OSTEOARTHROSIS RHEUMATISM – Herbal Medicine

INTRODUCTION AND GENERALITIES

There are several hundred joints in our body, some must be able to support significant loads (per cm2 of articular surface) while ensuring flexible and permanent movement (examples: the hip joint (coxofemoral) or the knee joint), others must allow very large and rapid movements (example the shoulder joint), others, like those that separate and connect the vertebrae, must allow movement while maintaining a certain rigidity (to protect the spinal cord).

All these joints are not made on the same model but have one thing in common: it is necessary to ensure and maintain contact between two (very hard) bones without this permanent friction altering their surface despite the pressure exerted.

To ensure this function, the bone ends are covered with cartilage that is both flexible and resistant and adheres strongly to the bone; in some joints a liquid promotes movement by lubrication (synovium) or complementary fibrous structures are inserted between the bone ends (the menisci of the knee for example).

PAINFUL JOINT RHEUMATISM

Normally the joint is insensitive, but if an inflammatory process develops there, the joint becomes painful and its movements are limited or even impossible.

Two main types of pathological disorders can cause this painful joint inflammation:

Osteoarthrosis (= osteoarthritis) which is a type of degenerative joint disease that results from breakdown of joint cartilage and underlying bone, for which modern medicine does not have a specific treatment that is truly effective.
Inflammatory arthritis or rheumatism which is a joint inflammation without initial alteration of the cartilage or bone: the origin of this inflammatory joint disorder can be infectious or linked to an abnormal immune reaction (sometimes infectious) of the body (example rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, acute articular rheumatism) or to the presence of abnormal crystals (gout).

There are now new treatments which are able to better control some of these inflammatory rheumatisms (using for example monoclonal antibodies)

The term rheumatism is a source of confusion because it is applied in everyday language to pain linked to osteoarthritis of the joints of the limbs or the spine, as well as to inflammation of the tendons (tendinitis) or to pain in the back region (« back strain », herniated disc, spinal malposition).

IN PRACTICE, MAIN DIFFERENCES BETWEEN OSTEOARTHROSIS AND INFLAMMATORY RHEUMATISM (ARTHRITIS)

To simplify, we can say that:

Joint pain related to OSTEOARTHROSIS diminishes or disappears at rest and is often absent during sleep.
Joint pain from inflammatory rheumatism or ARTHRITIS is present at rest, sometimes increased during sleep and can diminish in the morning or during the day after a period of « loosening up », or progressive mobilization of the painful or blocked joint.

In this page we will mainly talk about OSTEOARTHROSIS, its complications, and the interest of herbal medicine or aromatherapy to treat this pathology.
However, a large part of medicinal plants or essential oils that can relieve osteoarthritis are also interesting in cases of inflammatory rheumatism.

WHAT IS OSTEOARTHRITIS=OSTEOARTHROSIS?

A BRIEF REMINDER ON THE STRUCTURE AND COMPOSITION OF CARTILAGE

The cartilage that covers the bone at the joint is made up of 3 main components: water, very strong collagen fibers and large molecules (proteoglycans).

The water (incompressible) is contained by a network of collagen fibers associated with these large proteoglycan molecules, which provides mechanical resistance to pressure and limits the possibilities of irreversible deformation of the cartilage (crushing or tearing).

Cartilage also contains specialized cells but in very small numbers.
The structure of the cartilage is not uniform, it is stratified, which further increases its resistance to pressure and deformation.

HOW OSTEOARTHRITIS OCCURS

Over the years, as a result of microtraumas or repeated overpressures, cartilage, which is a structure with little possibility of self-repair, wears out, deforms, cracks, fragments and in extreme cases detaches from the end of the bone, exposing it.

It is estimated that the first abnormalities of the articular cartilage occur on average around the age of 50 and are present in the majority of people after the age of 65.

At first the first alterations are « repaired » by the cells present in the cartilage, but then osteoarthritis sets in and the alterations of the cartilage become definitive, in addition the specialized bone cells secrete abnormal structures, osteophytes, which limit the movements of the joint and aggravate the problem.

This alteration of the articular cartilage will lead to the development of a local inflammatory reaction with pain, sometimes edema and redness.
Unfortunately, this spontaneous and standardized reaction of the body to tissue damage will not solve the problem and will self-perpetuate itself.

