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16 Home Remedies for Arthritis Pain & Stiffness

ByLaurie Neverman

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here.

I was talking to my neighbor, and she told me about a friend who was on arthritis medication. The medication suppressed her immune system so that she couldn’t kick a simple cold. Her story inspired me to assemble a list of home remedies for arthritis.

painful arthritis hands

Arthritis is painful inflammation and stiffness of the joints. There are several types of arthritis, with some due to wear and tear, while others include an autoimmune condition.

Learn how home remedies for arthritis help to manage arthritis pain and stiffness, without the side effects of pharmaceuticals.

Home Remedy for Arthritis #1 – Exercise

Although moving may be painful, it is critical to improve blood flow and prevent muscle atrophy. Good circulation stimulates healing. Strong muscles help you to maintain good posture and move correctly, preventing future damage.

Try low impact exercise like swimming, cycling, water aerobics, tai chi, walking, or gardening. (Get help for heavy lifting if needed.) Staying active helps with a range of conditions, reducing stress as well as healing your body.

#2 – Heat and Cold

One home remedy for arthritis is to move your home. There’s more than one reason people move to warmer climates when they get older, but pain relief is a motivator for many. Cold weather can aggravate joint stiffness and muscle pain.

Interestingly, cold can also help reduce pain, when used correctly. Cold therapy has a long history of use for reducing inflammation. It can be as simple as placing an ice pack on a swollen joint for 15-20 minutes. This generally helps reduce swelling, but may not help with stiffness.

For a more systemic approach, try a 30 second cold rinse at the end of your shower. If you can tolerate it, this stimulates circulation as your body returns to normal temperature.

Heat relaxes muscles and increases blood flow. Heating options include:

  • A hot tub or a sauna
  • Soak in a warm pool or bath tub
  • Washing your dishes in a nice sink of warm water
  • Placing a heating pad on the sore parts of your body

IR saunas are great for detoxing and recommended for many auto-immune conditions.

Core Products Soft Comfort CorPak, No Frost Hot and Cold Therapy Pack - 6" x 10", Made in The USA
Boiron Arnicare Arthritis Cream with Devil’s Claw for Pain Relief of Knees, Hands, Wrists, Elbows, Joints & Muscles – Quickly Absorbed & Fragrance-Free – 2.5 oz
The Keystone Approach: Healing Arthritis and Psoriasis by Restoring the Microbiome
Dynamic Saunas Andora 2-Person Low EMF FAR Infrared Sauna, Canadian Hemlock Wood
Core Products Soft Comfort CorPak, No Frost Hot and Cold Therapy Pack - 6" x 10", Made in The USA
Boiron Arnicare Arthritis Cream with Devil’s Claw for Pain Relief of Knees, Hands, Wrists, Elbows, Joints & Muscles – Quickly Absorbed & Fragrance-Free – 2.5 oz
The Keystone Approach: Healing Arthritis and Psoriasis by Restoring the Microbiome
Dynamic Saunas Andora 2-Person Low EMF FAR Infrared Sauna, Canadian Hemlock Wood
$9.99
$11.24
$18.95
$2,272.09
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Core Products Soft Comfort CorPak, No Frost Hot and Cold Therapy Pack - 6" x 10", Made in The USA
Core Products Soft Comfort CorPak, No Frost Hot and Cold Therapy Pack - 6" x 10", Made in The USA
$9.99
Buy on Amazon
Boiron Arnicare Arthritis Cream with Devil’s Claw for Pain Relief of Knees, Hands, Wrists, Elbows, Joints & Muscles – Quickly Absorbed & Fragrance-Free – 2.5 oz
Boiron Arnicare Arthritis Cream with Devil’s Claw for Pain Relief of Knees, Hands, Wrists, Elbows, Joints & Muscles – Quickly Absorbed & Fragrance-Free – 2.5 oz
$11.24
Buy on Amazon
The Keystone Approach: Healing Arthritis and Psoriasis by Restoring the Microbiome
The Keystone Approach: Healing Arthritis and Psoriasis by Restoring the Microbiome
$18.95
Buy on Amazon
Dynamic Saunas Andora 2-Person Low EMF FAR Infrared Sauna, Canadian Hemlock Wood
Dynamic Saunas Andora 2-Person Low EMF FAR Infrared Sauna, Canadian Hemlock Wood
$2,272.09
Buy on Amazon

#3 – Watch Your Diet

Foods can act as arthritis triggers, contributing to inflammation. Refined sugar, gluten, foods high in oxalic acid, caffeine, alcohol, red meat, eggs, dairy, nightshades may bother sensitive individuals.

