Arthritis in Your Hands? 5 Drug-FREE Solutions
If you have arthritis in your hands, you know how difficult it can make daily life.
You use your fingers for so many tasks—from brushing your teeth, to tying your shoes, to opening that jar of pasta sauce.
So, when they’re stiff, painful, and weak, everyday tasks can be a real struggle.
But I’ll tell you what I tell my patients when they’re dealing with painful, arthritis hands:
You don’t need mainstream’s dangerous drugs to get some much-needed relief.
Try one of these 5 drug-free solutions instead.
This isn’t an exhaustive list of remedies for painful arthritis, but it’s a good place to start.
It includes a nice blend of exercise, therapies, creams, and supplements—all with evidence showing they can help with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or both.
- Hand Exercises
Multiple studies have shown that performing hand exercises is beneficial for people with hand arthritis.
In one study, women with hand osteoarthritis (OA) did hand exercises three times a day for three months. The exercises included things like squeezing a rubber ball and spreading their fingers as wide as possible.
As the study progressed, the women experienced improvements in joint pain, grip, and function.
And in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who were already taking medication, those who added in hand stretching and strengthening exercises experienced greater improvements in hand flexibility, dexterity, and strength.
- Acupuncture
Acupuncture has a long history of successfully treating chronic pain. It has been specifically shown to help reduce pain and numbness in people with carpal tunnel syndrome.
And a review published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that adding in acupuncture with other therapies helped to manage pain and improve quality of life in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
- Hot and Cold Therapy
Heat and cold have different effects that can both be beneficial for a condition like arthritis. Heat therapy can relax your muscles and lubricate your joints, while cold therapy can help reduce pain, swelling, and stiffness.
You can try applying hot or cold therapy, but I’ve found that many people experience the greatest benefit by doing a combination of both.
Heat therapy can involve soaking your hands in warm water, applying a heating pad, or doing a paraffin wax bath.
Cold therapy can be as simple as putting ice or a bag of frozen vegetables on your hands.
- Capsaicin Creams
Capsaicin is the compound found in hot peppers that makes them hot. It’s also responsible for many of chili peppers’ health benefits (read about some of them here).
But topical creams made with capsaicin can be especially effective against arthritis pain because it helps block your body’s pain signals.
One study showed that when people with OA of the hand and knee used capsaicin gel for 12 weeks, they experienced a 50 percent reduction in pain.
- Curcumin
Curcumin, the main component in the spice turmeric, is hands down one of the best natural treatments for arthritis pain.
That’s because it’s one of nature’s best anti-inflammatories.
One study showed that just 500 milligrams of turmeric twice a day reduced joint pain and stiffness in both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Supplements are widely available at health food stores and online from retailers like Amazon.com
P.S. Arthritis – whether it’s in your hands, or your knees, or ANY joint – is miserable. It’s time to put an end to that pain for GOOD. Click here to learn how to stop your arthritis pain once and for all.
Written By Dr. Richard Gerhauser, M.D.
For years he’s been the trusted doctor for celebrities, world-class athletes, and countless seniors looking to reclaim their health.
And now…for the first time ever… he’s making his medical breakthroughs available to readers all across America.
Dr. Richard Gerhauser, M.D. is one of the most pioneering and innovative minds in medicine today – and he delivers cutting-edge cures each month through his Natural Health Response newsletter.
Natural Health Response readers get full access to Dr. Gerhauser’s protocols for chronic pain… heart disease… diabetes… Alzheimer’s… and even cancer. These are the very same treatments Dr. Gerhauser recommends to his own patients at his practice in Tucson, Arizona.
In addition to being a board-certified medical doctor, Dr. Gerhauser has earned two master’s degrees and has served as a clinical professor at the University of Arizona.
And as a physician at the world-famous Canyon Ranch, Dr. Gerhauser treated celebrities from around the world who paid dearly for the type of next-generation health information he provides Natural Health Response readers each month.
View More Free Articles
The HEALTHIEST Vegetables You Should Eat Daily
Did you know that the American Heart Association recommends eating five servings EACH of fruit and vegetables daily? I don’t know many people who can fit that amount of produce into their daily diet. If you do, great. If not, I have a list of the healthiest vegetables to provide the MOST bang for your […]
Boost Bone Strength WITHOUT Drugs
Have you been talked into getting a bone scan for osteoporosis yet? If you haven’t, it’s coming. But you won’t get that spiel from me. Too often, folks get these scans who don’t need them—and then doctors incorrectly interpret the results. This adds up to countless seniors who’ve been told they have osteoporosis when they […]
Target the TRUE Cause of Dry Eyes
Cases of dry eye syndrome are skyrocketing. Approximately 20 million folks in the USA alone battle the condition. And that number is rapidly growing among young and older adults alike. That means if you’re not already battling dry eyes—and you’re one of the thousands constantly reaching for artificial tears because your body isn’t producing enough […]
Take A STAND Against High Blood Pressure [EASY!]
Often, what you DON’T do is just as important as what you DO for your health. For example, not smoking, not eating processed food, and not exposing yourself to blue light at night will go a long way toward helping you live a longer, healthier life. The same is true for your blood pressure. Research […]
Fall Asleep FAST and Stay Asleep LONGER
If you’re dealing with a sleep problem, chances are good that you’re dealing with lifestyle problems. Insomnia is typically a telltale sign of circadian rhythm disruption (not enough morning sun, too much blue light from TV at night), stress, too much caffeine late in the day, long daytime naps, etc. You get the picture. But […]
Dietary Trigger for IBD REVEALED
Cases of irritable bowel diseases (IBD)—like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease—have skyrocketed in recent years… especially in industrialized nations. What is it about our modern society that increases the risk and severity of these inflammatory diseases? Scientists still don’t know the cause, but in my opinion, you don’t need to look any further than the […]
5 NATURAL Supplements to Boost Your Mood
Research has revealed MANY things that can boost your mood, including exercise, sleep, spending time with pets, listening to music, and keeping a gratitude journal. But can a better mood come in a bottle? More specifically, a supplement bottle? Scientists say, “YES!” In fact, research has revealed FIVE natural mood-boosting supplements that are proven to […]
Popular Pain Reliever BAD for Your Heart?!
Last week, I explained that mainstream medicine’s options for pain relief always come with a catch. Today, I will reveal a prime example of that “catch.” It turns out that a common pain reliever that’s supposedly the “best option” for people with heart disease might not be as safe as you’ve been led to believe. […]
Food Sensitivities Trigger Mysterious Symptoms
What do joint pain, skin rashes, headaches, and brain fog all have in common? They can all be caused by food sensitivities. Identifying problem foods—and eliminating them from your diet—can improve chronic symptoms ranging from migraine headaches and joint pain to skin rashes, brain fog, and even fatigue and fibromyalgia. The only problem? Most people—and […]
Forbidden Drink SLASHES Colon Cancer Risk 32%
A few weeks ago, I highlighted the alarming increase in colon cancer in people under 55. And I shared the results of a recent study showing that obesity is a key factor driving colorectal cancer in younger people. Of course, thousands of us over 55 are still diagnosed with colon cancer every year. And in […]