The role of osteoporosis in the development of osteoarthritis is controversial, but some physiologists believe that cartilage degradation is contemporaneous with the appearance of a reduction in the bone structure in the ends of the bones.
There would be a serious disruption of the ossification of the epiphyses with an inflammatory phenomenon that would aggravate or be a precursor to osteoarthritis.
A chronic silicon deficiency in the modern diet is also one of the leads to explain osteoarthritis, silicon being an important element in the synthesis of collagen fibers, cartilage proteoglycans and intervenes in the bone fixation of calcium.

HOW TO PREVENT AND TREAT OSTEOARTHRITIS?

Knowing that osteoarthritis is mainly linked to « wear and tear » of the cartilage, we must therefore, when we get older:

Avoid putting « excessive » strain on our joints, both in everyday life (DIY, gardening) and in sports activities (tennis, jogging with inappropriate shoes, fast walking on very uneven terrain).
Monitor your weight, lose weight, control type 2 diabetes that sets in.
Use a walking aid (cane, stair rail, elevator) when knees or hips become painful.
Control your diet : the imbalance of lipids in the diet where « omega 6 » fatty acids are too abundant compared to those containing « omega 3 » promotes inflammation (balanced vegetable oil, regular consumption of seafood and nuts).

To treat osteoarthritis and its complications, we act on several levels (to simplify):

Anti-inflammatories (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories and corticosteroids) and analgesics to suppress the pain and interrupt the unnecessary inflammatory reaction.
Substances to try to « repair » the damage to the cartilage, or to stop its wear.
Finally, as a last resort, when the joint is too damaged, permanently painful, we resort to orthopedic surgery (arthroplasty) which has made enormous progress over the last twenty years (hip, knee and even shoulder joints).

MODERN MEDICINE AND OSTEOARTHROSIS

The main modern medical treatments for osteoarthritis can be summarized as follows:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) oppose the action of substances (cytokines, enzymes) that promote inflammation, it is very effective but prolonged treatment can be accompanied by serious side effects (digestive, renal, cardiovascular) especially in the elderly.
This is why many of these NSAIDs require a medical prescription in most countries (example IBUPROFEN, KETROPROFEN, NAPROXEN, DICLOFENAC).
The use of these anti-inflammatories, locally, in the form of cream (diclofenac) or patch does not cause as many harmful side effects.
Corticosteroids injected into the joint are often effective and relieve the pain for a few months, but the rule is to space out these injections, generally once or twice a year, exceptionally every 4 months, and the injection must be carried out by a competent person because of the risk of secondary infection of the joint.
Analgesics that have little or no effect on inflammation: mainly acetaminophen (paracetamol), sometimes combined with an opioid (codeine) and to a lesser extent aspirin.
Supplementation with substances that promote the regeneration or good health of cartilage.
Glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate are natural substances present in cartilage or participating in the constitution of proteoglycans.
Many clinical studies have been carried out with these food supplements in people suffering from osteoarthritis.
The results are not always conclusive, nevertheless it seems that there is a consensus to attribute to them an analgesic effect and a possible slowing down of the progression of the osteoarthritic process.
These substances are mainly extracted from marine organisms, crustacean shells for glucosamine sulfate and cartilaginous fish (mainly sharks) for chondroitin sulfate.
However, some laboratories extract chondroitin from cartilage of bovine or porcine origin.

So to bring these two substances into food, we can eat shrimp (but with their shell) or shrimp paste, and try to regularly consume ray wing but also consume its cartilaginous rays (by crushing them) or make a soup like shark fin soup!

TREATMENT of OSTEOARTHROSIS and JOINT PAIN with MEDICINAL PLANTS

PLANTS THAT PROTECT CARTILAGE AND BONE

Silicon, a very common element on earth (silicate), is present in the body and seems fundamental in the constitution of collagen, fibers that give rigidity and flexibility to all tissues and the main component of the bone structure that is secondarily strengthened with calcium.
Modern diets (which almost no longer use whole grains) contain little assimilable silicon , and some nutritionists link osteoporosis, atherosclerosis and osteoarthritis to a chronic deficiency in « organic » silicon.

This is difficult to prove because these degenerative processes extend over many years, only a few experiments on farm animals seem to show that a silicon intake strengthens the bone structure.

Some medicinal plants rich in silicon are traditionally used in cases of osteoporosis or osteoarthritis.

THE HORSETAIL EQUISETUM ARVENSE

There are many species of horsetail in the world, in France, it is Equisetum arvense which is part of the pharmacopoeia.

