic effect.As a rule, compresses are made once a day, for 7-10 days, after a while the course can be repeated.
A variety of components are used as raw materials for compresses: gelatin, dead bees, iodine, horseradish, kefir, potatoes, propolis with salt, oatmeal.But the most common are vodka and cabbage leaves.A piece of cloth soaked in vodka or a cabbage leaf rubbed by hand is applied to the knee, then the leg is covered with a film and tied with a warm cloth.All warming compresses have an analgesic, anti-inflammatory effect and reduce swelling.
Homemade ointments and rubs are good to provide a local anesthetic effect.For example, an equal number of chamomile flowers, burdock root and calendula inflorescences are crushed and mixed with petroleum jelly to form a paste-like mass.This ointment is used 4-5 times a day when the patient is bothered by severe pain.
To support the body in the fight against arthrosis, you can use decoctions of medicinal herbs: lingonberry, calendula, St. John's wort, chamomile.The drink is prepared for one day, as its properties are lost during storage.On the contrary, alcohol tinctures can be stored for a long time, and their characteristics only improve.They can be prepared from elecampane root, dandelion, and golden mustache stems.
Warm baths with string or chamomile, as well as with the addition of sea salt, perfectly relax muscles, relieve soreness and swelling.After them, patients note an improvement in their general condition and mobility in their knees.Therapeutic baths are used once a day, preferably at night.
Patient reviews
Each patient, having asked for help, receives from the doctor a treatment regimen for osteoarthritis of the knee joint, which also includes traditional methods.As a rule, the impressions from their use are positive, here are some of them:
- Woman, 58 years old: “I have been suffering from deforming gonarthrosis for almost 10 years, I carry out treatment constantly.My doctor always says that joints love warmth, so I apply warm compresses to my knees according to a certain pattern.They really relieve pain and help me move.”
- Man, 61 years old: “My mother also used fir oil for joint pain.Now, having bilateral arthrosis in my knees, I apply her experience.I rub the oil well into my knees, wrap it in a warm scarf and go to bed.”
- Woman: 50 years old: “I would like to recommend a recipe for an ointment for arthrosis, which helps me a lot.You need to grind 5-6 bay leaves, grind 1 tsp.pine needles or juniper berries and mix with 100 g of butter.Rub into sore joints before bed.Gradually the pain and swelling go away.”
Therapy for gonarthrosis always takes a long time and requires perseverance and patience.It is important to follow all doctor’s orders and regularly use courses of alternative treatment.Only in this case will a positive result be noticeable.