We all live with aches and pains and find ways to deal with them. Sometimes it’s a little rest or a warm towel on the aching muscles. Often it’s a mixture of simple remedies, to soothe the pain, and medications from the doctor, to reduce swelling in the joints. There’s no one “right” answer for everyone and it’s likely to change overtime. So it’s really about finding out what works, what we can afford, and what we can live with.
Still, as far as reducing pain goes, seeing what our options are never hurts. Besides prescription pain medications, researchers are discovering soothing qualities in plants and things made from them. Things like green tea.
For instance, your body naturally makes many proteins and some (specifically one called “tristetraprolin”, or TTP for short) naturally lower the painful swelling from arthritis, psoriasis, and multiple sclerosis. What’s this got to do with green tea? According to researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), green tea may encourage the body to make more of the pain-reducing TTP protein.
A research study by the Human Nutrition Research Program backs this up. The study found that one gram of green tea increased TTP. In other words, while green tea and TTP treatments may not replace pain medications, they offer another way to reduce pain and enhance your flexibility – in your muscles and in how you soothe them.
Similarly, the Missouri Arthritis and Osteoporosis Program (MAOP) offers classes to help manage and prevent the effects of arthritis, osteoporosis, high blood pressure and other chronic diseases. Walk With Ease classes give you the support to make walking a regular part of your day. Living a Healthy Life teaches you skills for directly managing arthritis, heart disease, as well as diabetes and lung disease. For more information or to find classes near you, take a look at our classes. Like green tea, Steps to Better Health classes can help you stay active and lead a healthier lifestyle!