I am always looking for natural remedies to treat varying ailments. I found this article to be very helpful as it provides several ways to ease arthritis pain naturally;
"Why shoot a mouse with an elephant gun?" I recently questioned a patient suffering from osteoarthritis (the wear-and-tear type). Before using strong drugs that may cause major complications, ask your doctor about these natural ways to treat arthritis.
Vitamin C
I believe this vitamin is the most overlooked remedy for the treatment of aging joints. It's an indisputable fact that vitamin C is needed to produce healthy collagen, a vital component of cartilage. Unhealthy cartilage means bones eventually grind against one another, causing pain. Researchers at Boston University Medical Center studied the vitamin C intake of 640 people. They discovered that those with a higher intake of vitamin C were protected against the progression of osteoarthritis of the knee.
Remember, animals produce vitamin C and humans do not. Linus Pauling, a two-time Nobel prize winner, believed that due to this fact, humans receive enough C in food to prevent dying of scurvy, but not enough to prevent arthritis and coronary attack (see www.docgiff.com) for more information on vitamin C).
Glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate
These supplements have been used for years in Europe to prevent and treat arthritis. Glucosamine gives cartilage its structure. Chondroitin works with glucosamine to attract and hold water, providing cartilage its cushioning effect. Several reports show that patients taking 1,500 mg of glucosamine and 1,200 mg of chondroitin daily with meals had less pain and increased mobility compared to those treated with a placebo..."
http://www.torontosun.com/life/healthandfitness/2011/03/08/17541281.html
Source: torontosun.com