I'm sure you have had joint pain or arthritis or you have them right now and you know how limiting it is. It prevents you from performing activities that may be usual, both social and sporting, as well as professional, so that this can greatly diminish the quality of life. It all depends on the intensity of the pain and the joint(s).
The disease may affect the arms, legs, hips or the entire back. The point is that many times what is is to consume analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs, sometimes also muscle relaxants, to achieve pain relief. And in the end, although it may be useful and effective in the short term, if you have to be consuming it constantly, it can lead to problems.
We already know that anti-inflammatory drugs can affect the stomach, but as time goes by, in the end, if they are consumed in excess, can also affect the kidney, liver and even the heart. This is why many people are looking for natural alternatives and so in this video we will review these solutions, the ones with the most scientific evidence and how they are used so that you can take informed decisions and you can consult with your doctor. Not to totally replace the medication, because sometimes it is not possible, but at least to try to reduce it as much as possible and to take the minimum necessary for to lead a healthy and fulfilling life.
The plants that have the most studies that work on pains The most important joint remedies are devil's claw, nettle, willow, cat's claw and turmeric. Then there is a long list of plants that have been used for this type of pain, even for thousands of years. years, and which also have some evidence that they work.
Some of these I'm sure you already you know them, but there are others that will surely surprise you. Devil's claw is called harpagofito or devil's claw. because it has hooked or hook-shaped fruits or that are hard and that attach or hook themselves precisely to the animals.
passing by, causing them a great deal of inconvenience. But this serves the plant to distribute its seeds. The effect of devil's claw is due to substances called harpagosides, which have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, but it also has flavonoids, which we said were antioxidants.
and also had an anti-inflammatory effect. What is used is the dried root in the form of infusions, one or two teaspoons, prepared in the usual way, and then also dry extracts in the form of powder, which are used inside capsules or there are also liquid extracts. Here the proportion will depend on what the manufacturer indicates and also the health care professional who has given you the treatment.
The ortica is one of the plants medicinal products that have been most commonly used for joint pain, specifically urtica dioica, which is the most common plant species. It is used because it has the following effects anti-inflammatory, also antioxidants, by a group of substances called phenolic acids and also by flabonoids. Then you also have mineral salts that are interesting, such as iron, calcium, silicon, manganese, potassium.
And then it has formic acid in it, which is what gives the irritation when it's contact with the leaves, but may also have effects on analgesics and also histamine, which is related to the reactions to allergic, but in some people it can also have analgesic effects. Dred leaves are used in the form of infusion, one or two teaspoons, which would be approximately two to four grams, infusion is made in the usual way. Then also in the form of extracts powder, which would also be from the dried leaves.
in the form of capsules, to be consumed one to three times a day. This is according to the manufacturer's instructions and the health professional who prescribes it. And then it has also been used in the form of but you have to be careful with fresh leaves, because they may give these irritation reactions that can be very annoying for some people.
The white willow or salix alba was already recommended by Dioscorides in the 1 after Christ for the treatment of rheumatism. The effects are mainly due to salicin, which is a substance that in our body is transformed into salicylic acid. which has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.
In fact, aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid derived from salicylic acid. In addition, this white willow also has flavonoids, which we have already mentioned as having antioxidant properties. and anti-inflammatory properties, in addition to other compounds.
How is it used? Usually in the form of decoction because you use the bark of the white willow. Then, being harder, you need a slightly more intense process than infusion.
It is to bring the water to a boil, but with the bark of the white willow inside and when it is already boiling the water, together with the bark, is kept for 15 to 20 minutes over low heat. And then, this will be colored and drunk in a cup or in whatever way you consider most appropriate, once or twice a day. White willow is also used in the form of dry extract, in powder form, in capsule, tablet or liquid extract form.
The cat's claw or uncaria tomentosa is a so called because it has spines that are elongated and curved that serve as to entangle and climb trees, hence the name. It has anti-inflammatory effects due to to substances called oxindole alkaloids. It also has flavonoids, sterols and terpenoids that contribute to this anti-inflammatory action.
What is used is the dried bark and also the dried roots of the plant, and they can be used in the form of decoction, because they are harder parts of the plant and then it would be necessary to put it in a decoction, because they are harder parts of the plant and then it would be necessary to put it in a decoction. in water and to start boiling this water with these barks already introduced into the water. water, which would be a slightly more intense process than infusion.
Afterwards, they can also be used in powder form, in capsules, dry extracts or also in liquid extracts. Turmeric or cúrcuma longa is used for as an anti-inflammatory due to the effect of curcumin, which is a substance that and is quite well studied, but it also has other substances with anti-inflammatory effect, such as turmerone, which are less studied, but also have anti-inflammatory effects. The way it is consumed, apart from being used in traditional cooking, is used in the form of infusion, which can be used root directly, but it is often used in the form of of powder, which would be a dry extract that has been pulverized and is used to make infusions or for culinary purposes.
