Natural Remedies for Rheumatoid Arthritis

I personally use many of these approaches. We'll talk a little bit about each here in this article, but you'll see more detailed information throughout this website.

Herbs and Botanical Supplements

Before you start taking herbal supplements, it is important to note that many of today's conventional medications were derived from plants/herbs, and though they may seem more "natural" and innocuous, many can have serious side-effects and drug interactions. It's important to understand the risks and discuss with your doctor any herbal supplements you take. If you can find a naturopath or integrative medicine clinic in your area, they can help you decide the right ones to take and the right doses.

Herbal medicine has been used for centuries, in all cultures. Today, the biggest influences on herbal medicine is from traditional Chinese medicine, and Ayurveda (from India). Some of the botanicals/herbs used today to treat rheumatoid arthritis include:

Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

There have been numerous studies looking at the role of vitamins and minerals and their role in rheumatoid arthritis. The most commonly observed vitamin and mineral deficiencies in patients with RA, are folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, zinc and selenium. (Hudnall M. Illness and Disease Vitamins, Minerals and Dietary Supplements 1999 Minneapolis, MN: Chronimed, 42-44)

Studies show that people with low levels of certain antioxidants are more likely to get rheumatoid arthritis (Read more), and other studies show that antioxidants are useful in controlling RA inflammation. Read more

In one study done by Finnish researchers, for example, researchers found that people with low blood levels of vitamin E, beta-carotene and selenium (a mineral with anti-inflammatory properties) had more than eight times the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis compared with people with high levels of these nutrients.

My naturopath has me on a high dose of vitamin C for its antioxidant/anti-inflammatory properties.

A study published in 2004 in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism found that a greater intake of vitamin D may be associated with a lower risk of RA. To read more on this study, click here.

Vitamin D is important to everyone's health - RA or not. I take it everyday. Here's a free article from Dr. Fuhrman on the importance of vitamin D.

But Before you supplement...Know what you are taking! Dr. Joel Fuhrman, MD warns against taking certain supplements. Read more about supplement dangers.

This neat widget can show you which foods to eat to get your vitamins. Learn more about Vitamins by clicking on each button. View fruits, vegetables and nuts sources, plus benefits and guidelines:

Other Supplements

There have been hundreds of studies demonstrating the anti-inflammatory effects of fish oil. High doses of EPA and DHA (long-chain omega-3) fatty acids have been shown to lower immune reactivity and inhibit the inflammatory response. Dr. Fuhrman contends that dosages in the range of 1.2 to 4 grams are typically needed to be effective (Check out the Nov. '04 Healthy Times Newsletter). Fish oil can thin your blood, so check with your doctor before you start taking it.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease... and did you know that 70% of the immune system is located in the gastrointestinal tract? There is a link between RA and intestinal permeability (leaky gut syndrome). This is what Dr. Fuhrman has to say about it:

Using bowel flora supplements (aka probiotics) like Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria can keep these harmful microorganisms that cause inflammation in check.

Dietary Changes

Many studies have shown that a strict vegetarian diet, or vegan diet is beneficial to RA sufferers. The trick here though is to make sure that you are eating lots of high-nutrient foods like fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables. There are lots of foods out there that are labeled "vegan" that are overly processed, loaded with sodium and sugar, and basically "junk-food."

Many studies have also demonstrated that a low-fat or fat-free diet (for example, click here) help improve RA symptoms.

Additionally, certain fats (mostly from animal sources, but also from corn and sunflower oils) break down in the body into substances that can cause inflammation.

Many people with RA have problems with wheat and gluten, and a lot of research has been done on the subject. Studies have shown that diet free of gluten and wheat can help lessen rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.

Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is simply using water therapeutically (taking a nice warm bath). A few studies have been done on hydrotherapy for RA (read about one). Most are based on sea-bath treatments given in Israel's Dead Sea area, and most of these studies reported benefits to RA sufferers. If you'd like to try sea bath hydrotherapy at home, I highly recommend a product from Wachter's called Sea Baath. You just squirt a cap-full in your bathwater and melt away. It's natural and organic, and smells wonderful - a very lovely product. (Note: It's not easy to find and I'm not a Wachter's distributor. I buy mine locally through a spa/massage school. If you can't find it locally, you can search their site for an online distributor or buy directly through their website, www.wachters.com.)

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