If you have rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune inflammation, you know the pain it can cause in the joints. The body's immune system actually attacks itself, generally on the membranes that line the wrist and finger joints. You may also feel pain around your neck, shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, ankles, and soles of your feet. However, relieving pain by dealing with inflammation can reduce the discomfort you are experiencing. Using aloe vera, getting used to an anti-inflammatory diet, and making lifestyle changes can relieve pain from rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.
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Part 1 of 3: Using Aloe Vera
Step 1. Learn about aloe vera gel and juice
Aloe vera plant gel is a natural treatment for wounds, burns, infections, and some joint pains and arthritis. You can apply it directly to the joints, or drink the juice to reduce inflammation. Aloe vera is useful for treating rheumatoid arthritis because it has anti-inflammatory properties, a pain-relieving effect (possibly due to its anti-inflammatory properties), and can accelerate wound healing. In addition, aloe vera is also a safe moisturizing and anti-aging ingredient.
- The gel comes from the center of the aloe vera leaf, known as the inner fillet. This part contains more complex sugars than aloe vera juice. This complex sugar is thought to be responsible for the benefits of aloe vera.
- While the juice is extracted from the outside of the aloe vera leaf and also contains complex sugars.
Step 2. Remove the aloe vera gel from the plant
If any aloe vera plant is ripe, cut the leaves with sharp scissors and peel off the outer layer to remove the gel inside. Use your fingers to dispense the gel or cut off the tips of the leaves and then squeeze the gel out.
If you want to buy the gel, look it up online or at your local drugstore. Buy organic aloe vera products without additives or preservatives
Step 3. Apply aloe vera to the joints
First, apply aloe vera to a small area of the skin to check for possible reactions. If a rash or other skin problem occurs, stop using aloe vera. If there is no irritation to the skin, apply aloe vera to the area that bothers you the most. Apply this gel as you would a regular lotion. This will temporarily relieve the pain from rheumatoid arthritis. As long as there is no skin irritation, you can continue to treat the pain with aloe for as long as you want.
Some people experience no side effects, but aloe vera may cause redness, a burning sensation, stinging, and sometimes, a rash in the short term
Step 4. Understand the side effects and health interactions of aloe vera
Aloe vera juice is reported to reduce the immune response so that it is useful in treating rheumatoid arthritis. Drinking aloe vera juice can also cause cramps, diarrhea, and flatulence. If this happens, stop taking it. Drinking aloe vera juice can lower blood sugar and interact with diabetes medications. So, do not consume aloe vera juice for more than 3-4 weeks. Aloe vera juice can also decrease the absorption of steroid creams and potassium levels if consumed. Therefore, always consult with a health professional before combining medications with supplements, including oral or topical aloe vera.
- While there have been no long-term studies on the internal effects of aloe vera, one study has found a link between aloe vera juice and colon cancer.
- The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) does not recommend consuming aloe vera. However, strongly recommend the use of aloe vera topically.
Step 5. Drink aloe vera juice
Look for organic aloe vera juice (such as Lily of the Desert or Nature's Way) that contains no additives or preservatives. Start little by little like 60-90 ml once a day to check your body's reaction to the juice. Increase the frequency of consumption of aloe vera juice to 60-90 ml 3 times a day. It has a slightly bitter taste and you may need a little time to get used to it. You can try adding 1 teaspoon of honey to aloe vera juice or mixing it with fruit juice until you like the taste.
never ever Drink aloe vera gel because it contains a strong laxative and can cause diarrhea.
Part 2 of 3: Changing Your Diet and Lifestyle
Step 1. Choose higher quality food ingredients
Prioritize eating organic foods. These foods do not contain pesticides and other chemicals such as hormones and antibiotics that may be associated with an increased risk of inflammation. You should also limit the consumption of processed or packaged foods. Thus, the intake of preservatives and additives that may increase inflammation in some people. This step will also ensure that you are consuming complex carbohydrates, not simple carbohydrates that can increase inflammation.
- Try to cook food from scratch using fresh ingredients. So, most of the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients will be preserved.
- The general guideline is that if the color of a food is too white, such as white bread, white pasta, these foods are processed foods. Better, consume whole wheat bread, brown bread, and whole wheat pasta.
Step 2. Eat more fruits and vegetables
Try to meet 2/3 of your diet with fruit, vegetables, and whole grains. Fruits and vegetables contain lots of antioxidants that can reduce inflammation. Try to choose fresh fruits and vegetables. While frozen fruit and vegetables are OK, you should avoid eating vegetables with any kind of fatty cream sauce. Avoid fruits that contain sugar or thick liquids. Instead, choose brightly colored fruits and vegetables that contain lots of antioxidants. These fruits and vegetables include:
- Berries (blueberries and raspberries)
- Apple
- Plum
- Orange
- Citrus
- Green leafy vegetables
- Pumpkin
- Paprika
Step 3. Increase fiber intake
Fiber can reduce inflammation. Try to ensure a daily fiber intake of at least 20-35 mg. High-fiber foods include: whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans and legumes, and whole grains. The following foods are good sources of fiber:
- Brown rice, Bulgarian wheat, buckwheat, oats, millet, quinoa
- Apples, pears, figs, dates, grapes, all kinds of berries
- Leafy greens (spinach, mustard, cabbage, swiss chard, kale), broccoli, brussels sprouts, pak choy, beets
- Peas, lentils, all kinds of beans (red, black, white, lima)
- Pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and nuts include almonds, pecans, walnuts, and pistachios.
