The term arthritis is a Latin word which can be under stood by breaking the word in two. ?Arthon? means joints and ?itis? means inflammation. Hence arthritis can be defined as the inflammation of joints causing immense pain and discomfort to the sufferer. It is generally a chronic ailment but its attack may occur in acute form also. It can act locally or may be able to affect the whole body and complete body joints. Even deformity can occur leading to structural deformation of joints and eventually the whole body. On an overall view the progress of arthritis is insidious and commonly affect people as their age progresses but cases have been reported in younger age group also.

Categories of arthritis

There are a large varieties of arthritis but three main varieties of arthritis seen in common occurrence. These are:

Rheumatoid arthritis

A very trouble some type of arthritis which can occur at any stage of life. Not only the body part of the joint is affected but also the ligaments and tendons suffer a lot from it. It generally initiates from small joint but soon moves to the bigger weight bearing joints like hips and knee joint. It is an auto immune disorder that leads to inflammation of the synovial fluid present in joints thus causing great discomfort in the body. It is easily distinguished from other forms of the arthritis by a joint deformity action.

Osteoarthritis

a common type of degenerative ailment in humans generally occurring in people who falls in age group above 40 years. In this type of arthritis the joint space decreases and thus causing a great difficulty in joint movements. As the space between the joint decreses due to the ossification of the cartilage present in the joint thus makes the bones rub with each other decreasing the locomotive activities with immense pains

Gout

Commonly known as the riches disease as it has been commonly seen in people who are of lazy nature and avoid work. It is a type of arthritis which is a systemic disorder and occurs due metabolic imbalances. Uric acid aggression is responsible for causing gouty arthritis. In this arthritis uric acid crystals get accumulated in the joint spaces therefore causing inflammation in the body. It initiates in the smaller joints like thumb etc. and afterwards affects the other bigger joints like knee and elbow. It can be easily distinguished from other types of arthritis as the joint is swollen and the skin over it is shiny in nature.

Home Remedies

* Wrapping up of red flannel carefully on the joint affected by arthritis and left overnight helps in relieving the excruciating pain in the joints.

* Massage the affected joint with the lightly warmed olive oil and then bandaging it with the crape bandage and left over night gives good relief from arthritic conditions.

* Massage of joint with garlic, lavender and rosemary processed in ten times olive oil or sesame oil on the trouble some joint gives great result from the pain and discomforts.

* Stream bath and massing body with castor oil is very beneficial in arthritic pains.

* exposure to cold climates and environment should be avoided to escape the arthritic pains

* Minerals like zinc and calcium should be added additionally consumed to wither away the arthritis

* Ascorbic acid, commonly known as vitamin C should also be added in diet. Hence practice of intake of amla (Indian gooseberry) should be included in daily regimen

* Sea bathing is another recommended treatment for cure arthritis.

* freshly extracted potato juice mixed with equal quantity of water should be consumed every morning empty stomach

* Hot black vinegar massage on the affected joint before sleeping in night has given wonderful results in joint pains.

* In take of tea made from boiling dandelion leaves in water helps in detoxifying the body and thus helps in restricting the arthritic condition prevailing in the body.

* Application of oils like that of junipers, lemon, lavender and cypress that possess the anti inflammatory and pain relieving properties may prove very helpful in arthritic conditions.

* Massaging a combination of garlic paste mixed with equal quantity of Sprague processed in ten times mustard oils relives from pain.

* Either of camphor, menthol or eucalyptus mixed with 20 times mustard oil and kept to natural heating in sunlight gains the properties which relives from any kind of arthritic conditions.

* Movement of joint should be regularly maintained to avoid stiffness and locking of joint.

* One should bath with hot water mixed with the Epsom salt (one bucket of water containing 4-6 grams of Epsom salt). This helps in reducing stiffness, pain and inflammation in the joint.

* Shallaki (boswellia) is a wonderful herb which has powerful action in arthritic condition rendering a person relieved from pain. It has been very effective in rheumatoid arthritis.