Try switching out different elements of your diet, and drinking more water to see if you feel any different. If you’re ready for a bigger change, select an anti-inflammatory way of eating. Some options include the Mediterranean diet, autoimmune paleo, carnivore, and vegetarian. Fasting can also help reduce inflammation, as your body has more time to devote to repairs instead of digestion.

#4 – Topical Creams or Oils

The book Healing with DMSO recommends combining a 50% DMSO solution with topical magnesium cream twice a day. Another option for joint pain is warm castor oil packs, followed by topical DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide). The DMSO helps the magnesium and castor oil penetrate deeper into the tissue.

Capsaicin creams are another pain relieving option. These rubs may help ease pain and stiffness, but do not use them in combination with heat therapy. Homeopathic remedies like Arnicare Arthritis Cream may also help.

woman applying arthritis cream

#5 – Neodymium Magnets

Bio-magnetic therapy has been around for many years, but it’s now available for home use. There are back wraps, neck wraps, and knee wraps with healing magnets built in. Studies show that these may help reduce pain and inflammation.

Magnetude Jewelry Magne-Wraps adjust to fit on wrists, knees, feet, or elbows. You can learn more about these wraps and other therapeutic magnets at the Magnetude website.

#6 – Tart Cherries

We live near Door County, WI, one of the biggest tart cherry producing areas in the U.S.. I have to give a shout out to tart cherries for arthritis.

Studies suggest that tart cherry juice is effective for treating gout-related arthritis and osteoarthritis. Try about an ounce of tart cherry juice concentrate or tart cherry extract twice a day.

# 7 – Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a time honored folk remedy to ease arthritis pain. Use 2 teaspoons to 1/4 cup daily, mixed into a glass of water. Add a little honey for sweetening, if desired.

Drink some morning and night, but don’t sip on it all day. It’s acidic, like soda, and could damage your teeth.

#8 – Stinging Nettle

Stinging Nettles (Urtica dioica) are another home remedy for arthritis symptoms. Studies suggest that nettle leaf extract, taken internally, reduces inflammation and helps manage arthritis pain.

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Nettles are more commonly used to treat arthritis via urtication. Urtication is the practice of flailing the affected joints with fresh stinging nettle plant. It may sound crazy, but modern studies back up this natural remedy.

Nettle likes to grow in high nitrogen soils, such as the soil near barnyards. You can read more about nettles in Weekly Weeder #16 – Stinging Nettles.

#9 – Alfalfa

Alfalfa, Medicago sativa, is high in vitamins A, C, E and K4 and calcium, potassium, phosphorous and iron. It is used for a variety of conditions, including both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

To make alfalfa tea: steep a teaspoon of the dried herb in boiling water for about ten minutes. Strain and serve.

Note:  Alfalfa may interact with blood thinners, birth control pills, estrogens, immunosuppressants, and medications that increase sensitivity to sunlight.

#10 – Curcumin

Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, acts as an anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic. Studies suggest 500 mg of curcumin three times daily may reduce pain better than NSAIDS without the side effects. Black pepper increases absorption of curcumin.

#10 – Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamin and mineral deficiencies cause or aggravate many conditions, and arthritis is no exception. Vitamins D, E, C and B6 may improve symptoms in certain individuals. Zinc, magnesium, MSM, beta carotene and other supplements may also provide relief.

#11 – Fish Oil

Fish oil and fish liver oil contain omega 3 fatty acids, which reduce inflammation. Take one tablespoon of fish oil per day. Note:  omega 3 fatty acids may increase the risk of bleeding, especially if you are on blood thinners.

