Short answer: natural ways to support joint comfort are modest; the best-supported "natural" steps are unglamorous: regular exercise, a healthy weight, and warmth or cold for comfort.[3][4] For supplements, the evidence is weaker than the marketing.
Natural ways to support joint comfort: what to know
- Exercise comes first. The NHS calls it "one of the most important treatments" for osteoarthritis.[4]
- Tai chi may improve pain, stiffness and joint function in people with knee osteoarthritis, and is generally considered safe.[13]
- Acupuncture and massage: acupuncture may help relieve osteoarthritis pain when done by an experienced practitioner using sterile needles; there's a small amount of evidence that massage may help knee osteoarthritis.[13]
- Glucosamine and chondroitin: it's still uncertain whether they have a meaningful impact, and they may interact with warfarin.[13] The NHS doesn't prescribe them.[4]
- Other supplements: evidence is too limited for conclusions, and some have side effects or interact with drugs.[13]
- Warmth: hot or cold packs help some people.[4] Our gentle warm-air devices for home use are wellness products, not treatments; ask us which suits you.
Tell your doctor about anything you use, and don't use natural approaches to postpone seeing them.[13]
When to see a doctor
See a doctor for joint pain that persists, or any of the warning signs in our arthritis answer above.[7]
Sources
- NHS, Osteoarthritis
- NHS, Osteoarthritis treatment
- NHS, Arthritis
- NCCIH (US National Institutes of Health), Osteoarthritis: In Depth
Written by the Prife iTeraCare team and last reviewed on 10 October 2026. This is general information, not medical advice, and it does not replace your doctor or physiotherapist. A session is a wellness experience, not a medical treatment.
Book a free session and see iTeraCare for yourself at our Anna Nagar centre.