Horsetails are very old and somewhat primitive plants but very resistant, they like wet ground and have the particularity of presenting two aspects during the year: in spring a form of reproduction and later the chlorophyll plant much more developed.
Horsetail contains an enzyme which destroys vitamin B1 (thiamine) which makes it toxic (especially for livestock).
Horsetail (in its chlorophyll form) is very rich in « organic » silica, calcium and potassium.

The easiest form to use is horsetail powder, micronized or not.
You can make your own powder from the dried plant, but you have to make sure that it is Equisetum arvense, because other species of horsetail are slightly toxic.

Examples of dosage:

Horsetail powder : 1 to 3 g of powder per day, or a small spoonful, more or less full.

Horsetail tincture : 50 to 100 drops per day, 2 to 3 times

This plant should not be consumed in cases of high blood pressure or kidney problems.
In case of prolonged use, vitamin B1 supplementation may be recommended.

BAMBOO

Like many grasses, bamboo is rich in silica.
You can find food supplements rich in silica based on bamboo in pharmacies or on the internet; the preparations are generally titrated in silicon.
Dosage:
300 to 500 mg of silicon equivalent per day

NETTLES

Nettle leaves are rich in anti-inflammatory compounds, proteins and mineral salts (potassium, iron and silicon).

The leaves are eaten like spinach (especially in soup), cooking destroys the stinging hairs, the iron, silica and protein content is interesting.
Use the leaves before flowering or the regrowth after mowing because older leaves contain cystoliths that can cause temporary inflammation of the urinary tract.
You can also find nettle leaf powder commercially that can be incorporated into food, for example: two teaspoons of powder per day.

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANTI-ARTHROTIC PLANTS AND PLANT EXTRACTS

Plants often contain compounds capable of interrupting or slowing down inflammatory reactions, sometimes by inhibiting one or more chemical mediators (pro-inflammatory cytokines), sometimes by preventing the initial development of this reaction by trapping very active chemical radicals (free radicals).
In osteoarthritis, the inflammation that causes joint pain and aggravates the deterioration of both cartilage and bone ends develops mainly under the influence of two powerful pro-inflammatory cytokine systems: interleukin-1 and TNF-alpha.

Plants or plant extracts capable of inhibiting these substances are therefore of interest for treating the complications of osteoarthritis.

We will cite plants or plant extracts from temperate or tropical regions for which we have feedback or which have been sufficiently studied or used profitably in the treatment of osteoarthritis even when their mechanism of action is not well known.

This list is far from exhaustive, research is active in this field in Asia, but the plant mixtures are sometimes kept secret and clinical studies are often distorted by conflicts of interest.

UNSAPONIFIABLE AVOCADO and SOYBEAN

This unsaponifiable is the fraction of avocado and soybean oils that does not contain triacylglycerols (i.e. fats containing fatty acids).
The unsaponifiable is very rich in phytosterols (ß-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol) and also contains fat-soluble vitamins, other sterols and triterpene alcohols.
Experience shows that this mixture of natural substances inhibits the inflammatory reaction linked to osteoarthritis.
The effect of this treatment is felt after a few weeks and lasts after stopping treatment for a few months.

Average dosage of the PIASCLEDINE specialty (over the counter and containing 100mg unsaponifiable avocado and 200mg unsaponifiable soy per capsule):
300mg of unsaponifiable per day or one capsule per day for at least two months.
Rare case of digestive intolerance or allergic reaction, not recommended for pregnant women (but women of childbearing age do not have true osteoarthritis)

BLACKCURRANT (RIBES NIGRUM), Mountain PINE (mugo) (PINUS MONTANA),VINE (VITIS VINIFERA)

The combination of these 3 medicinal plants in the form of a glycerine maceration of their buds diluted 1/10 = 1D is a classic treatment (which has proven itself) for early osteoarthritis developed by the late Max Tetau and his colleagues from the French medical biotherapy society.
Prolonged treatment should be followed for at least 3 months followed by a therapeutic break of 1 to 3 months .
Example of dosage:
Ribes nigrum, buds glycerin maceration 1D: 50 drops 3 times a day
Vitis vinifera, buds glycerin maceration 1D: 50 drops 3 times a day
Pinus montana, buds glycerin maceration 1D: 50 drops 3 times a day
If you have difficulty finding Pinus montana, you can replace it with Abies pectinata.

Blackcurrant leaf has anti-inflammatory properties and can be used:

Infusion :
5g of dry leaves for 150 ml of water, twice a day for several weeks.
tincture of blackcurrant leaves :
50 drops 2 to 3 times a day.
This tincture can be found in herbalists’ shops but can easily be made yourself, it is a non-toxic plant.

