Arthritis in Your Hands? 5 Drug-FREE Solutions
By
Dr. Richard Gerhauser, M.D.
Posted February 18, 2021
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
Can Nature’s “Green Secret” Reverse Alzheimer’s Disease?!
There are two words that send shivers down everyone’s spine: Alzheimer’s disease. It’s a condition that’s characterized by a buildup of toxic beta-amyloid plaques in your brain. They interfere with the communication between neurons in your brain, and they lead to the death of neurons. It’s a devastating double-whammy. But a recent study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease found that nature’s “green secret” could be...
The “BIGGEST” Obstacle in the Cancer War
Overall, cancer is on the decline. That’s the good news. But the bad news is that it could be declining MUCH faster than it actually is. Nearly 10 million people still die every year from this disease. But there’s one simple step you can take — starting today — to help keep you from being one of those 10 million. It’ll help you beat the “biggest...
Powerful Duo DESTROYS High Blood Sugar
Whether you have type 2 diabetes or not, you should be paying attention to your blood sugar levels. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, high blood sugar levels can increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, nerve problems, and more — even if you don’t have diabetes. Fortunately, you don’t have to swear off...
The Missing Link to COVID-19?
COVID-19 is finally on the decline — and it’s about time. As we speak, mask-wearing mandates are being lifted in many states. But that doesn’t mean you’re in the clear. In fact, it means you need to be taking even more steps on your own to make sure you’re protected. Like loading up on one key nutrient that could decrease your risk of severe complications if you ever do get COVID-19. A...
Natural Compound RESTORES Memory Loss?!
Alzheimer’s is devastating for the patient AND for his or her loved ones. Although there is no cure, many recent studies have offered a ray of hope for everyone affected by this disease — whether you’re the patient or their loved one. In fact, in one recent study, researchers identified a natural compound that can reverse some of the most devastating memory effects of Alzheimer’s. It’s one of the biggest breakthroughs...
Dr. G’s Top 6 Supplements to FIGHT Aging
Let’s face it, we all know people who “look great for their age.” Well, here’s a crazy idea: What if we took our biological age and threw it out the window. Because frankly, instead of accepting aging as a part of life, I’d rather focus on vitality at any age (NOT vitality despite my age!). There are plenty of lifestyle change you can...
Are You Being Overtreated for CANCER? [The Ugly Truth]
Make no mistake about it: Medicine is big business. I wish most doctors and medical organizations made decisions based on the patient’s best interests — as opposed to the bottom line… But too often that’s not the case. What does that mean for you? It means you could be counseled to get a procedure or a surgery that you DON’T need. Because let’s face it, mainstream...
[Study] 4 Supplements Linked to LowerCOVID-19 Risk?
When it comes to COVID-19, you should be doing whatever it takes to lower your risk — especially if you’re an older adult. According to the CDC, 8 out of 10 COVID-19 deaths have been in people over 65. And, compared to people 5-17 years old, the rate of death in folks from 65-74 is 1300 TIMES HIGHER. That’s not a typo. But whatever your age, you can do...
There’s no doubt that what you eat impacts your physical health. But food’s impact on your mental and emotional wellbeing is just as powerful. There are plenty of reasons for this connection. A big one is because your gut contains neurons, and serotonin (the neurotransmitter that’s involved in depression and anxiety) is particularly abundant in your gut. Personally, I find that fascinating. Plus,...
[Prediabetes]: Hidden DANGERS
You know by now that type 2 diabetes can increase your risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, nerve damage, amputations, and much more. But if you “only” have pre-diabetes, you might be tempted to think that you’re in the clear. Not so fast. Why? Because a recent study found out that these hidden dangers of pre-diabetes could be just as deadly as diabetes itself. Prediabetes is considered...
