Swollen Knuckles From Arthritis
Hello friends,
I've been a faithful reader of Earth Clinic for quite a while. I have had swollen, hardened, crooked knuckles from arthritis for many years, and I recently discovered a enlarged, hardened joint just below my big toe which is causing my toe to be slightly crooked. I don't have a lot of pain because of a couple of supplements I take. I'm wondering if anyone in this group has experience with a remedy that will help shrink those enlarged joints so that my fingers and my toe can be straight again. I've tried frankincense oil but haven't had much success with that. All suggestions will be appreciated.
Thank you!
Kentucky
03/01/2025
@ Victoria
It sounds like you have Osteoarthritis in the fingers and joints.
I've seen Christopher's Original Formulas Cayenne Heat Massage Oil or the Salve verion help a lot with this condition. Cayenne pepper encourage blood flow to the affected area stimulating circulation around the joint. Wintergreen (Menthyl Salicylate) acts like liquid aspirin when applied the the body. I was taught be an Amish Dr. in my area to make this salve/balm (his formula is alittle more complex) but I do like Dr.Christopher's products.
Ingredients: Cayenne Pepper, Oil of Wintergreen, Cinnamon Oil, Eucalyptus Oil & Menthol Crystals.
You have to rub it into the joints everyday and nite. Also, finger exercises.
Vitamin Deficiency:
Calcium – 85% of all arthritis caused by osteoporosis at the joint end of the bones. Notes from “Dead Doctors Don't Lie” Audio Tape or CD. During the 1960's Dr. Wallach authored 75 articles, 8 textbooks, appeared on 20/20, he was published in 1,700 newspapers & magazines. Dr. Wallach has also appeared on Network T.V. It needs to be taken with Magnesium citrate and D3.
Vitamin A – Cod liver oil (Vit A) has anti inflammatory properties due to presence of DHA and EPA. This helps to reduce pain, swelling and joint stiffness in arthritis patients. Cod liver oil also maintains flexibility, mobility and lubricates the joints and relieves arthritis symptoms. Hence it is considered as natural remedy for arthritis.
At the beginning of the 20th century, scientists established that cod liver oil was a natural “antirachitic, ” which meant thousands of mothers began forcefully spoon-feeding the stuff to unwilling children to avoid painful rickets. Cod liver oil use is associated with a reduction in pain, joint stiffness and swelling in patients with arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.
Vitamin E – Take 2 1000 milligrams of Vitamin E every day for about a week or so. Then take one daily. Vitamin E lubricates joints, therefore gets rid of inflammation, which in turn causes pain.
A 2009 study in Thailand measured the concentrations of various antioxidants in the synovial fluid of patients with osteoarthritis. The synovial fluid of osteoarthritis patients was compared with the synovial fluid of patients with injured knee joints. Vitamin E concentration was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
Sutipornpalangkul and colleagues found that vitamin E concentrations were significantly lower in the synovial fluid of osteoarthritis patients compared with that of injured knee joint patients. The researchers concluded that vitamin E deficiency promotes oxidative processes in the knee and accelerates osteoarthritis. Thus, Sutipornpalangkul and colleagues concluded that a vitamin E treatment may have a positive impact in protecting cartilage from further destruction.
Free radicals attack the cartilage cells and destroy their structure. As a result, the joint cartilage is progressively reduced and irretrievably lost. Since vitamins are very important free radical scavengers, vitamin E may play an important role in the treatment of osteoarthritis.
Hope this helps….
PA
03/03/2025
Hello Rob, can you please share the salve/balm recipe formula from the Amish doctor? I would like to make it for my Amish friends. One lady is 101 and the other is 83. Thank you so very much!