FRAXINUS EXCELSIOR EUROPEAN ASH

This large tree, common in Europe, has long been known for its anti-inflammatory properties.
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Its leaves and buds are used.

ASH LEAVES: In combination with treatment with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug or as a follow-up to this treatment (which has harmful side effects, particularly digestive).

Examples of dosage:

Infusion-decoction of dried leaves :
Proportions, 20 to 30 g of leaves in a liter of water, 5 minutes of boiling and 5 to 10 minutes of infusion.
One cup twice a day.
This preparation can be kept in the cold for one day, but no longer, as the phenolic compounds oxidize.
A 10-minute infusion (without decoction) of the dried leaves gives a preparation less concentrated in tannin and therefore easier to tolerate for people with a lazy intestine.
homeopathic tincture (fresh leaves) or alcoholic tincture at 1/5 (dried leaves) of ash Fraxinus excelsior :
50 drops 3 times a day as an attack treatment then 1 to 2 times a day as a maintenance treatment.

ASH BUDS

Ash buds, Fraxinus excelsior, glycerine maceration :
5 to 15 drops a day, or 50 drops 3 times a day of this glycerine maceration in 1D (dilution 1/10).

There are many preparations in pharmacies that contain ash extracts, often in combination with other anti-inflammatory plants (such as blackcurrant, poplar) or diuretics (such as meadowsweet).

In Europe (Germany, Switzerland) we can find a preparation (PHYTODOLOR) that combines 3 alcoholic tinctures of medicinal plants: aspen (populus tremula), ash (fraxinus excelsior) two anti-inflammatory plants and goldenrod (Solidago virga-aurea) depurative diuretic.
Clinical trials have shown that this preparation gives results similar to those of a classic anti-inflammatory (NSAID) « diclofenac ».

HARPAGOPHYTUM or HARPAGOPHYTON

Harpagophytum procumbens or « devil’s claw », comes from the dry regions of southern Africa.
It is a plant that is part of the traditional medicines of this region to treat various disorders and as an analgesic.
The root is the medicinal part, it has been prescribed for several years in Western medicine for its anti-inflammatory properties, in particular to calm the pain of osteoarthritis.
One of the most anti-inflammatory components, harpagoside seems to act by inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines and certain enzymes that attack cartilage (metalloproteinases and elastase).

Examples of dosage:
For a treatment period of 3 to 4 weeks.

Infusion-decoction of root (difficult to find): 5 to 10 g per day
Root powder if possible dosed in harpagoside: 2 to 3 g per day or between 50 and 100 mg of harpagoside.
Powder capsules : example HARPADOL contains 0.450 g of powder, 3 to 6 capsules per day
Harpagophytum extract : example ELUSANES harpagophyton dosed at 200 mg of hydroalcoholic extract, one capsule twice a day.
Harpagophytum tincture : 50 drops 2 to 3 times a day.

Side effects, interactions, and contraindications : some digestive disorders are possible, suspected interactions with some medications (anti-vitamin K, antihypertensives, statins), and risk of hypoglycemia in diabetics.
Harpagophytum root powder and extracts (harpagophyton) can be found in pharmacies and good herbalists.
Beware of the risk of adulteration of products sold by unknown laboratories on the internet.

TURMERIC AND GINGER

These two tropical plants are primarily aromatics, and are widely used in Asian cooking, but their rhizomes have been used for a very long time in their country of origin to soothe rheumatic or arthritic joint pain.
Turmeric has the most obvious anti-inflammatory effect, which is linked to the presence of curcumin, a non-toxic dye that gives the yellow color to the « curry » spice mixture.
Curcumin inhibits certain pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Turmeric can be consumed fresh or in powder form, in which case the rhizome has first been cooked in water then dried and then pulverized.
Examples of dosage:

Fresh turmeric rhizome : fragment about 50g of rhizome (be careful not to discolor your fingers) and make a 5-minute decoction in 250 ml of water to which you add 1 to 2 spoonfuls of vegetable oil followed by an infusion of a few minutes, to be consumed during the day.
Turmeric powder (without adding other spices): it can be used very regularly in the diet at a rate of 2 to 3 teaspoons per day, it is a slightly aromatic powder, a little peppery and sometimes bitter.
As it is not always easy to make dishes containing turmeric in French cuisine, we can make turmeric powder capsules with a small capsule machine.
The dosage will depend on the size of the capsules: the effective amount to act on osteoarthritis is about one tablespoon per day and this amount can be doubled.
Turmeric essential oil does not contain curcumin and is not really useful for treating osteoarthritis.
Fresh turmeric rhizome tincture is also very helpful : 2 or 3 teaspoons per day

