Seven Herbs for Arthritis

If you’ve ever felt like your joints were staging a rebellion, you’re not alone. Arthritis affects millions—and while conventional medications can help, many people are exploring natural ways to support their healing journey. Whether you're hoping to reduce your reliance on medication or simply want to complement your current treatment plan, herbs may offer gentle, effective relief. Following are seven herbs you can discuss with your health practitioner to decide which ones are right for you.

1. Turmeric Root (Curcuma longa) with Meadowsweet flowers or leaves (Filipendula ulmaria) Turmeric is famous for its anti-inflammatory compound, curcumin, and has recently been found to be beneficial for reducing inflammation even when curcumin has been removed. Therefore, we recommend taking the whole turmeric and not just curcumin to maximize the benefit. Pair it with meadowsweet—a natural source of salicylates (similar to aspirin)—and you’ve got a potent combo for pain and inflammation. Dosage: Turmeric: 500 mg three times a day but can take up to 10,000 mg daily if tolerated by the bowels. Meadowsweet: 2.5–5 grams a day.

   Forms: tea or capsules

   Caution: Meadowsweet contains sulfites and both turmeric and meadowsweet are blood thinners so talk to your health provider before taking. 

2. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Ginger doesn’t just spice up your stir-fry — it’s a natural anti-inflammatory that can ease joint pain and stiffness. Dosage: Start with 200 mg a day and increase gradually to 4000 mg daily.

   Can be consumed raw, cooked, powdered, as a tea or in capsules, or applied topically with a compress of warm ginger tea or as a cream or essential oil.

3. Devil’s Claw Root (Harpagophyium Procumbens) This South African root has shown promise in clinical studies. Professor Zorn of University of Jena (USA) found that after five weeks of treatment, swelling was reduced and stiff joints became mobile again and results continued after course of treatment (20 weeks) had been completed.¹ After 20 weeks, it is recommended to take a break of at least two weeks and then you can start taking devil’s claw root again if needed. Dosage: 410 mg dried extract. Take one tablet with each meal.

   Note: Urine can be darker with this treatment. This is a harmless side effect of the body detoxifying.

4. Celery Seed (Apium) Celery seed doesn’t just help with inflammation — it may also ease the mild depression that can accompany chronic pain. Dosage: 0.5-2.0 grams, three times daily.

Forms: capsules, teas, or tinctures.

5. Black Cohosh Root (Cimifuga) Traditionally used for hormonal balance, black cohosh also offers anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain relief) benefits. Dosage: 0.3-2.9 grams, three times daily.

   Forms: Capsules, teas, or tinctures

6. Lobelia Can be used as an ointment to remove the pain of rheumatic nodules. Dosage: Apply as an ointment directly to affected areas.

7. Willow Bark (Salix) Willow bark contains salicin, the original source of aspirin. It’s a time-tested remedy for reducing inflammation and pain. Dosage: 1-3 grams dried bark, three times daily. Forms: Capsules, teas, or tinctures Caution: Willow Bark is a natural blood thinner. Talk with your health practitioner before taking.

Herbs can be powerful allies—but they’re not one-size-fits-all. Discuss with your healthcare provider before starting any new herbal regimen if you're on medication for your health conditions.

Whether you're just beginning your natural healing journey or looking to enhance your current routine, these seven herbs offer a hopeful path forward.

If you would like to know more about how to reduce medications and start living life with less pain and inflammation so you can do the things you love to do again, check out our Start a New YOU!® Program.

Start a New YOU!® 12-month Anti-Inflammatory Program

Imagine having your energy back, being able to get down on the floor to play with your grandkids, and reaching your feet to tie your shoes, all without pain.

Your Start a New YOU!® mission - should you choose to accept it - is to experience a simple plant-based lifestyle so you can reduce inflammation and do the things you love again in 12 months or less.

Features and Benefits of the Start a New YOU!® Program:

• Allows the body to easily digest food and clean up the intestinal tract.

• Detoxify and cleanse, so you can readily absorb nutrients again.

• Relieves constipation, diarrhea, nausea.

• Significantly lower inflammation and pain.

• Experience inner body calming effects.

• Improves stress management.

• Promotes better blood flow to the brain, reducing brain fog and sharpening mental acuity.

• Helps break food addictions, regulates appetite and taste perception.

• Reduces food (and possibly medication) expenses.

• Brings blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, and inflammatory markers closer to normal.

• Learn what foods cause inflammation and how to replace them with healing foods so you can start feeling better day by day.

• Experience better quality sleep and renewed energy.

• Learn to apply Ten Essential of Health to your life and Experience the Anti-inflammatory Benefits as we pull everything together and determine what is the best health you can have in your current situation.

The Specifics of the Start a New YOU!® Program:

Part 1: Kick-Start - Establish a baseline for what is the best you can feel in your current situation.

