During life, a person is exposed to various environmental factors.He does not always eat properly and rationally, often has bad habits, moves little or, on the contrary, experiences excessive physical exertion.Of course, for the organism, the impact of these negative conditions does not pass without consequences.All internal organs and systems suffer, including bone and joint structures, whose damage 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 knee arthrosis, i.e. gonarthrosis, which can result in knee joint disease of any origin.
Characteristics of the disease
Knee joints constantly experience increased physical stress, providing different 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 negative multifactorial effects on the body.However, gonarthrosis can also develop in younger people, especially after serious injuries.
The disease goes through three stages, which are characterized by certain symptoms and have different degrees of ability to "react" to treatment methods.This is how gonarthrosis develops (each stage is expressed by the corresponding degree of pathological changes and destruction of the knee joints):
- With the first stage of arthrosis of the knee joint, degenerative-dystrophic processes begin in the cartilage layer.
- Stage 2 of the pathology is characterized by the progressive destruction of cartilage tissue, which is followed by the responsible growth of bone structures with the appearance of the so-calledosteophytes.It is at this stage that a person begins to feel pain in the knee and difficult 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 its individual small fragments.As a result, severe knee deformities occur, mobility is lost (which leads to the patient's disability), maximum physical and psychological discomfort occurs, as well as intense pain.Due to the active participation of bone tissue in the pathological process, arthrosis is often called osteoarthritis, and due to the formation of curvature in the shape of the letter X or O of the lower extremities - deforming osteoarthritis, or DOA.
Each stage and degree of the disease is expressed by an increase in destructive processes in the joints, 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 positive result of treatment, it is important to distinguish between the following types of gonarthrosis:
- primary, develops mainly in old age against the background of degenerative changes and bilateral;
- secondary, formed against the background of joint pathologies or after injuries (for example, as a result of extensive bleeding inside the joint capsule, hemarthrosis of the knee joint can develop, the treatment of which has its own characteristics).The secondary form is usually unilateral and is diagnosed at any age.
The role of traditional medicine in the treatment of arthrosis
As already mentioned, with arthrosis 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 pathology that is constantly progressing, which, however, does not mean that no methods can affect the painful process that stops or slows down its development.
As the disease progresses and moves from stage to stage, the influence of provoking and predisposing factors continues.Therefore, treatment of knee arthrosis, regardless of origin, should be aimed primarily at them.Therefore, in acute or indolent forms of the inflammatory process, anti-inflammatory drugs, steroidal or non-hormonal, 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 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 leading importance.Also, with a conservative approach, physiotherapy, physical therapy 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 natural means, i.e. of natural origin, as well as low or high air temperature and different parameters of its humidity.In this case, the action is carried out locally on certain parts of the skin or on its entire area, through the digestive tract or through the respiratory tract.Of course, the most acceptable of them can be considered the local use of folk remedies for arthrosis, when lotions or compresses made of plant material are applied to the knee area.
In the meantime, other methods of influencing the patient's body can be used, if allowed by the attending physician.Why not warm up in a country bath and inhale the life-giving "spirit" of juniper there to restore your defenses and stimulate your immune system?Or not to use herbal and berry decoctions or fruit drinks that contain a huge 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, has certain goals that are no less significant than those of drug therapy:
- maintaining immunity in a satisfactory condition;
- providing a local anti-inflammatory effect on joint structures;
- mild stimulation of the regeneration process;
- additionally has a 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 has the role of an auxiliary and additional method, which also traditionally has great psychological significance 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 a person's psycho-emotional mood, raise his mood and encourage hope for recovery.And the psychological perception of the disease and its causes, as is known, lies at the basis of the psychosomatic approach to therapy, which cannot be ignored.
However, it is better not to use these well-known treatments of traditional medicine independently, without taking into account the necessary 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 certain method be 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 it, and at what stage it is practically ineffective.
This 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 the drug into the treatment regimen, perform a tolerance test (for external use) - apply the ointment or solution to the skin of the inside of the forearm, leave it for 1-2 hours and see the result (if there are no changes, you can safely use it);
- do not make medicines for future use, as much as possible - 1-2 days (except for products containing ethyl alcohol), observing the rules of storage;
- strictly adhere to the dosage, frequency of administration and duration of the course;
- If adverse reactions occur, you must 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 persistent osteofibrous deformities are 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 have a supporting psychological function.
Methods of traditional medicine
Several of the most common methods and recipes are used to relieve pain, reduce swelling in the knee area and thus help restore the functionality of the joints.Raw materials for them are taken only of natural origin, which can be prepared independently or purchased at a pharmacy.
In the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint, the following methods are mainly used:
- compresses;
- grease and rubbing;
- decoctions and infusions;
- medicinal baths.
When applying the coverings, the combined effect of the plant material and the elevated temperature created by the insulation layer is important.All types of dressings are best used at night, when the knee joint is at rest, and 7-8 hours while the person sleeps will be enough to provide the maximum possible therapeutic effect.As a rule, compresses are made once a day, for 7-10 days, after some time the course can be repeated.
Various components are used as raw materials for dressings: gelatin, dead bees, iodine, horseradish, kefir, potatoes, propolis with salt, oatmeal.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 packs have an analgesic, anti-inflammatory effect and reduce swelling.
Homemade ointments and rubs are good for achieving a local anesthetic effect.For example, equal numbers of chamomile flowers, burdock roots and calendula inflorescences are crushed and mixed with petroleum jelly to form a paste.This ointment is used 4-5 times a day when the patient is suffering from severe pain.
To support the body in the fight against arthrosis, you can use herbal decoctions: cranberry, calendula, St. John's wort, chamomile.The drink is prepared for one day, because its properties are lost during storage.On the contrary, alcoholic tinctures can be stored for a long time, and their characteristics only improve.They can be prepared from the roots of elecampane, dandelion and golden mustache stems.
Warm baths with rope or chamomile, as well as with the addition of sea salt, perfectly relax muscles, relieve pain and swelling.After them, patients notice an improvement in the general condition and mobility of the knee.Therapeutic baths are used once a day, preferably at night.
Patient reviews
Each patient, after asking for 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 have been suffering from deforming gonarthrosis for almost 10 years, I am constantly being treated. My doctor always says that the joints love heat, so I put warm compresses on my knees according to a certain scheme. They really relieve the pain and help me move."
- Man, 61 years old: "My mother also used fir oil for joint pain. Now, with bilateral knee arthrosis, I apply her experience. I rub the oil well into my knees, wrap it in a warm scarf and go to bed."
- Woman: 50 years old: "I would recommend a recipe for an arthrosis ointment, which helps me a lot. You need to grind 5-6 bay leaves, grind 1 teaspoon of pine needles or juniper berries and mix with 100 g of butter. Rub into painful joints before going to bed. Gradually, the pain disappears."
Gonarthrosis therapy always takes a long time and requires persistence and patience.It is important to follow all the doctor's instructions and regularly use alternative treatment courses.Only in this case will a positive result be visible.