If all inflammatory meds are stopped, how does a person manage arthritis pain in both knees?

To help control inflammation in the joints in a natural way, Stinging Nettle is very useful.

• Stinging Nettle  from A.Vogel is a cleansing plant. It is a blood tonic that brings nutriments to the cells, while eliminating toxins. It is particularly effective to help the kidneys flush out the acids that can accumulate in the joints, and lead to inflammation. Since it especially targets uric acids, it is highly recommended for gout. Stinging Nettle is rich in silica, a mineral needed for the regeneration of conjunctive tissues. It also helps to repair damage to the ligaments, tendons and cartilage. Stinging Nettle has a mild anti-inflammatory effect and can be used long term.

• Until those two herbs take effect, you can apply Absolüt Arnica Gel . This topical gel provides relief within a few minutes and can help keep the inflammation under control. It is particularly good for inflammation in the hands and knees.

Acidity is an important factor in the development of arthritis. Foods that leave an acid residue in the body tend to bind to the alkaline minerals that are normally used by the bones (such as calcium & magnesium), depriving them and rendering them easier to brake. The acids will also accumulate in the joints, causing further inflammation. Foods that produce most uric acids are: caffeine, meats, prepared foods (especially white flour, white sugar, colorants and additives), animal fats, dairy products, eggs, citrus fruits, tomatoes, soft drinks and salt. Stress can also cause the body to become more acidic.

You would benefit from eating more foods that leaves an alkaline residue in the body: vegetables (especially the green ones), cold pressed vegetable oils, whole grains (brown rice, millet, buckwheat, kamut, spelt, oat…), red beans, fish, dry fruits (figs, raisins, apricots…), seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, sesame…) yellow golden delicious apples, pineapple, papaya, mango, guava, blueberries, blackberries and cherries.

Lifestyle also has an impact on body acidity. It is highly recommended to do 20 minutes of low impact exercise every day (ex. stretching, walking and swimming). You need to keep moving even if you have pain, to avoid stiffness from settling in. You also need to learn how to manage your stress. Stress slows down the immune system and prevents healing of the joints.

Omega 3 essential fatty acids have an anti-inflammatory action on the joints. Fish contains a lot of Omega 3s, but is also contaminated with heavy metals. Because of extracting methods and oxidation, the fish oils supplements can be quite difficult to digest and assimilate. A.Vogel offers an excellent vegan alternative with no risk of contamination and therefore, no need for extraction of heavy metals. The final product, VegOmega-3, is very easy to digest and assimilate. It also balances the levels of Omegas in the body. You should avoid extra intake of Omega 6 (ex. Evening primrose oil, borage oil and most vegetable oils except flax seed oil, hemp seed oil and olive oil) since they favour the production of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins in the body (through the production of arachidonic acid) and can increase pain. Water is also an essential element for healthy joints.

Everybody should drink at least 8 glasses of water per day to ensure that the joints and the body do not get dehydrated. If the bones get dehydrated, they become easier to brake. Water is also an important medium to transport acids residues out of the body, through the kidneys.