Part 2: Experience the Ten Essentials for Health™ to Lay the Foundation to Reverse Disease.

Part 3: Build a Cathedral of Health™ upon the foundation laid in Part 2 to effectively manage, put in remission, or reverse the inflammatory disease processes that are challenging your system.

 Mervyn, Leonard. Rheumatism and Arthritis. Science of Life Books, 1986. P. 84-85.

The 12-month Start a New YOU!® (SNY) Program Includes:

• Over 60 pre-recorded online motivational trainings available for your convenient watching. (We recommend watching 1 or 2 trainings a week).

• Activities to do to deepen the impression and help you determine how you will apply the information to your life.

• How to prepare tasty plant-based dishes with our Cook-Along-With-Me Demonstrations.

• Fun Therapy – introduction and easy progression into more movement.

• EARNING POINTS to win bonuses and prizes.

But that is not all! You will also receive:

• Weekly LIVE coaching calls.

• Have Text/Email access to us during the entire year Program.

• Monthly Private Consultations

• PLUS, lifetime access to the Presentations and Materials when program is paid in full. 

And there’s more! You will also receive a digital copy of my books:

• Kick-Start to a New YOU! Book

• The Start a New YOU!® Cookbook.

• Start a New YOU!® Reflections, a Health and Spiritual Reflection Devotional.

And Best of All, We GUARANTEE RESULTS:

• If you work the SNY program, the SNY program will work for you or your money is refunded.

• The results will blow your socks off!

• You can learn more about this life refreshing Start a New YOU!® program by Scheduling a FREE PHONE INTERVIEW to see if the Start a New YOU!® Program is the next best step for your health journey.

Abundant Health Wellness Center

479-363-6585

Or schedule Free Interview online: https://www.patientfusion.com/doctor/dana-west-56741

SNY Participants who have gone before you: 

I suffered from chronic generalized anxiety, shortness of breath, severe eye inflammation, acid reflux, and was a sitting duck for heart attack. I knew I needed to change my lifestyle but felt overwhelmed about where to start. I had heard of Dana West and decided to work with her.

The difference in my health and attitude is amazing. I have more energy, less brain fog, sleep better, and eat nutritious food that I actually like (I was a notoriously life-long picky eater). Starting a daily exercise program and particularly taking walks outdoors has helped reduce my anxiety and has been beneficial in strengthening my lungs.

My medical practitioners agree with me that Dana has significantly helped me – I am no longer a candidate for a cardiac event; my eye inflammation has dramatically been reduced; and I no longer need medication for acid reflux, and as a bonus, I lost 10 pounds. – J.M.

At the end of 2019 I had an x-ray for finger pain and was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. Medications helped the swelling some but did not completely control it or the fatigue and joint pain that plagued me to the point I was considering a career switch.

In early 2022 Dr. Mills told me some patients achieved complete remission through diet and lifestyle changes. He referred me to Dana West. The eating plan was drastically different from how I had been eating and the first month was very hard. I drastically cut back on meat consumption and cut out dairy completely. I struggled with cravings for cheese, sugar, and junk food, but about 3 weeks into the plan, my swelling all but disappeared. It just went away. Cravings or no cravings, that was motivating. The hunger and cravings lessened during the second month and now are completely gone. At the end of the second month, I noticed my energy levels were higher than they have been in years. Since starting this plan, I’ve only walked and gardened, but about 50 pounds have fallen off.

I never dreamed I’d have results like this in a matter of months. The difference is amazing. No swelling, no fatigue, and little to no pain. I have my life back. No pork roast, bowl of queso, or candy bar is worth giving that up. I am incredibly grateful to both Dana and Dr. Mills for all their help and support. – S.H.

What will your story be? Call today to Start a New YOU!® 479-363-6585

Blue Skies,

Dana West, RD

Abundant Health and Wellness Center

14558 US-412

Huntsville, AR 72740

“Reversing Inflammatory Disease IS POSSIBLE.” Dana West, RDN, LD, ACLMDIP

Dana holds a bachelors in Dietetics and is board certified in Lifestyle Medicine, with emphasis in human nutrition, physiology and nutrition education. She is registered with the Commission of Dietetic Registration and is licensed with the state of AR. Dana has a passion for helping people embrace health and conquer disease.

She is the co-founder and president of Abundant Health Wellness Center and the creator of the Start a New YOU!® program.

And is the author of three books:

1. Kick-Start to a New YOU: a 10-day Cleanse.

2. Start a New YOU!® Cookbook: low allergy and anti-inflammatory cookbook with a 2 week menu and all the recipes needed for that menu.

3. Start a New YOU!® Reflections: A health devotional highlighting the Ten Essentials for Health™ that she covers in the Start a New YOU!® Program to reverse inflammation and chronic disease.