Arthritis is a pain condition that herbal, alternative or homeopathic medicines are often called on to relieve. Arthritis is a painful disease of the joints. There are two major types.

Osteo Arthritis - which affects the hips, knees, feet and spine

Rheumatoid Arthritis - in which the linings of the joints become inflamed, limiting movement

Currently no homeopathic medicine cure for Arthritis is known so the best treatments give relief of symptoms and pain. Symptoms include swelling joints, tenderness, pain or stiffness, limited movement, burning feelings, weight loss and even fever and exhaustion.

Currently some very effective commercial homeopathic remedial combination preparations are being sold in the USA. A significant number of users report high levels of pain relief and return of use of joints with these herbal / synthetic combination medicines.

These preparations use the following ingredients in combination to control pain and inflammation.

Glucosamine - Glucosamine is a substance found naturally in the human body and is one of the amino sugars that our bodies produce. It is believed that this particular substance plays a major role in helping repair the body as well as form new cartilage.

Chondroitin - Chondroitin sulfate A is found in humans in cartilage, bone, cornea, skin and the arterial wall. Chondroitin sulfate B is also known as dermatan sulfate. It is abundant in skin and is also found in heart valves, tendons and arterial walls. Chondroitin sulfate C is primarily found in fish and shark cartilage.

To increase joint fluid the following agents are used.

MSM - (Methyl-Sulfonyl-Methane) (MSM) is a naturally occurring sulfur compound found in every plant and animal tissue. It is the only bio-available form of sulfur -- a macro mineral that is used in significant amounts in the body. This article examines the requirements and benefits of MSM for health. MSM may be the most significant discovery since Vitamin C. It's pretty much a miracle in a pill. It's good for preventing muscle aches and sprains and general health.

Devil's Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) is a South African plant used to relieve inflammation and pain from inflammation.

To reduce uric acid levels in the blood and control pain due to gout ( something allopathic medicine claims is not possible ) the following agents are included.

Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) - A natural fruit about the size of a potato that is rich in Fiber, Proteins, Iron, Vitamin C, Calcium, Zinc

Cat's Claw - Cat's claw is a woody climbing plant native to the Amazon rainforest that grows throughout the tropical jungles of Central and South America. There are two species of cat's claw, both of which have certain medicinal uses. Uncaria guianensis may be useful for treating osteoarthritis, while Uncaria tomentosa has a long history of native medicinal use and is currently undergoing research to determine its pharmaceutical properties. Cat's claw supplements are made from the root and inner bark and may take the form of capsules, tea, or tincture.

To block COX-2 inflammatory agents these preparations use the following ingredients. Ginger , Bosweilia, White Willow

People in pain, both mental and related physical, have been using herbal medications for thousands of years. Herbal medications, are now frequently related to terms such as Alternative medicine and related homeopathic medicine. These tretaments are made directly from the leaves, roots, seeds or even stems of plants. Alternative medicines are also called natural, homeopathic or holistic preparations.

Herbal alternative medicine preparations can be a veritable life saver for some persons. Sometimes the combination of herbal medicine remedies combine with "old world" procedures works the best cure.

Mending by Use of the Mind Some persons are able to think away pain, although doctors cannot tell you why or how these people do this. Your attitude toward the source of your pain and your level of emotional stress are significant factors in the level of pain that you will feel and be able to control with the mind. These mind-body techniques to relieve pain include creative visualization, guided imagery, high levels of induced relaxation, self hypnosis and meditation. Doctors and hospitals usually can direct you to mind-body resources in your area.

Qi Release - Chinese doctors feel that arthritis results from Qi energy that gets blocked in the body. Usually they call on acupuncture to unblock the Qi energy and to relieve pain.

Healing Properties of Celery - Some European immigrants to American treated rheumatic pain by eating raw or cooked celery seeds or large volumes of celery plant. Some areas of the United States still has societies that believe in celery as a pain reliever.

Native American Aspirin - Willow Bark - Some American Indian tribes use herbs such as wintergreen to control pain. In fact Aspirin was originally developed as a less toxic, less intense substitute for the methyl-salicylate that comes from the wintergreen plant.

Placebo Remedies - In the eastern United States some communities feel putting a potato in your right pocket relieves arthritic pain. Doctors cannot explain how placebo treatments work but they have countless examples that it does. In fact all tests for prospective medicines involve the use of placebo to make sure results are accurate and not due to placebo effects.

Wearing Copper - Since the late 1970's some patients have reported arthritic pain relief from wearing copper bracelets. One study found that participants wearing pure copper bracelets suffered from less pain than did participants wearing aluminum bracelets colored to look like copper.

Chinese Mustard - In addition to acupuncture the Chinese feel that putting ground seseme and mustard seeds on your food reduces arthritic pain.

What ever your preference, today the sufferer from Arthritic pain has more than one type of treatment to choose from. For those who's chronic pain puts a burden on their mental state consideration of herbal alternatives to allopathic normal medicines and doctors should be at least serious considered.

Americans spend billions of dollars a year on herbal alternative remedies. Unfortunately these "natural" , alternative medicines are no more free from adverse side effects than synthetic medicines are. Because herbal alternative remedies are considered food supplements they are not really considered drugs. The FDA only takes steps to remove herbal alternative remedies after they prove to be unsafe.

Failure to relieve pain also can become the reason for onset of mental health problems that although dormant previously can, with cronic pain, come to the forefront of the personality of a person in pain.

In the Orient healers and doctors know that mental and physical pain can be connected and that certain herbal remedies can, by relieving physical pain, contribute significantly to improvement in mental health conditions.

Users of herbal or any type of alternative medicine, preparation or remedy should be warned and aware to be on the lookout for the following possible dangers.

Impure preparations into which possible other toxic substances may be added. This can happen either intentionally or by accident. The types of added substance examples would be things such as pesticides, lead, mercury and prescription drugs.

Dosage labels and concentrations of herbal preparations are often not consistent.

Insufficient warning labels that don't advice of multiple drug interactions

In addition to allopathic / modern medicines and alternative herbal / homeopathic remedies there are some other "remedies" that have been reported as helpful. These fall into the Non - medicinal category.