Normally, the infusion will be infused with a pinch of black pepper because it contains piperine which aids absorption of curcumin, because curcumin in the intestine is poorly absorbed. This is why this association is always made. There are also capsules in which the dry powdered extract is introduced.
These extracts often contain also a small amount of piperine to facilitate absorption. There are also fluid extracts, such as tinctures. In other words, there are different ways The presentation methods to be used will vary according to the objective.
Ginger is also used as an anti-inflammatory due to its active compounds, which are gingerol and shogaol, but it also has another such as zinguerone, which also has anti-inflammatory effects. The use made is in the form of of infusions or decoctions of fresh or dried ginger root, but it is also used in powder form in normal cooking with food, with water, with milk, but supplements can also be used. Supplements that can be taken in capsules this ginger powder, but other times it can be an extract of ginger It is more concentrated, even if it is also in powder form.
Therefore, it will be necessary to see what the manufacturer is what you have put inside the capsules to take the right dose. There are also fluid extracts and similar tinctures. The boswellia serrata is a species of Indian tree of small, medium size and whose resin has been called Indian frankincense or Indian frankincense, because it has been used for but also as a food flavoring.
And it is this resin extracted from the bark of the tree that is used also with medicinal purposes, because they have some chemical substances that have which are called boswellic acids, which have anti-inflammatory properties. The form in which it is used is in the form of a supplements, in capsules, tablets or in the form of liquid extracts. It is also used in the form of creams or ointments.
Aloe vera has some polysaccharides, anthraquinones and other substances which have anti-inflammatory effects, and the part that is used for medicinal is the gel that is inside its leaf. Aloe vera gel is used directly on the painful area or it can be ingested diluted with water. It is usually one part aloe vera gel to three parts water.
Other substances, other natural products can also be added. What you have to be careful about if you want to prepare in a natural way, you have to look for how it has to be done, because this plant has aloin, which can result in toxic and is the yellowish latex that comes out of the plant when you cut the leaf. and which is also in the outer layer just below the skin.
And this must be discarded when prepare these gels or these aloe vera juices. Eucalyptus has substances such as eucalyptol, which is attributed with anti-inflammatory properties. and analgesic, but it also has flavonoids and tannins.
with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The part of which are used in the plant for medicinal purposes is the leaf of the eucalyptus and infusions are made of the usual form, which can be used for drinking or for Moisten compresses to be applied locally to the painful area. Essential oils are also used of the eucalyptus leaf, which are more concentrated extracts.
and are also used for local application on painful areas. However, it should be remembered that the essential oil must always be used with Mix with a carrier oil because it is very concentrated. Are there other plants that are used as anti-inflammatory?
Yes, there are others, such as green tea, for example, which has antioxidants that can be used as antioxidants. called catechins, which reduce inflammation and may be useful. We also have others that we have discussed in this channel, such as chamomile, rosemary, oregano, calendula, cinnamon and others that have anti-inflammatory antioxidants and are useful.
Then, in general, it is important that the diet be healthy. and varied and rich in fruit and vegetables, because they have a lot of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory components that in combined can be useful for this purpose if you have joint pain. But there are also nuts, such as almonds or walnuts.
We have the seeds that stand out above all chia seeds, flax seeds, also pumpkin seeds. Then, too, if we go a little bit further, we can also there, we have the oils, for example olive oil. Olive oil has polyphenols and monounsaturated fatty acids that have an anti-inflammatory effect.
And then we can move on to oily fish, which is also rich in omega 3, which also has beneficial effects in this regard. And apart from food, physical activity and staying active must be taken into account. It also has a beneficial effect against these inflammations.
What happens is that sometimes it's a circle. vicious that hurts and you don't move, but it is important to emphasize this physical exercise, a physical activity that is adapted to the individual and then also to fight against obesity, which we have here and physical activity that we have discussed, to be used for this or if additional treatments are needed. And then also to fight against stress, anxiety, relaxation techniques, breathing techniques, which also helps to control pain, as well as psychotherapy, when necessary.
And of course, there are the heat therapies, or different physiotherapy massage techniques, which can also be used in the treatment of very useful, but that would go beyond the subject of medicinal plants. Are there any risks associated with these medicinal plants? As always, they are generally considered safe, should not have many side effects, unless there is a high level of consumption.
excessive, which could then give gastrointestinal symptoms, of abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and some other symptoms. Then, that there are specific cases of allergy, which can always be. Then, in the event that you take medication, e.
g. , for blood pressure, diabetes, anticoagulants, it would be best to consult, because sometimes there may be interactions. And in case you have serious illnesses, it is also important to consult.
If you have liver, intestinal or renal problems, If you have a serious heart or other body part problem, you should be consulted. Before taking any type of product. Then, in the case of pregnant and lactating women, and during breastfeeding, or in children, should always be consulted to avoid possible problems, because sometimes there is a lack of sufficiently thorough studies to know what the effect may be and should be asked.
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A hug. Take care and see you in the next video.