#12 – Glucosamine/Chondroitin

Glucosamine/Chondroitin supplementation may be most effective for those with moderate to severe osteoarthritis of the knees. The supplements had to be continued over several months to see results. This is another one that may interact with blood thinners, so be careful.

hand on a beehive frame with honeybees
Honeybees provide apitherapy for pain relief

#13 – Bee Sting Therapy

Beekeepers know – bee venom therapy (apitherapy) may provide relief for RA sufferers. See “Clinical randomized study of bee-sting therapy for rheumatoid arthritis” for more information.

#14 – Ginger

Regular consumption of ginger may be better for arthritic pain relief than nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Try using fresh or dry ginger in cooking, or make a ginger tea.

To make tea with fresh ginger: slice or chop about a teaspoon of ginger and cover with boiling water. Steep for 3 to 10 minutes. Strain out ginger chunks and sweeten with honey if desired.

See Ginger Root Uses & Health Benefits for more ginger tips.

#15 – Essential oils

Some essential oils commonly recommended for the treatment of arthritis include:

  • frankincense
  • rosemary
  • marjoram
  • eucalyptus
  • peppermint
  • lavender
  • ginger
  • Roman chamomile
  • helichrysum
  • wintergreen
  • basil
  • clove

Dilute 1-2 drops of your oil of choice into 1 tablespoon fractionated coconut oil or massage oil of choice. Rub into the affected area. 

#16 – Copper Bracelets

My mom wore copper bracelets for arthritis pain relief for many years. First she had a set of bangles, then a solid copper band.

The official word from the medical establishment is that copper bracelets work no better than a placebo for arthritis. Mom felt it helped her, and other people swear by copper bracelets, too. I’d put diet and lifestyle changes first, but I wouldn’t be afraid to give copper bracelets a try, too. Besides, copper bracelets look cool!

If you or someone you knows suffers from arthritis, I hope these home remedies for arthritis will help you relieve the pain. Don’t forget to scroll through the comments to check out even more suggestions for natural arthritis treatments from our readers, and add your own tips, too.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any illness. Please contact a trained healthcare provider if pain is severe or debilitating. Always check with your healthcare provider before starting new supplements, especially if you are already taking medications.

You may also be interested in the rest of our Home Remedies Series, including:

Laurie Neverman, fall 2023

This article is written by Laurie Neverman. Laurie is a lifelong learner with a passion for natural remedies and holistic healing. She’s successfully improved her eyesight and cleared her psoriasis.

Last updated in 2024.

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44 Comments

  1. This was in the late ’40’s-early ’50’s and we ate a lot better because overprocessed food hadn’t taken off yet. My grandmother had had her gallbladder removed and therefore had trouble digesting onions, which she dearly loved; whether that would affect how she digested kraut, cabbage, and vinegar slaw, which we ate fairly regularly, I don’t know. I read not too long ago that sulfur is an essential but often overlooked element for both soil/plant health and human health. But in Nashville during that time horse-drawn market wagons full of produce still ran up and down Charlotte Pike, where they lived, and sold to the women there, and my grandparents had yardbird chickens. I remember that when she wanted chicken, my grandmother would catch a hen, wring her neck, and dress her. I would stand on tiptoe looking over the edge of the kitchen sink, fascinated by all the interesting things inside. She would save any developing eggs in the fridge to use for baking, make watermelon rind preserves, and cook the chicken feet for Granddaddy, who considered them a delicacy. On the other hand, Nashville is in Tennessee’s Central Basin and in those days was a railroad hub. There was no EPA, no other environmental regs, and smoke from coal-fired locomotives would hang for a long time before the wind finally carried it out of the basin. There was soot everywhere, and sometimes we didn’t know whether it was sunny or cloudy until 10 am. So I can sympathize with the citizens of Beijing and hope they clean up their act, but we really did eat well,

    Reply

  2. My grandmother swore by sulfur water. Several decades ago, there was a public faucet tapping into the sulfur well at Sulfur Dell in Nashville. My grandparents went there and always had sulfur water in their refrigerator. Unfortunately, the well was discovered to be polluted and shut down. My grandmother’s arthritis got a lot worse after that.

