Understandably, many people who suffer from arthritis are looking for natural alternatives to the medications prescribed by a doctor. Some of these medications are known to cause unwanted side-affects that require even more medication to compensate. Many arthritis doctors today recommend both heat and cold treatments to help reduce inflammation and ease the pain and stiffness that comes with arthritis. It may take some tests to learn which one will work best for your specific type of arthritis.

Read on to learn about some techniques you can begin trying for either heat or cold remedies and find out which is best for you.

Heat therapy

Heat can relax muscles and help lubricate joints. Heat therapy may be used to relieve muscle and joint stiffness, help warm up joints before activity, or ease a muscle spasm. Heat therapy is an easy, inexpensive, and medication-free way to relieve some types of arthritis stiffness and pain and can encourage the healing of damaged tissue.

Because heat expands, it has the ability to stimulate joint fluid and increase the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the muscles. An exercise of warming the joints followed by gentle movement can spur fluid production, which increases joint lubrication.

With heat, you have the option of dry or wet. There are more options for dry heat applications than wet, and dry heat is mobile and more convenient to use. The flip side is you can experience the after effects of dry skin from a dry heat. A hot water bottle can stay warm for up to 30 minutes which is great if an outlet is not convenient or a chord is uncomfortable. Heated wraps and gel packs sold at your neighborhood pharmacy are warmed in the microwave and also offer about 30 minutes of heat. Many opt for an electric heating pad. The advantage is an electric pad maintains a constant level of heat, is something you can take to work, and can be concealed more easily under clothing.

Wet heat or moist heat are other options. A hot bath, hot tub or steam sauna use moist heat and tend to stimulate general feelings of comfort and relaxation that may help reduce pain and loosen joints. Sometimes a long, hot shower can substitute for a hot bath if a tub is not available.

Cold therapy

Cold can reduce inflammation, swelling, and pain related to arthritis and activity. Although it’s basically the absolute opposite to heat therapy, cold therapy can be equally beneficial. Cold causes the blood vessels of the muscles to constrict, and can therefore decrease the flow of blood and help reduce inflammation. It slows the production of joint fluid and applying a cold compress to a resting joint can slow the production of joint fluid.

There are many types of ice packs that can be used to reduce inflammation, swelling, and pain from arthritis. People can select which works best for them based on personal preference, budget, and convenience.

Some of the more popular remedies are reusable cold packs or homemade cold packs. Reusable cold packs (such as those filled with gel) can be kept in the freezer ready for use when needed, and re-frozen after each use. Instant, or disposable ice packs can be broken by hand which creates a chemical reaction that causes the pack to become cold in a matter of seconds. They can also stay cold for an extended period of time while being used at room temperature. Single-use cold packs can offer convenience when a freezer or other cold source is not accessible. You can find both of these options at your neighborhood drug store.

For home remedies, you can simply make a cold pack from a plastic baggie and ice. Remember to wrap the bag in a towel before applying it to the painful area to protect the skin from ice burn. Get the rice and peas out! Create a reusable cold pack by filling a sock with rice and placing it in the freezer. Rice will get as cold as ice but does not melt when used. For quick relief, a frozen bag of peas or other frozen vegie wrapped in a towel, are pliable and work great.