Relieve Painful Joints with a Herbal Alcohol Solution

You can take advantage of the properties of some medicinal plants and make an herbal alcohol solution to soothe joint pain. Read on and learn how to make it.

Reviewed and approved by the pharmacist Lourdes Martínez.

Written by Daniela Echeverri Castro

Last update: 24 August, 2022

Painful joints can be due to many things but, whatever the cause, the discomfort usually affects quality of life and limits your daily performance.

The most common treatment options include the use of analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs. In addition, depending on the origin, you can resort to some therapies.

Furthermore, there are alternative treatments such as acupuncture, as well as home remedies, among which the herbal alcohol you’ll learn to make here today can soothe joint pain. Are you ready for notes?

The causes of painful joints

Joint pain can appear due to physical overexertion, injury or wear and tear due to aging. This is one of the most disabling problems for people with painful joints.

Although it’s usually mild, it tends to interfere with daily performance. It’s usually an inflammatory response triggered by your immune system. However, it can also alert of the deterioration of the cartilage and ligaments that cover the joint.

Some home remedies

When joint pain is present, the recommended medical treatment may involve the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

As a complement, there are some plant based remedies you can use, among them:

• Rosemary has well-known antimicrobial properties, according to a study conducted by the Universidade Estadual Paulista in Brazil
• Ginger: is one of the best natural anti-inflammatories, which makes it suitable for treating joint pain
• Arnica is common in topical preparations and creams and helps reduce muscle and joint pain resulting from blows or injuries of various kinds
• Turmeric belongs to the ginger family and has joint properties, especially in terms of maintaining flexibility
• Aloe vera, according to a study conducted by Hospital Clínico Quirúrgico Docente Provincial Amalia Simoni Argilagos of Camagüey in Cuba, also has healing properties
• Horsetail is one of the most widely used natural anti-inflammatories

A herbal alcohol solution to relieve painful joints

Herbal alcohol solutions are a natural topical treatment that uses the anti-inflammatory extracts of certain plants to help with joint pain. So says a study conducted by the University of Chinese Medicine.

It’s a mild formulation that gives you the nutrients you need to stimulate blood flow to the painful area, thus helping reduce your symptoms.

• Applying it via massage helps tone your capillaries, preventing circulation disorders and edema
• It has softening effect, helping get swelling under control and encouraging movement in the stiff joint
• And, it stimulates your lymphatic system, aiding in the removal of toxins from your body that are causing inflammation
• It has a positive effect on phlebitis, varicose veins, and thrombosis
• Additionally, it relaxes tight muscles and helps improve cellular oxygenation in order to speed up recovery of the injured or inflamed joints
• Also, it’s a good way to find relief from chronic health issues such as arthritis and bone diseases
• It refreshes tired legs and gets blood flowing in your lower body

Making a herbal alcohol solution

Making this herbal alcohol ointment means having on hand a soothing, pain-relieving product for painful joints.

While you can use it on already painful joints, it’s best to have it made beforehand so you can apply it as soon as symptoms appear.

• The advantage of this product is that it can be stored for a long time, so you can keep in in your medicine cabinet for anytime you need it
• It’s best to use fresh herbs, with all of their extracts and nutrients
• You can find the herbs in natural food or herb shops

Ingredients

• 1 qt of 96 percent alcohol
• A sprig of rosemary
• A sprig of juniper
• 1 branch of mint
• 1 stalk of aloe vera
• 2 branches of nettle

Tools

• Cutting board
• Glass jar with cover

Preparation

• Sterilize the glass jar and its lid by boiling it in a pot of water for 20 minutes
• Meanwhile, finely chop all the herbs
• Then, once the jar is ready, dry it and add the chopped herbs
• Then pour the alcohol, making sure it completely covers the herbs
• Cover and keep in a cool, dark place for three weeks
• Finally, strain the alcohol to remove the remains of the herbs after this period

How to apply

• Add a bit of the alcohol to a clean cloth and rub it into the painful joints
• If you like, apply it with your hands for a relaxing massage
• Use before bed so it can work overnight
• Repeat anytime you feel the pain
• Don’t forget you can also use it for sprains and tendonitis

Pay attention to your painful joints

It’s essential to treat joint pain, because stiffness and pain will increase if not treated in a timely manner. Fortunately, in addition to conventional drugs, there are alternative therapies whose application minimizes the symptoms so they don’t affect the quality of life.

This herbal alcohol solution is one of them and, when applied externally, calms inflammation, improves circulation and reduces discomfort. Finally, making this natural herbal remedy is easy and has is a great for relieving pain.

Follow the indicated steps and keep it around to benefit from its properties. Of course, before applying it, make a small test, as its components could cause unwanted reactions on sensitive skin.