Step 4. Limit red meat intake
If you eat meat, be sure to choose low-fat beef (preferably grass-fed beef because it has a natural ratio of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids), and skinless poultry. Any kind of meat you eat should come from animals raised without hormones or antibiotics. In addition, you also have to scrape the fat. Limiting meat intake will help reduce saturated fat intake. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that you limit your intake of saturated fat to less than 7% of total daily calories.
- You can avoid saturated fat by cutting out butter, margarine, and fat when cooking. Instead use olive oil or canola oil.
- The AHA also recommends that you avoid all trans fats. Read labels on food packaging and avoid anything containing "partially hydrogenated fats." This indicates that the product contains trans fat, even if the label says "0 trans fat".
Step 5. Increase fish intake
Fish is a source of high-quality protein and is rich in healthy omega-3 fatty acids. A higher intake of omega 3 fatty acids has been linked to reduced levels of inflammation. Fish that contain lots of omega 3 fatty acids include: tuna, trout, sardines, and mackerel.
Do not forget to drink plenty of water and meet the body's fluid needs
Step 6. Add anti-inflammatory herbs and spices to your food
Certain herbs and spices can reduce pain from rheumatoid arthritis. Some of these are also available in supplement form (garlic, turmeric/curcumin, omega 3 fatty acids, and vitamins C and E). However, be sure to consult your doctor first before using it. Getting these nutritious ingredients from food is better than taking supplements. These herbs and spices include:
- Garlic
- Turmeric/curcumin
- Basil
- Oregano
- Clove
- Cinnamon
- Ginger
- Chilli
Step 7. Do moderate-intensity exercise
Exercise can help maintain overall body health, as well as bone and muscle strength. However, don't forget that exercise can also include low-intensity activities such as aerobics, weight training, walking, hiking, Tai Chi, or yoga. All of these types of exercise can help maintain body strength and flexibility.
Make sure to balance exercise and rest. If your rheumatoid arthritis recurs, taking short breaks is more beneficial than long breaks
Step 8. Take disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
These drugs include anti-inflammatory agents. Doctors may also prescribe antibodies aimed at fighting tumor necrosis factor. The function of these drugs in rheumatoid arthritis is not clear, but they are usually used in combination with anti-inflammatory drugs. Or you may also be prescribed a new biologic drug in the form of a genetically engineered protein, along with an anti-inflammatory drug. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics are also used with other drugs.
DMARDs such as methotrexate can cause serious liver injury and hypersensitivity reactions. Side effects include fever, fatigue, cough, and difficulty breathing
Part 3 of 3: Understanding Rheumatoid Arthritis
Step 1. Be aware of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis
The first signs and symptoms are joint pain and swelling that often feel warm to the touch. Many people with rheumatoid arthritis experience only relatively mild joint pain and stiffness, but also experience occasional "attacks" of rheumatism that exacerbate signs and symptoms. While some others experience chronic symptoms continuously. Although early treatment can prevent it, as the disease progresses, joints and bones can become damaged and result in decreased function. Other symptoms include:
- Fatigue, muscle aches, and general joint stiffness that lasts for at least 1 hour after walking or prolonged rest (unlike the pain and stiffness in osteoarthritis, which subsides quickly).
- Experiencing other health problems more often than people who do not suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. These include other autoimmune diseases (such as Sjogren's syndrome), vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels), anemia (a lower than normal number of oxygen-carrying red blood cells to tissues), and lung disease.
- Rheumatoid nodules occur in nearly 35% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. These nodules look like lumps under the skin of a sore joint, most often near the elbow. These lumps are usually painless and can move freely under the skin, and can range in size from the size of a pea to the size of a lemon.
Step 2. Understand the risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis
Although the cause is unknown, this disease is thought to be related to genetic factors. Chances are, a certain group of genes (rather than just a single gene) will increase your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. Hormones and environmental factors also play a role in the development of this disease.
Men and women of all races or ethnicities can develop rheumatoid arthritis. However, this disease is more common in women than men. Women are about 2-3 times more likely to develop this disease, which usually begins in middle age
Step 3. Know how to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is diagnosed based on signs, symptoms, family and medical history, as well as a physical examination. The doctor will then use this diagnosis to develop a treatment plan with the primary goal of reducing pain by reducing inflammation and minimizing damage to the joints. To diagnose rheumatoid arthritis, your doctor will:
- Laboratory tests, including X-rays or other scans of diseased joints.
- Blood sampling, especially to check for Rheumatoid Factor (RF), as well as other non-specific tests. Although nonspecific tests can check for inflammation, it is the RF test that can diagnose rheumatoid arthritis.
- Diagnostic tests to confirm the absence of other conditions resembling rheumatoid arthritis (such as infectious arthropathy which is joint pain due to infection, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), ankylosing spondylitis which mainly affects the spine and larger joints, and fibromyalgia).
