If you have arthritis, you already know it affects the movement and flexibility of joints by causing stiffness, rigidity and pain. Fortunately, there are many natural means of relieving arthritis pain. And one of the first natural arthritis treatments your doctor might suggest is the use of hot and/or cold therapy. The benefits of this particular home remedy for arthritis relief are that it’s costs-effective, safe and free of chemical side effects. Even though it might seem odd that opposite temperatures are used, hot and cold therapy both work quite effectively to stimulate the body’s natural healing force.
When heat is applied to an area, blood vessels dilate and circulation is improved, as is oxygenation to the area where the heat is applied. There are many ways to apply heat to the body: heated belts, pads and patches, heat lamps, moist heating pads (also sometimes known as “hydrocollators”), warm baths, showers, whirlpools, hot tubs, and warm towels heated in the microwave. In addition, many people discover find that steam saunas are especially useful for arthritis pain relief. Whatever method of heat delivery you choose, it’s recommended to use heat therapy at least twice daily. Make sure to regulate the heat so it’s only as warm as can be tolerated by the body without causing discomfort.
Cold therapy is right up there with heat in terms of effectiveness, so it is also known as one of the more beneficial joint pain remedies. Cold temperature helps ease arthritis pain by decreasing swelling and inflammation in joints. This is achieved because cold causes constriction of blood vessels and decreased blood flow, thus creating numbness. You can apply cold therapy by using ice massages, cold packs, a frozen cloth or soaking in cold baths. Regular application of some form of cold treatment for five to 10 minutes daily has been found to be of great help to arthritis patients.
For some, alternating hot and cold treatment can also be effective. But there is one caveat: using heat or alternating heat and cold shouldn’t be used until after the first 48 hours after pain appears. As a general rule, cold therapy should be used within the first 48 hours and heat should be used for pain that lasts longer than 48 hours. But each body is different, so experiment with each modality or a combination of these two temperature-based natural arthritis remedies to determine which provides the best pain relief for you. If either heat or cold causes your pain to worsen, stop using it. Your own experience should be your guide.