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Natural Treatments for Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis can be hard to manage. If you're living with psoriatic arthritis, you don't have to suffer in silence. Search online today for natural treatments for psoriatic arthritis. 

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an extremely painful condition that seriously impacts the quality of life. Although these natural treatments won't cure your Psoriatic arthritis, they will help you manage your symptoms. Keep reading to learn more about natural psoriatic arthritis treatments.

Healthy Eating

Eating a healthy and nutritious diet can help reduce inflammation in the body and fuel your day-to-day activities. To ensure your body gets the vitamins and minerals it needs, it's important to eat a varied diet. Here are some tips you can follow to ease your psoriatic arthritis symptoms:

  • Eat lots of fruit, vegetables, and whole grains. 
  • Avoid foods that come from the nightshade family, including potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers, as these can increase inflammation.
  • Eat plenty of clean protein such as lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, and nuts.
  • Avoid excess alcohol, processed foods and refined sugar.
  • Try to limit cholesterol and salt. 

In addition, it's a good idea to keep a food diary and identify any foods that you might be intolerant to. 

Keep a Healthy Weight

Excess weight adds pressure to your joints, limiting mobility and leading to pain and swelling. In addition, people who are overweight are more likely to suffer from other conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease, and many types of cancer. Keeping a healthy weight is one of the best ways to ease your PsA symptoms.

Exercise Regularly

Regular exercise improves your overall health and keeps your joints flexible. If you live with psoriatic arthritis, you should focus on low-impact exercise that improves your mobility, such as walking and yoga. In addition, you should make sure you have suitable footwear whenever you work out. Using shoe inserts can provide support and help to take pressure off your joints. Other exercises suitable for people living with psoriatic arthritis include:

  • Swimming
  • Water aerobics
  • Pilates

Heat and Cold Therapy

Hot and cold therapy can be very effective at reducing the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis. Ice packs can be used to reduce swelling around the joint by decreasing blood flow. It also numbs tissue and acts as a local anesthetic. Heat can be applied to increase blood flow and relax inflamed areas. Alternate between heat and cold to determine what provides the most relief. 

Practice Mindfulness

Stress can cause inflammation in the body and lead to psoriatic arthritis flare-ups. You can lower your stress levels by practicing mindfulness and engaging in things that relax you. Some stress-busting activities include:

  • Yoga
  • Meditation
  • Walking
  • Reading 

Try Alternative Supplements

Several supplements that can help ease the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis. Here is a list of the most effective supplements:

Turmeric

Turmeric has been found to reduce Psoriatic arthritis flare-ups. The active ingredient in turmeric, curcumin, has valuable anti-inflammatory properties to reduce swelling. You can get your dose of Turmeric as a spice in foods, but to get the optimal dose, you should take a curcumin supplement.

Fish Oil

Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids and has been shown by many studies to reduce inflammation in the body. You can get omega-3 from fatty fish such as salmon and tuna, and flaxseeds. Alternatively, you can take omega-3 supplements.

Probiotics

Probiotics are gut-friendly bacteria that can reduce inflammation in the body. You can eat naturally occurring probiotics in foods like yogurt or kimchi, or you can take probiotic supplements.

Capsaicin

Capsaicin is the chemical that makes chili peppers hot. It can be applied topically to the skin to help reduce pain. In some studies, it has also been found to relieve the redness and scaling associated with psoriasis.

Essential Oils

Many essential oils can be used for aromatherapy purposes in baths and skin products. Essential oils are extracted from flowers, trees, and herbs, to create concentrated oil. Certain essential oils, such as rosemary and lavender, have been used for hundreds of years to reduce stress and inflammation. Although essential oils are generally safe, you should check with your healthcare provider before using them. 

CBD

CBD is a compound found in the marijuana plant. Studies have shown that CBD can help to relieve pain and some other symptoms associated with psoriatic arthritis. Many people find relief by taking CBD in edible form or applying it topically to the skin in a cream. CBD can interact with certain prescription arthritis drugs, so it's important to seek the advice of your doctor before using it.

Unmanaged psoriatic arthritis can lead to permanent damage to the joints. If you're living with psoriatic arthritis, it's important to work with your healthcare provider to treat your symptoms.