BOSWELLIA SERRATA OLIBANUM

Several species of small trees endemic to the arid parts of India, Pakistan, the Arabian Peninsula or the Horn of Africa provide a gum-resin exudate, frankincense, which is traditionally used in certain religious services or to promote prayer or contemplation.
The most studied exudate is that of the incense tree Boswellia serrata.
This incense or frankincense contains compounds, in particular boswellic acid, which are very anti-inflammatory due to their inhibitory action on several cytokines or enzymes involved in the cascade of chemical reactions causing inflammation.
A specialty based on frankincense extract exists in Asia, AFLAPIN, which contains an extract standardized to 30% 3-O-acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid.
The recommended dosage corresponds to 100mg of aflapin per day.
Pure frankincense resin can also be used at a rate of approximately 1g per day.
As is often the case with chronic pathologies, treatment must be extended for at least 2 to 3 months.

DIACEREINE

Diacerein or diacerhein is an anthraquinone derivative that has moderate anti-inflammatory activity.
It is a plant extract similar to laxatives extracted from senna or rhubarb.
Its action is now controversial because at least one month of treatment is required to obtain an effect on osteoarthritis and very often undesirable side effects appear: digestive, cutaneous and more rarely liver damage.
The dosage is one 50 mg capsule per day for 2 to 4 weeks then the dose can be doubled.
We do not recommend this treatment, especially since it is not recommended for people over 65 years old

FILLIPENDULA ULMARIA (= Spiraea ulmaria) MEADOWSWEET or ULMARIA

Meadowsweet is a common plant in Europe (and present in Asia and North America), it likes the surroundings of very humid areas, river banks, ditches, ponds.
It is a large plant with an inflorescence made of small, very fragrant white flowers grouped in clusters which give them a « cottony » appearance from a certain distance.
The flowering tops are used in herbal medicine.
They contain an essential oil rich in methyl salicylate, astringent tannins and anti-inflammatory phenolic compounds. Meadowsweet is diuretic and analgesic/anti-inflammatory a bit like aspirin.

It is therefore useful for calming pain and limiting inflammation linked to the arthritic process or inflammatory rheumatism.

It can be used alone but it seems more interesting to combine it with another phytomedicine: unsaponifiable soy-avocado, blackcurrant, ash or devil’s claw extracts.
Examples of dosage:

Powder of flowering tops of meadowsweet :
In capsules, most often 300mg, one capsule two to three times a day before meals
tincture of meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) :
100 drops divided into 2 or 3 times a day
Infusion :
A handful of flowers or flowering tops in 1 liter of water at 80° (not boiling water, like for tea!), 10 minutes of infusion, one cup three times a day.
This infusion does not keep for more than a day in the fridge.
Capsules or tincture can be found in pharmacies and herbalists on the internet.

GREEN TEA, BRAMBLE leaf, POMEGRANATE fruit

Plants that contain « medicinal » tannins help to reduce inflammatory phenomena and can therefore reduce chronic inflammation linked to osteoarthritis.
However, you have to be reasonable because, if absorbed in too large a quantity, tannins can induce constipation in people with lazy intestines and modify the digestive assimilation of food.
Green tea and bramble leaf are consumed as an infusion, the tannins being soluble in water.
Pomegranate contains sugars, organic acids, anthocyanosides and a small amount of tannin.
The pomegranate flower is richer in tannin and can also be used as an infusion.
The leaves and bark of the pomegranate are too rich in tannin to be used regularly.

OTHER PLANTS THAT MAY BE USEFUL IN CASE OF OSTEOARTHRITIS:

Noni Morinda citrifolia is a plant whose fruit is traditionally used in the Indo-Pacific region as an analgesic, particularly in case of joint pain.

Uncaria sp., several species of South American liana (cat’s claw) are used locally, among other things, for their analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, but these plants contain alkaloids that limit their use in treating a chronic disorder such as osteoarthritis.