    Reply

      1. Possibly, although we ate cabbage and kraut; in those days we ate better because there was less overprocessed food available. But I have read that sulfur is an important but overlooked food element. My grandmother had had her gallbladder removed and had trouble digesting onions, which she loved. They also are a source of sulfur. I don’t know if the gallbladder helps digest other sulfur-containing veggies or not. If I had a good local source of sulfur water, I’d probably drink it based on her experience.

        Reply

        1. The gall bladder helps us digest fats. The antibiotics associated with surgery may have killed off your grandmother’s natural store of gut bacteria and drained her of enzymes that she needed to digest the sugars in the onions. After decades of dysbiosis and abdominal surgery, I couldn’t digest cooked onions, garlic and a lot of other foods but was fine on raw, which were loaded with enzymes and lactobacillus. I was told this was due to stressors depleting my natural store of enzymes and now we also know how important our microbiome is to proper digestion and optimal health. Glad you remember your Grannie with love and sympathy, and she is still teaching you!

          Reply

  3. Changing the sitting posture and changing your lifestyle also can help to reduce and stop the pain. For example, if you are suffering from back pain, instead of sitting on the bed, try sitting on the floor. I am suffering from back pain since two weeks. I tried every medication. But every time I take medicines, the pain reduces, but reoccur violently. So i tried sitting on the floor with a yoga sukhasana posture and now I feel a remarkable relieve in my back pain.

    Reply

  6. Great article! I have been reading the comments and it’s nice to hear people get some relief. As someone who is into nutrition, everyone is deficient in certain minerals due to modern farming practices and when you are deficient in one mineral, it causes weakened tissues and deterioration. Also if your body is acidic, you will have deterioration! The only time a body should be acidic is when we die and it’s decomposing but since you are still living, your body is always under stress to combat the deterioration going on while your body is trying to heal it! Supplementing with Trace Minerals will help tremendously in time. You may notice changes in 6-12 months or even a couple of years but your body will thank you! I have been dealing with degenerative disc disease and had fusion done in my low back which slows me down considerably but I’ve noticed improvements over the 4+ years that I have been taking Trace Minerals.

    Also, Bone Broth will give you the glucosamine and condroitin that you need for your joints! You can rebuild cartilage! I enjoy roasted chicken and generally do two at a time with the beer can chicken stand and use a heat proof glass with my own seasonings and save the carcases and drippings until I get about 6-8 carcases in the freezer, then i make a batch of broth. You can use a slow roaster which is nice because Bone Broth needs to be simmered for 12-18 hours! With a larger batch, you don’t have to make it as often! Then you can put it in jars and can it or freeze it.

    Reply

    1. I forgot to mention adding egg shells to your Bone Broth! The membrane lining is rich in hyaluronic acid and will replace the synovial fluid in your joints. When you’re lacking in synovial fluid, your joints feel dry and grinding when you move and in time will cause degeneration! It’s amazing how something so simple can help so much!!! Or people can take 500 mg of eggshell membrane supplements but why pay for it when most people just throw those egg shells away anyway! I look at Bone Broth as free food because it’s made with what people just throw away and it has soooo many benefits!

      Reply

        1. You’re welcome! I should also mention to anyone who doesn’t know the difference between Bone Broth and regular broth… Bone Broth is started by soaking the bones in water with a Tbs. of vinegar for an hour before simmering. This softens the bones so you can extract more nutrients.

          Reply

          1. Hi Cindy, I’m new to bone broth so any help and advise is really appreciated. The tip about egg shells and soaking in vinegar water is really good, what do you put in your bone broth? I just put bay leaves, rosemary, onions garlic , carrots, celery. I have MS and am on a natural food diet but no gluten, grains, white flour etc. (all the normal avoidances). Thank you so much Ann Powell x

  7. Just received this week’s newsletter – it was awesome as far as information goes. My husband is suffering with three forms of arthritis and knows the dangers of the medications the doctors put you on. He took himself off of them and I’m going to get on the bandwagon and start trying to help him the natural way. Thanks again for the all the info.

