Arthritis is a general term simply meaning joint inflammation which covers about 100 named diseases.  It also blankets diseases of connective tissues. How arthritis acts and what causes it is widely varied, and much is still unknown.  In traditional Chinese Medicine it is the result of stuck qi, in Ayurvedic medicine it is believed to be a result of accumulated vata or ama.  Ama is food in the blood and circulatory system which has not been properly digested.  It becomes a toxin and accumulates in the joints. To combat arthritis naturally one must disperse or eliminate the stuck qi or accumulated vata through diet, exercise and  supplements.

Diets consisting of too many raw and energetically cold foods are aggravating.  It slows or extinguishes the digestive fire which slows assimilation often resulting in lethargy, bloating, gas and eventually arthritis.  Too many raw vegetables and fruit, cheeses and other dairy products need to reduced, combined with warming foods or even removed completely for a period of time.  Other considerations would include coffee, refined sugar, vinegar, red wines, artificial flavors and colors. 

Herbs should be bitter, pungent and toxin clearing such as dandelion, burdock, yellow dock and red clover.  Formulating a tonic of these herbs is an excellent way to take them every day.  Below are herbs listed by action to assist you in selecting herbs best for your situation.

Alteratives - Improves and alters tissue condition.  Should be in any formula you put together.  Bogbean, burdock, dandelion, yellow dock, red clover and chapparel.

Analgesic -  General pain relievers.  Clove valerian, willow bark and Dianthus barbatus.

Anodyn - Stronger pain relievers. Valerian, kava, scullcap and wild lettuce.

Anti-inflammatory - Clears inflammation.  Aloe, marshmallow, slippery elm, prickly ash, devil's claw, fang-chi (Sinomenium acutum,), guggal, Croton lechleri, Ficus elastica, Conyza canadensis and Dianthus barbatus

Anti-rheumatic - Black cohosh, boneset, motherwort.

Rubefacients - Clears deep congestion.  Nettles, pepper (black), cayenne and mustard.

Resources and Information

• Inflammation and Arthritis - By David L. Hoffmann B.Sc. (Hons), M.N.I.M.H.

• Nutritional Program for Arthritis - By Michael Janson M.D.

• Osteo-Arthritis -By David L. Hoffmann B.Sc. (Hons), M.N.I.M.H. 

• Arthritis - By Carol Eustice - About Arthritis Guide.

• OsteoArthritis - By Ruth Bar-Shalom, N.D. and David Soileau, N.D Mentions yucca which is found in pet formulas for arthritis. Also has good nutritional information.