Matricaria recutita = Matricaria chamomile, an annual plant that can grow in regions with low rainfall contains essential oil and anti-inflammatory flavonoids.
It is one of the plants traditionally used in case of joint pain.
In Iran an ointment based on Matricaria recutita and Arnebia euchroma (Marhame-Mafasel), has been studied and tested with some success on patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis.
Arnebia euchroma is a medicinal plant (borraginaceae) from the Middle East and Asia

ESSENTIAL OILS, BALMS, OILS AND OLEORESINS, ARTHROSIS AND JOINT PAIN

Treating a painful joint locally is often very effective, the classic « anti-rheumatic ointment or balm ».
There are well-adapted essential oils available, which can alleviate pain, limit inflammation and relax the muscles near the painful joint, thus relieving intra-articular « tension ».
To increase the soothing effect of essential oils, it is best to dilute them in a vegetable oil or a vegetable balm that are themselves anti-inflammatory.
Examples of analgesic and anti-inflammatory essential oils, balms or oleoresins:

Essential oils of wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) and fragrant wintergreen (Gaultheria fragrantissima) with methyl salicylate, sometimes called « wintergreen essence ».
They contain more than 95% methyl salicylate, analgesic and anti-inflammatory but locally irritating.
Use essential oils whose quality and origin are guaranteed, because some wintergreen essential oils come directly from synthetic chemistry.
Lemon Eucalyptus essential oil, Eucalyptus citriodora = Corymbia citriodora whose chemical composition is dominated by citronellal and citronellol.
This essential oil with the good smell of citronella, repels insects, relaxes, soothes the urinary tract, calms itching and alleviates joint pain, tendonitis or muscle pain.
Some essential oils containing a percentage greater than or equal to 10% of bornyl acetate, especially black spruce essential oil and incidentally Spanish sage essential oil .
These oils are not traditionally known as anti-arthritic analgesics but recent research shows that the bornyl acetate they contain cuts the anti-inflammatory reaction at the cartilage level.
Carapa or andiroba oil , Carapa guyanensis
This vegetable oil from South America and the Antilles protects the skin and has anti-inflammatory qualities.
Tamanu balm, Calophyllum inophyllum
Tamanu oil and better still raw tamanu oil (tamanu balm) are widely used in the Indo-Pacific region to treat the skin and as a liniment for joint pain.
Cayenne pepper oleoresin
This extract of the pepper acts as a revulsive, and as a superficial analgesic.
You can find in pharmacies preparations for local use to relieve joint pain: examples, GELDOLOR (cayenne pepper and devil’s claw), AROMA balm (methyl salicylate, clove essential oil, pepper extract) or SAINT BERNARD balm.
LAURUS NOBILIS the laurel
Laurel essential oil can be used locally to treat joint pain but LAUREL butter or oil (from the laurel berry) is also a traditional remedy for osteoarthritis pain.
The berries, rich in fatty substances, are harvested in the fall and the oil can be extracted after crushing the berries and prolonged boiling followed by sieving the still warm mixture. The oil floats and solidifies, it is dried in a bain-marie; after mixing with the same weight of lard or axonge, we obtain real laurel butter, an old popular ointment formerly used on sprains, painful joints and knotted muscles.
This laurel berry oil can also be found on the internet.

How to use anti-inflammatory pain relieving essential oils?

Twice a day, apply 2 to 3 drops of the essential oils described on the painful area (knee, ankle, shoulder, along the spine, it is a little more difficult for the hip joint), and massage gently to penetrate.
To avoid a reaction (slight burning) of the skin, it is advisable to dilute the essential oils in a fatty substance (vegetable oil, vegetable balm) and to prepare in advance a small quantity of the mixture in the proportions: 10 drops of essential oil per ml of oil or balm.

CONDUCTING TREATMENT, SOME ADVICES

Osteoarthritis is a condition that develops unpredictably.
The first joint injuries can very often heal without leaving any traces and without new painful attacks for months or years.
Conversely, ordinary osteoarthritis can quickly worsen for no apparent reason.
It is in our best interest not to let the inflammatory process « set in » and become chronic, and we must of course follow the advice to prevent osteoarthritis from developing.
In the face of a painful episode of the osteoarthritis type, the inflammatory process must be interrupted as soon as possible with one of the synthetic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that are now available throughout the world (e.g. diclofenac, naproxen, which is also effective and less toxic, ibuprofen, which is more analgesic and less anti-inflammatory) and take over from this short treatment with a phyto-aromatherapy that is easier to tolerate.
The combination of several plants often gives better results:

The blackcurrant-mountain pine-vine triad.
The unsaponifiable association avocado-soy with either ash or devil’s claw or meadowsweet.
Supplementation with chondroitin or sulfated glucosamine combines very well with plant extracts.
A local treatment twice daily with essential oils especially in the event of a persistent painful episode and then in the evening before going to bed.

The surgical solution (arthroplasty) should be delayed as long as possible because, even with modern materials, prostheses have a lifespan of around 15 years.

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