    Reply

    1. Glad you liked the newsletter, and I hope you find a solution that works for your family. Every body is different, so it can be challenging.

      Reply

  8. Very nice list, one thing i’m liking about natural medicine is that so many things can have multiple uses, I eat tart cherries, but to help sleep, and we all must remember what helps one person may not help someone else, I tried glucosamine chondroitin, and the only thing it did was make me vomit, but nature has given so many other things i love, especially those cherries.

    Reply

    1. Wonder how they aid sleep? Maybe because they are rich in minerals? Tart cherries were recommended to me in combination with almonds (both are rich in trace minerals and are synergistic together) as a way to give me greater resistance to problems from severe electro-sensitivity. A week or two after I started eating 3 or 4 of each a day headaches and an irregular heartbeat faded and 3 years later I am far more tolerant of being near poorly shielded equipment. Sleep was never an issue. Enervation, bran fog and lack of stamina are now in the past! By the way, last year’s tart cherry crop suffered from a lack of sun and too much rain. They were extra tart and dry. The 2016 crop is much richer in color, and so much sweeter they are shiny and sticky from fruit sugar. I get mine from http://www.cherrylandsbest.com/. Their current price on 2 lb bags of unsweetened red tart cherries is $31 .

      Reply

  9. I found this article very interesting. I have tried the fish oils, the glucosamine chondroitins, the bee sting therapy. I am now using a Calcium,Magnesium,Zinc supplement combined with a MSM supplement 3x a day. It was helping but now my knees are getting much worse but it does help my Fibro a lot. I know I am supposed to exercise but the pain in my knees is just too overwhelming. I am going to try some of your remedies. I have to be careful because the doctors burnt my stomach out with NSAIDs.

    Reply

    1. Do you get enough vitamin K2 (not K1)? If you’re getting joint pain after adding calcium supplements, it might be that the calcium is building up where it shouldn’t be – in your joints. Most Americans are deficient in K2. The best food source is Natto, which we don’t normally eat. Gouda and Brie also have a fair amount, and goose liver pate. I highly recommend the book “Vitamin K2 and the Calcium Paradox: How a Little-Known Vitamin Could Save Your Life“. I had no idea that this little known vitamin was so critical to making sure that the calcium we take gets where it needs to be – in our bones – instead of in our arteries and joints.

      Reply

      1. Hi! Thanks for all of the hints for arthritis pain. I have bone on bone in both knees & arthritis in both hands. My problem is I’m on Coumadin & can’t take K vitamins, turmeric, ginger, & lots of the other remedies. I also can’t take glucosamine sulfate, MSM, fish oil & etc. (I’m allergic to fish). It is a real problem since I was told not to use the Cat’s claw & etc. I also was told to stop t
        taking my Natto.
        How much difference is there in Cherry juices? Tart cherry juice is hard to find around here. Thanks for all of the hints!!! I really appreciate any help I can get for pain relief. ( I’m allergic to pain medications)

        Reply

        1. Although tart cherries are more widely promoted, sweet cherries may also be helpful. Check out this video for an excellent discussion of using cherries to treat gout.

          Reply

        2. Stop the Coumadin. It’s rat poison and does NO good.

          Trust Gods design of our immune system not men (doctors).

          Then you will be free to heal Gods way.

          Reply

  10. I’m surprised the combination of cinnamon and honey did not make your list. I suffer from psoriatic arthritis and take 1000mg of cinnamon in a capsule form with a teaspoon of raw honey every day. It takes about 6 months before you start to have relief. Before doing this I the pain in my knees was excruciating. I looked like I had two knees in front and one behind from the swelling. Now my knees look normal and my pain has been reduced by 75%. My friends with MS have experienced relief in their symptoms as well. I have a buddy with Lymes who called me recently to thank me for telling him about this. It has to be taken everyday to work and cannot be used by diabetics. I’m not a doctor, Just sharing what works for me.