New York
03/07/2025
Hi Victoria,
A friend who has arthritis in her hands with swollen joints and fingers found very significant relief from the swelling, inflammation and pain using Melatonin Lotion (ML). Here is a link that discusses melatonin lotion and how to make it as well as lists over 43 benefits related to ML use by the EC community as well as other friends :
https://www.earthclinic.com/supplements/melatonin-lotion.html
Art
Kentucky
03/03/2025
@ Franci
I'm not sure about giving out Dr. Reuben Schwartz cayenne salve recipe. Reuben is semi-retiring (maybe as old as Methuselah...lol) and he has been making and using this formula in his practice since the early 1960's. He is passing the torch to the next generation of herbalist that have shown a commitment to this art.
What I can tell you are the ingredients. Wintergreen, Menthol, Cayenne (African red bird), Ginger, St. Johns Wort, Arnica, Calendula flower, Olive oil, Beeswax.
If you really want Reuben's Salve, you can reach out the the Earth Clinic Staff, they have my contact information on file.
However, I do have a simple cayenne pepper salve as follows:
Cayenne Salve: This recipe is a super simple salve that can be made up very quickly and bring big-time herbal pain relief. What you'll need…
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons (15 grams) cayenne powder, more if the cayenne is very weak
- 2 tablespoons (15 grams) ginger powder
- 1/2 ounce beeswax (Omit if your making a oil rub on)
Cayenne – The main ingredient in this salve, cayenne pepper, has a really ancient history dating as far back as 7,000 years ago. Naturally anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic, cayenne pepper contains a constituent called capsaicin. The reason that cayenne works so well for muscle and nerve pain is because the capsaicin blocks a neurotransmitter, called Substance P (SP), that transmits pain signals from the nerves to the central nervous system. When cayenne is used topically, it can help relieve all sorts of pain, from neuropathy, back pain, muscles spasms, menstrual cramps, and even arthritis.
Ginger root – Used for thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine for all sorts of ailments including arthritis and muscle pain, ginger has undergone clinical studies for its anti-inflammatory abilities. The warming abilities of ginger help to improve circulation and relieve tension in tired muscles.
*Begin by combining the cayenne/ginger and olive oil in a double boiler or a pan on VERY LOW HEAT. Golden Rule to remember is heat destroys the capsaicin.
*Heat the oil and cayenne until it is warm, turn off the heat, and let it sit (warmly) for about 20 minutes, then turn the heat on again.
*I repeat this process for at least one hour to a couple of hours. You could do it for 24 hours if desired.
*Once the cayenne and olive oil have been infused, strain off the powder through a cheesecloth. Reserve the infused oil.
*Heat the beeswax until it is melted. Stir in the infused oil until the beeswax and oil have been thoroughly melted together and combined.
*Immediately pour this mixture into jars or tins.
*Let it cool and then label it.
Yield: About 4 ounces
Using Your Cayenne Salve
This cayenne salve can be used on aches and pains, from sore muscles and joints to bruises and even nerve pain.
It is best for closed wounds and may sting a bit on open wounds. Even on closed skin you may feel a bit of burning or heat in the area where it is used.
If using it for arthritic pain, it may take up to a week or two to see results. In this case you want to use it daily to decrease chronic pain.
Cayenne pepper balms, oils and creams are rubefacients, which means it warms the body by quickly dilating small capillaries, and increasing circulation, which reddens, (but does not burn) the skin. This increased circulation is the hallmark of cayenne's effect on the body, it stimulates the heart, and the lungs as well as increasing blood circulation and warmth throughout the whole system.
Caution: When cayenne comes in contact with your mucosal membranes or eyes, it will burn! Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after touching cayenne or use gloves to apply the salve to the desired area. If you are using the cayenne salve as an herbal pain relief on your hands, consider applying it at night and then sleeping with gloves on
PA
03/06/2025
Rob, thank you so much for your very informative response! I totally understand your reluctance to post Dr. Schwartz recipe online. Thank you for the Cayenne Salve instructions and additional information. Please give my regards to Methuselah ... I mean, Reuben! Best of health to you, Franci
