Many people who have never suffered from some form of arthritis tend to think of this debilitating disease as an inconvenient result of aging. Nothing could be further from the truth as arthritis effects young and old alike and when it strikes can seriously impair ones ability to function normally due to loss of mobility and chronic pain. It is also a disturbingly common ailment that is the scourge of approximately 70 million or 1 in 4 Americans lives.

There are more than 100 different types of arthritis the most common being:
Osteoarthritis: A degenerative joint disease resulting from ageing, trauma or infection of the joint.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: a systemic inflammatory disease that can lead to the destruction of the articular cartilage of joints.
Septic Arthritis: Caused by joint infections.
Gouty Arthritis: This variant is caused by uric acid crystal deposits in the joints.

All of these types of arthritis cause debilitating joint pain, inflammation and in extreme cases severe deformity of the joint. This is obviously an ailment that seriously affects sufferers quality of life. Fortunately there are conventional as well as natural medicines and remedies that can offer symptomatic relief and even improve the condition. We will look at a number of the natural remedies for arthritis in this article.

Although the symptoms of arthritis are often severe enough for any relief to be welcomed, many sufferers prefer to follow natural courses of treatment rather than conventional drug based options. A couple of natural remedies that have been shown to offer relief from the pain and inflammation associated with arthritis are:

Glucosamine & Chondroitin: These popular arthitic supplements are also produced naturally by the body and aid in joint repair.

Niacinamide: Commonly know as vitamin B3 helps maintain cell and tissue integrity thus slowing the progression of arthritis.

Manganese: Manganese is an antioxidant mineral that assists with enzyme production and is a useful arthritis remedy, particularly for rheumatoid arthritis.

Ginger Extract and Turmeric: Both are excellent anti-inflammatory agents that have proven to be more effective than many prescription drugs in the treatment of arthritis.

Eucalyptus oil: Used locally for pain relief.

Blackstrap Molasses: This sugar concentrate is rich in minerals such as iron, potassium and magnesium and is believed to give relief from arthritis.

Aloe Vera: On its own Aloe is not a remedy for any condition but contains over 200 nutritional elements which work well in assisting the body do what is necessary to combat arthritis heal itself.
As with all natural supplements, it should be kept in mind at all times that they are not a substitute for conventional medicine. When conditions become severe or life threatening prescription medication and surgery are often the only options that can be considered. One should also take care in the use of supplements as they are often quite powerful and can cause their own side effects. Always consult a medical professional before embarking on any supplement regimen.