When you have joint pain

My story

My grandmother was always very active and in good health. She ran her candy store until she was 75! Ten years later, she began to develop osteoarthritis, mainly in her knees, with pain that prevented her from walking. For someone who couldn’t stand still, this was impossible. At first, she gently took what the doctor prescribed, conventional anti-inflammatories. She was doubly satisfied when I prepared a small “aroma” pharmacy for her; her pain was relieved without side effects, thanks to products that her granddaughter used to make!

My tip

For joint pain, osteoarthritis and rheumatism, I always recommend blackcurrant hydrosol as an oral treatment. My grandmother was instructed to take a tablespoon 3 times a day in a glass of water (forcing her to drink, which she didn’t do enough of). This hydrolat treatment alone was enough for a while. Later, she supplemented it with an aromatic massage in the evening, before going to bed. To do this, I prepared a 10% aromatic oil for her, mixing 90 ml St. John’s wort or arnica oil and 10 ml Roman chamomile essential oil in a dark purple 100 ml bottle. She poured the equivalent of a teaspoon of this aromatic oil into the palm of her hand, and massaged each knee for 2-3 minutes. Roman chamomile essential oil is highly effective as an anti-inflammatory and painkiller, as well as being soothing and de-anesthetizing (used as a pre-anesthetic in clinics). Unfortunately, it is rather expensive. It can be replaced by wintergreen or lemon eucalyptus essential oils, which are much more affordable.

What does phytotherapy have to say?

Osteoarthritis is a mechanical pathology caused by aging of the joint. It affects 30% of the general population, and over 90% of the elderly. Rheumatology is a medical discipline in which conventional treatments are associated with side effects, whereas phytotherapy is rarely used in this type of pathology. Blackcurrant is a well-known anti-inflammatory, used in various forms to treat osteoarthritis, rheumatism, joint pain and gout. Blackcurrant essential oil is rare, but the hydrolat makes an excellent daily base treatment. Many other essential oils have an anti-inflammatory effect (yarrow, roman and matricaria chamomile, wintergreen, lemon eucalyptus…).

Did you know?

Other hydrosols, such as chamomile, yarrow, meadowsweet and silver fir, are also highly effective as background treatments for joint pain. They can be taken alternately or in combination, always 3 times a glass of water a day, with 1 tablespoon of hydrosol per glass

I use hydrolats SAFELY

Even prolonged use of blackcurrant hydrosol as a course of treatment has no particular contraindications, even for the elderly. On the other hand, the use of aromatic oils, especially at concentrations of 10%, should be interrupted for one week every 3 weeks. Wintergreen essential oil is not suitable for people on anticoagulant therapy or allergic to aspirin.

RIBES NIGRUM Blackcurrant

Blackcurrant is a bushy shrub 1 m to 1.5 m tall, cultivated in France since the 16th century for its fruit, and more recently for its buds. The blackcurrant became popular after 1945,
thanks to Canon Kir’s famous aperitif. All aerial parts of the blackcurrant plant can be used. The fruits, rich in vitamin C and flavonoids, are used to combat venous insufficiency, thanks to their vasculoprotective and venotonic effects. Leaves and buds are diuretic
are diuretic and anti-rheumatic. Buds are also anti-inflammatory, immuno-stimulating and cortico-stimulating.