A stinging nettle plant’s leaves can be painful to touch, but in a tea, its roots and leaves actually ease arthritis pain. According to a recent study at the University of Plymouth in England, the plant is rich in the anti-inflammatory agents histamine and formic acid.

Try: Pour 2/3 cup boiling water over three to four teaspoons dried leaves or root. (Available at health food stores or online at localharvest.org. We like the Stinging Nettle Tea, $5.)

Get minty

Peppermint oil is one of the pain-relieving ingredients in creams such as BenGay, says Yvonne Braver, M.D., of the Cleveland Clinic.

Try: Apply peppermint oil directly to the area.

Catch some rays

Researchers at Boston University Medical Center found that vitamin D (you can get it through sun exposure or in supplement form) slows the development of arthritis.

Try: Walk in the sun every other day for about 10 minutes without sunscreen (which blocks D production).

Loosen up

Stretching the tight muscles near inflamed joints increases blood flow, which helps relieve pain, says Desiree Rumbaugh, star of the DVD Yoga to the Rescue.

Try: Perform gentle stretches three times a day, especially around your achy areas. You should notice a difference in a few weeks.

Supplement!

Studies continue to show that taking glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate (two compounds that exist naturally in shellfish) aids arthritis sufferers in two unique ways. By slowing the narrowing of the space between joints, glucosamine keeps the disease from advancing, while chondroitin reduces inflammation.

Try: A daily tablet containing 1,500 milligrams glucosamine and 1,200 milligrams chondroitin sulfate (they are often combined).

Get cozy

Heat increases blood flow, reducing stiffness and sending the body’s natural painkillers to the achy site, says Bill McCarberg, M.D., founder of the Kaiser Permanente Chronic Pain Management Program.

Try: A warm bath in the morning helps loosen joints; at night, use a heating pad or wrap on the affected area. (We like ThermaCare HeatWraps, $7, cvs.com.)

Rub down

That kick you get from eating hot chili peppers comes from a compound called capsaicin, says Edward Schneider, M.D., author of What Your Doctor Hasn’t Told You and the Health Store Clerk Doesn’t Know. In cream form, he notes, it also numbs aching joints by blocking the neurochemical that allows you to feel pain.

Try: An over-the-counter topical cream containing .025 percent capsaicin. (We like Zostrix, $16, drugstore.com.)