A special type of honey known as "Manuka Honey" has been found to have extremely powerful anti-inflammatory properties and is now being used as a natural form of Pain Relief.

Arthritis is a painful condition involving damage to the joints of the body. It is the leading cause of disability in people over the age of 50. There are different types of arthritis, each of which caused by different elements. The most common form of arthritis, known as osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease and is a result of trauma to the joint, infection of the joint or age. Millions of people are affected by this condition, approximately 20 million in the U.S. alone. The symptoms tend to worsen with age. Proper treatment is essential to slowing the progression.

Other types of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis are autoimmune diseases in which the body attacks itself. Septic arthritis is caused by joint infection. Gouty arthritis is caused by deposition of uric acid crystals in the joint which causes inflammation.

Relief from arthritis and other forms of muscle and joint pain and inflammation can be found in some non-prescription medications, natural remedies and other over-the-counter products. Natural treatments and alternative medicine can serve to complement more traditional arthritis therapies. There is a particular type of honey that is now being used to treat arthritis due to its anti-inflammatory properties. When used as a topical analgesic, Manuka Honey can be very effective in relieving pain.

Like all types of honey, Manuka Honey is sticky and not a particularly user friendly substance to use on the skin. However, a manufacturer of health care products called Honeymark has a Pain Relief Cream that contains Manuka Honey and other ingredients that are effective in relieving pain. This product can be applied to affected areas without the messiness and stickiness of using raw Manuka Honey.

"Manuka Honey has the ability to diffuse into the depths of skin tissue, getting to affected areas of muscle or joint pain," says Frank Buonanotte, CEO of Honeymark International. "In addition to being an effective treatment for arthritis, our Pain Relief Cream can also be used for backaches, muscle strains, joint and muscle stiffness and other aches and pains."