Also known as degenerative arthritis, osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that is characterized by the breakdown and loss of cartilage tissue in one or more joints within the body. Osteoarthritis is considered to be the most common type of arthritis, although it can co-exist with another type of arthritis. A recent survey carried out shows that about 21 million Americans suffer from the condition at this stage. Because of the immense pain and discomfort the condition causes, it can have a very debilitating effect on the quality of the patient’s life. The weight bearing joints such as the hips, knees and spine are usually the most affected areas of the body. There are a number of factors that lead to the development of the condition as also aid in making it significantly worse. For example, aging is one of the most common causes for osteoarthritis as a result of the tremendous amount of wear and tear these joints go through over the period of a lifetime. However, this does not mean that the younger generation is not at risk as individuals as young as 16 years may also be affected. This is known as juvenile arthritis. Suffering from obesity places a significant amount of stress on the joints – causing them to become significantly weaker over a longer period of time.
Due to the fact that osteoarthritis is such a common condition, there are a number of herbal natural treatments that have been tried and tested for their efficiency over a period of decades. Flaxseed, for one, is widely considered to be one of the most effective home treatment remedies and contains a number of substances that promote good health. Flaxseed is rich in alpha linoleic acid and essential fatty acids that are helpful in dealing with inflammatory bowel disease, heart disease and a number of other health problems in addition to their treatment of osteoarthritis. For an adult, the recommended dosage of flaxseed is one tablespoon full of the liquid around three times in a day. The best way to consume it is to grind it well before eating and drink with a lot of water. Ginger is also considered to be highly beneficial and can be taken by applying about 4 grams of ginger juice extract to the affected region and place a warm compress or poultice over it for some time to enhance the benefits of the herbal substance.