Throughout life, a person is exposed to a 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 strain.Of course, for the body, the impact of these negative conditions does not pass without consequences.All internal organs and systems suffer, including bone and joint structures, the damage of which can sometimes be very serious.
Many people suffer from joint diseases and the causes of pathologies are factors such as injuries, infections, age changes, autoimmune processes or their combinations.If the disease affects the lower extremities, especially the knee joints, then the person's motor activity is reduced to the maximum, performance is impaired and social adaptation worsens.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.
Characteristics 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 multifactorial negative effects on the body.However, gonarthrosis can also develop in young people, especially after severe injuries.
The disease goes through three stages, which are characterized by certain symptoms and have different 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 cartilage layer.
- Stage 2 pathology is characterized by the progressive destruction of cartilage tissue, which is accompanied by an increased response of bone structures with the appearance of so-called osteophytes.It is at this stage that a person begins to experience pain in the knee and difficulty in movement, 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 small individual fragments of it.As a result, severe deformities of the knees are formed, loss of mobility (which leads to disability of the patient), there is maximum physical and psychological discomfort, as well as severe 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 the increase of destructive processes in the joint, which determines both the therapeutic approach and the choice of the most effective methods.
In addition, therapeutic tactics are significantly influenced by the form of the disease, which is identified during the diagnostic process.Therefore, in order to achieve the most possible positive result of treatment, it is important to distinguish the following types of gonarthrosis:
- primary, developing mainly in old age against the background of degenerative and bilateral changes;
- 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 may 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 arthritic changes in the joints, very serious destructive processes occur.They can start with inflammation, an autoimmune reaction of the body, metabolic disorders or traumatic injuries.Unfortunately, gonarthrosis is a chronic and constantly progressing pathology, which, however, does not mean that no method can affect the painful process that stops or slows down its development.
As the disease progresses and passes from stage to stage, the influence of provoking and predisposing factors continues.Therefore, the 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 of a steroidal or non-hormonal nature are needed.Steroids also have a suppressive effect on the immune system, which is necessary, 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.
These are the methods of treating arthrosis of the knee joint, that is, certain groups of drugs and drug therapy in general, are in the first place, excluding those cases of severe gonarthrosis, when only surgical intervention such as endoprosthetics is of primary importance.Also, with a conservative approach, physiotherapy, physiotherapy 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 origin, that is, natural, as well as low or high air temperatures and different parameters of its humidity.In this case, the effect is carried out locally in certain areas of the skin or in its entire area, through the digestive tract or respiratory tract.Of course, the most acceptable of these can be considered the local use of folk remedies for arthrosis, when creams or compresses prepared from plant materials are applied to the knee area.
Meanwhile, other methods can be used to influence the patient's body if allowed by the attending physician.Why not warm up in a country bath and breathe in the life-giving "spirit" of juniper there to restore your defenses and stimulate your immune system?Or not use vegetable and berry decoctions or fruit drinks that contain a large 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 state;
- providing a local anti-inflammatory effect on joint structures;
- slight stimulation of regeneration processes;
- additional positive effect on other internal organs and systems.
Therefore, the 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 a great psychological importance for patients.The use of all kinds of folk remedies, even in very serious stages of gonarthrosis, when there is practically no real therapeutic help, can still improve the psycho-emotional state of a person, lift his spirits and inspire hope for recovery.And the psychological perception of the disease and its causes, as is known, lies at the foundation of the psychosomatic approach to therapy, which cannot be ignored.
However, it is still better not to use these well-known treatments of traditional medicine on your own, regardless of the required doses, 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, perform a tolerance test (for external use) - apply the oil or solution to the skin of the inner forearm, leave it for 1-2 hours and see the result (if there are no changes, then you can safely use it);
- do not make medicines for future use, as much as possible - for 1-2 days (with the exception of products containing ethyl alcohol), observing the rules of storage;
- strictly observe the dose, frequency of administration and duration of the course;
- If adverse reactions occur, you should immediately stop using the method and consult a doctor.
Every doctor knows that the earlier the therapy is started, the more successful the result will be.This fully applies to gonarthrosis: the use of a conservative approach, including folk, makes sense in stages 1-2 of the pathology.In the third stage, when the hyaline cartilage in the joint no longer exists and when constant osteo-fibrous deformations have formed, it will no longer be possible to completely cure the disease, and the treatment of arthrosis of the knee joints with folk remedies will only perform a psychological support function.
Traditional medicine methods
Some of the most common methods and recipes are used to relieve pain, reduce swelling in the knee area, and help restore joint functionality.The raw materials for them are obtained 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:
- compress;
- ointments and rubs;
- decoctions and infusions;
- medicinal baths.
During the application of compresses, the combined effect of the plant materials and the 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 ensure 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 number of ingredients are used as raw materials for compresses: gelatin, dead bees, iodine, horseradish, kefir, potatoes, propolis with salt, semolina.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 heating compresses have an analgesic, anti-inflammatory effect and reduce swelling.
Homemade ointments and rubs are good for providing a local anesthetic effect.For example, an equal number of chamomile flowers, burdock roots and calendula flowers 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 plants: lingonberry, calendula, St. John's wort, chamomile.The drink is prepared for a 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 stem.
Warm baths with string or chamomile, as well as with the addition of sea salt, perfectly relax the muscles, relieve pain and swelling.After them, patients notice an improvement in their general condition and mobility in the knees.Therapeutic baths are used once a day, preferably at night.
Patient reviews
Each patient, after seeking 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've been suffering from deforming gonarthrosis for almost 10 years, I'm constantly on medication. My doctor always says that joints love warmth, so I put warm compresses on my knees in a certain pattern. They really relieve my pain and help me move."
- Man, 61 years old: "My mother also used fir oil for joint pain. Now, having bilateral osteoarthritis in my knees, I apply her experience. I rub the oil well on my knees, wrap them in a warm scarf and go to bed."
- Woman: 50 years old: "I would like to recommend a recipe for arthrosis ointment, which helps me a lot. You need to grind 5-6 bay leaves, grind 1 tablespoon of pine needles or juniper seeds and mix them with 100 g of butter. Rub the sore joints before going to bed. Gradually the pain goes away and swelling."
Gonarthrosis therapy always takes a long time and requires persistence and patience.It is important to follow all the doctor's orders and regularly use courses of alternative treatment.Only in this case a positive result will be visible.