How to ease stiffness and inflammation naturally and keep doing what you love!
If you haven’t exercised in a while you’d know the feeling of body ache and pains. It’s natural to feel aches, stiffness and pain after injury, with aging or after periods of inactivity. But pain doesn’t have to be your new normal. Movement and exercise are critical for our wellbeing (and help keep us younger). Whether it's walking, gardening, dancing or doing the sport you love, it is important to keep moving. Understandably joint stiffness, muscle tension, and mild pain makes movement more difficult, and less enjoyable. While pharmaceutical options may be needed, natural help for pain management may also be helpful to incorporate, providing support and working with the body to reduce inflammation and improve mobility.
What causes pain in the joints?
Painful joints are usually associated with inflammation. There are two types of joint pain and swelling.
1. Acute joint pain and swelling comes on quickly and doesn’t last for too long. This may be a result of an injury or infection. It is important to speak to your healthcare professional about any sudden pain or swelling so it is treated effectively.
2. Chronic joint and muscle pain usually comes on gradually and has some underlying cause such as a chronic inflammatory condition, or due to long-standing structural damage, such as osteoarthritis.
The elbows, wrists, shoulders, the base of the spine, hand joints, hips, knees and ankles are the most commonly affected joints for pain and swelling.
Joint discomfort is linked to chronic low-grade inflammation, which becomes more common with age. According to Harvard Health Publishing, inflammation is a key contributor to joint pain, especially in conditions like osteoarthritis. Factors such as inactivity, stress, repetitive strain, and poor nutrition can worsen this inflammation, leading to stiffness and reduced mobility.
This guide explores how Ayurvedic herbal medicine, self-massage, gentle movement, and digestive support can help you move more freely and feel more like yourself again. Remember to also speak to your healthcare provider, including your naturopath or Ayurvedic practitioner, on what is best for you.
Why Use Natural Joint Pain Relief?
Natural approaches to pain relief generally don’t just treat the symptoms. The aim is to address the underlying contributors and triggers to help body aches and pains. Working with the body to balance inflammation, poor circulation and address imbalance.
Using lifestyle, healthy dietary choices, herbal supplements and physical therapies, like massage and yoga, can significantly improve joint health and reduce inflammatory load.
1. Massage: stimulating circulation and relieving tension
Releasing tense muscles not only feels good but also allows for circulation and lymphatic drainage. Healthy circulation allows for nutrients to get to damaged joint areas, and also allows for toxin removal, supporting the body’s natural healing process. Professional regular massage and physical therapies is something that can help relieve joint pain. Self-massage can also be easily incorporated as a daily practice. ‘Abhyanga’, a warm oil self-massage is a powerful tool used in Ayurveda traditional medicine practice. Translating to “move different”, this daily practice of self-massage supports circulation, reduces inflammation, and calms the nervous system. Abhyanga is also called snehana, which means “to nurture or love.”
Traditionally Abhyanga massage is done with herbal infused oils which are thought to penetrate the skin, providing relief to joints and muscles.
Using a warming herbal oil like AyurScience De-Ache, infused with traditional herbs such as turmeric and ashwagandha, along with essential oils to stimulate circulation, like cedarwood, help relieve muscle tension and support joint flexibility.
2. Move Gently and Consistently
Pain often discourages movement, but gentle activity is essential for keeping joint health, supporting cardiovascular health and wellbeing. The Mayo Clinic recommends regular exercise, suggesting range of motion exercises along with aerobic exercise, depending on individual needs. Exercise to consider include walking, swimming, yoga, Tai Chi and stretching. Here are some suggestions to try:
· Gentle yoga: Poses like cat-cow, seated twists, and supported bridge help lubricate joints and ease tension.
· Walking: A 20-minute walk boosts circulation and mood.
· Breathwork: Deep breathing calms the nervous system and reduces pain perception.
3. Natural Supplements to Manage Inflammation
Natural herbal supplements can help reduce inflammation and support joint health. Curcumin found in turmeric has been shown to inhibit inflammatory enzymes. Boswellia serrata, also known as Indian frankincense, helps reduce swelling and improve joint function.
Ayurvedic herbs such as ginger, galangal, and ashwagandha are traditionally used to support muscle recovery and reduce inflammation. AyurScience Re-moov complex combines these anti-inflammatory herbs traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine to support joint comfort and help reduce mild joint pain.
4. Support with anti-inflammatory diet
One of the best ways to fight inflammation can be in what you eat, confirms Havard Health, with an anti-inflammatory diet. What does an anti-inflammatory diet do? Simply it helps modulate inflammation by reducing consumption of foods that trigger inflammation and also eating foods that reduce pro-inflammatory agents from being produced. Processed and refined foods trigger and contribute to inflammation, while vegetables and fresh foods decrease it. A more vegetarian diet, with oily fish, is good to support healthy inflammation management.
What foods to avoid for inflammation?
· Refined carbohydrates e.g. sweet foods like white bread, cake, confectionary, sugar
· Soft drinks and sugar beverages
· Fatty and fried foods such as chips, margarine
· Red meat
· Processed meats (such as salami, hot dogs etc.)
What foods have anti-inflammatory benefit?
· Healthy omega-3 oils including fatty fish such as wild harvested salmon, mackerel, tuna and sardines.
· Green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, kale, and rocket
· Nuts like almonds and walnuts.
· Fruits including pineapple and papaya.
· Opt for healthy oils such as olive oil.
· Incorporate anti-inflammatory spices and herbs into your diet: turmeric, ginger and galangal, also used in Ayurveda and Western herbal medicine, can be used in cooking and meals to help moderate inflammation.
In Ayurveda the gut is central to health. Ayurveda notes that when digestion is weak, toxins (ama) accumulate, leading to inflammation and even joint stiffness.
Pain doesn’t have to limit your lifestyle. With a few simple, natural practices, you can reduce inflammation, restore mobility, and enjoy the freedom of movement—just in time for spring. Start small: a short walk, a warm oil massage, or a turmeric tea can make a meaningful difference. Over time, these habits build resilience, vitality, and a deeper connection to your body’s natural rhythm.