Alternative Treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis

About 46 million Americans have arthritis, making the condition one of the most common causes of pain. For more than a million of these people, the arthritis is caused by the body’s own immune system, which attacks the joints and causes intense swelling and pain. This rarer form of arthritis is known as rheumatoid arthritis, and it is possible thatalternative medicinecan help improve its symptoms.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Identifying the Condition

Rheumatoid arthritis occurs most commonly between the ages of 30 and 55, and women are three times more likely to be affected than men. Since it’s an autoimmune disorder, rheumatoid arthritis can be more debilitating than other forms of arthritis. “Rheumatoid arthritis tends to affect multiple joints,” notes Thom Lobe, MD, founder and medical director of the Beneveda Medical Group in Beverly Hills, Calif. “The resulting limitation of motion can cause muscle weakness from not being able to move the body part, so loss of strength can occur.”

Studies have shown that when rheumatoid arthritis is identified and treated early, patients have a much easier time managing the condition. Theodore R. Fields, MD, arheumatologistat the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, recommends that a patient exhibiting symptoms consistent with rheumatoid arthritis — joint pain with swelling and stiffness — should get an evaluation by her physician, ideally within a week. He says that in most cases, the patient would also benefit from a very early evaluation by a rheumatologist.

Conventionaltreatments for rheumatoid arthritisinclude non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs), oralcorticosteroids, corticosteroid injections,analgesics, and physical therapy. But alternative medicine treatments such as dietary changes,nutritional supplements, and exercise can certainly play a role, too.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: How Alternative Medicine May Help

If you have rheumatoid arthritis and are interested in alternative medicine treatments, Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, medical director of theFibromyalgiaand Fatigue Centers, advises discussing your options with a holistic practitioner. Here’s what our other experts recommend:

• Change your diet.联合inflammation is the source of rheumatoid arthritis pain, so it makes sense that a diet high in anti-inflammatory foods and low in inflammation-causing foods would help, says Dr. Teitelbaum. As a result, he favors cutting back on red meat, shortening, margarine, sugar, potatoes, and white flour in favor of fish, whole grains, and fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Fill up on fish oil.The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and fish oil seem to offer the biggest anti-inflammatory benefit. “In a study done in Scotland, 64 men and women with rheumatoid arthritis were given fish oil,” he says. “They began to feel better in three months. By one year, they had decreased NSAID use by 40 percent.” Teitelbaum recommends the equivalent of a tablespoon of fish oil daily; after three months, switch to one teaspoon daily.
• Choose cherries.If you’re looking for a remedy that’s a little more appetizing than fish oil, Dr. Lobe says that cherries may help. “Dark Bing cherries have been shown to be effective in reducing inflammation,” he explains.
• Give other supplements a try.Teitelbaum recommends amultivitaminto help you get all of the nutrients that can offsetrheumatoid arthritis symptoms, such as pantothenic acid, vitamins A, C, and E, boron, copper, zinc, and selenium. Like fish oil, borage seed oil can play a role in reducing inflammation and fighting arthritis symptoms. This Mediterranean herb is high in omega-6 fatty acids. Keep in mind that some borage oil products may contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), a substance that can cause liver damage. Only use borage oil products certified as "PA-free."
• Get moving.Since arthritis primarily affects your joints, remaining active is one key to fighting symptoms. This includes physical therapy with a professional, says Dr. Fields, as well as exercising on your own. “A variety of movement techniques have been shown to be helpful in rheumatoid arthritis,” he says. Alternative medicine therapies liketai chi, Pilates, and yoga have been shown to help improve pain and stiffness and enhance function.
• Different conditions require different treatments.Whileglucosamineand chondroitin sulfate have shown some benefit for those withosteoarthritis, study results have been less convincing for those with rheumatoid arthritis, says Fields. Also,people with rheumatoid arthritismay want to avoid willow bark — an herb with anti-inflammatory properties. Despite its ability to help minimize pain and swelling, it can negatively interact withrheumatoid arthritis medication, warns Lobe.
• Don't trust the hype.Some supplements are marketed as “immune-boosting” or “immune-stimulating.” And while this may sound helpful for rheumatoid arthritis, Fields says that this is rarely the case, and that the evidence for these claims is preliminary and controversial. “If they worked as immune stimulators, they might actually be bad for rheumatoid arthritis. In rheumatoid arthritis, parts of the immune system are already in high gear, attacking your own joints,” Fields notes.

Supplements can interact with other medication, includingblood thinnersand NSAIDs. Remember that most alternative medicine therapies are not subject to the same regulations as conventional medication. Make sure you do your homework — carefully review possible risks and side effects with your health care provider before trying any supplement or other alternative medicine treatment.