    Reply

    1. Thanks for sharing your experience, Susan. Fortunately I don’t have to deal with arthritis yet, so I haven’t personally had a chance to try any of these to see if they work for me.

      Reply

  11. In the last year I have just about lost the use of my knees from Arthritis. I did a lot of what you have above and didn’t see any improvement until I added the Magnesium and an herb called Cat’s Claw. I am doing a lot better now but it is a combination of things from above. There is no one “magic pill” fix.

    Reply

  12. My husband is a pianist and has arthritis in his thumbs. I bought him a paraffin wax spa for hands. Not only does the heat help his fingers but he has nice soft hands too. Win, win!

    Reply

  13. Wait! Wait! What happened to number 5??? I have an insatiable curiousity! Also, have you read much about turmeric in powdered form being difficult to digest? When I looked up different pills and tablets, their descriptions do mention that some are more easily assimilated than others; and those that are, are so much pricier. I’ve been fermenting fresh turmeric root and making it into a soda that I drink everyday. I’d like to hear what you think about turmeric’s bioavailability, or lack of it.

    Melisa Brown

    Reply

    1. Wellllll… there may be a possibility that yours truly was tired and muffed her numbering. I have added a familiar favorite in for number 5 – stinging nettles.

      As for the turmeric, I generally prefer to use whole herbs. Most sites suggest it’s absorbed better when paired with black pepper, or black pepper extracts.

      Reply

      1. I am using cúrcumapowder/tumericpowder for about a year now. I mix it with extra virgen oliveoil and and a bit of ground black pepper. On the internet I did read that cúrcuma alone was very poorly absorbed by the body and when mixed with something like grease as coconutoil, extra virgen oliveoil etc. the absorbtion became much better. The ground black pepper increases the effect of cúrcuma many times. In this way I healed my highly infected sciatica nerve and with movement, walking, and excercises from my physio I am painfree of sciatica.
        But the problema with the arthritispain in my right hip and both hands is that through the joints passes a very little amount of blood so the medicin has problems to reach the spot. Now I bought ginger powder that I will mix in my tea and drink it trough the day. Hope it will help me just like the cúrcuma did and does because I still use this as maintenance. Also living in a tropic country releaves the pain.
        Sorry for my English but I am Dutch and living in Costa Rica.

        Reply

  14. No on the heat for me. It makes it hurt worse. GO figure.
    I take fish oil, turmeric, Glucosamine/Condroiton supplementation, Butcher’s Broom and Devil’s Claw. And if I forget to take for awhile, I am waking up screaming.

    Reply

    1. I’m glad you found what does work for you so you don’t end up waking up screaming. My mom always said, “It’s hell to get old.”

      Reply

  15. I also read of a man who sufferred the pain of arthritis so bad that one day in desperation he ‘flogged’ himself with sprigs of stinging nettle which in itself would produce an incredible amount of pain and discomfort but after it abated he had considerable relief from the arthritis. ..

    Reply

    1. Yes, the nettles work in a fashion similar to the bee stings. This is by no means an exhaustive list of remedies, but the post was getting pretty long. Thanks for bringing that one up!

      Reply

  16. Gin soaked raisins about 10 a day.
    Let the raisins soak a few days in a covered jar and have a spoon full of raisins about 10 each morning.
    When the raisins are gone you can put a little Gin in your morning smoothie to give it a raisin-y taste

    Reply

      2. If i remember it’s only gin, as it’s extracted from, juniper or something in that family I believe, but I do remember that there was something special about gin.

        Reply

        1. From Encyclopedia Britannica:

          “gin, flavoured, distilled, colourless to pale yellow liquor made from purified spirits usually obtained from a grain mash and having the juniper berry as its principal flavouring ingredient.”

          But looking a A Modern Herbal, nothing jumps out and suggests juniper for arthritis. Curious.

          Reply

  17. Thanks for the information, I had forgotten about a few of these remedies. I’m going to buy cherry juice this weekend!

    Reply