Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease whereby your immune system starts to attack its own body tissues. It is also considered a progressive disease. This means that over time, your arthritis symptoms can worsen.
There are over 100 different classifications and types of arthritis. It is likely that if you have been diagnosed with one of these, your doctor would have prescribed you the appropriate drugs for it. Although drug medication can be used effectively to treat many kinds of arthritis, there are potential side effects when you become over dependent on them for arthritis pain relief.
Turning to a natural treatment for rheumatoid arthritis is an option you can consider. Such a treatment does not usually involve the use of prescription medications and would have virtually no side effects. Here is a quick run-down on some of the newest and most popular natural rheumatoid arthritis treatments. They may be used alone, or in conjunction with each other.
Physical therapy. This is a very popular natural treatment for rheumatoid arthritis as it is highly effective. In many cases, regular prescribed exercises can even improve the range of physical motion substantially. Physical therapy can also help you deal with muscle and joint stiffness, increase muscle strength, and reduce allover pain.
Acupuncture. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese healing method that dates back more than 3,000 years ago. It is used to effectively treat the symptoms of arthritis, in addition to other health ailments. Acupuncture is a procedure used in which specific body areas (or meridian points) are pierced with fine needles for therapeutic purposes or to relieve pain or produce regional anesthesia.
As a natural treatment method, acupuncture is fast gaining popularity in America and other western countries. By 1993, Americans were making 12 million visits per year to acupuncturists, and spending $500 million annually on acupuncture treatments. By 1995, there were an estimated 10,000 certified acupuncturists practicing in the United States; as of 2000, there were 20,000.
Acupresure. Acupressure is another ancient Chinese form of therapy that has been used for thousands of years. It is also used to as a natural treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. In contrast to acupuncture, here, the acupressure practitioner uses his or her fingers instead of needles. Studies have shown that acupressure seem to release endorphins in patients, causing feeling of pleasantness and comfort. It appears that acupressure has strong anti-inflammatory healing abilities for rheumatoid arthritis.
Relaxation therapy: Relaxation therapy is a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates several different therapies working toward a common goal. The goal of relaxation therapy as a natural treatment for rheumatoid arthritis is to release muscle tension and joint rigidity to reduce your overall pain and discomfort. The different relaxation therapies include meditation, yoga, stretching exercises and Pilates.
Hydrotherapy. Hydrotherapy is fast becoming a popular therapy for rheumatoid arthritis patients as it is fun and can be very effective. It involves a series of water exercises, usually done in lukewarm water. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis report that the feeling of warm water helps to relax them and provide much relief from their pain.
In addition, several studies have shown that hydrotherapy is an effective therapy that helps reduce the weight and pressure on the joints. The warm water relaxes the muscles and helps reduce the feeling of stiffness. Hydrotherapy is also effective in weight management, which is particularly important if you have rheumatoid arthritis.
Occupational therapy. Occupational therapy is often used as a complementary and natural treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. In occupational therapy, you learn how to use their body parts more efficiently. Occupational therapy helps in ensuring that you can go about your everyday chores and tasks so that less tension is placed on the joints. Specially made splints are often used to help patients accomplish certain tasks without placing excess pressure on their joints. You and your occupational therapist can work together to tackle any specific challenges that you face. Your occupational therapist can design specific exercises for this purpose and train you in the use of special assistive devices.
Hot and cold therapies. These therapies take advantage of the effects of certain temperatures on the joints. Compresses, ultrasound devices, and warm wax may be used to apply heat to the joints. Ice packs may be used to apply cold temperatures to the affected areas. The efficacy of heat and cold therapies varies according to the patient.
It will also be a good idea to keep a journal of which natural treatment for rheumatoid arthritis works for you. That way, you will have records of what works and which natural treatment to use in combination. Most often, the use of a combination of natural treatment methods may just do the trick for your rheumatoid arthritis pain treatment.
In treating this disorder, doctors usually prefer to use drugs. However, you have to face the potential side effects especially if you depend too much on them for pain relief. Why not try natural treatment for rheumatoid arthritis? It causes almost no side effects. You can use several methods to cope the pain more effectively.
A nutritious diet can help you to manage the painful condition of this disease. However, some foods can aggravate the arthritic condition. For example, eating too much of red meat can encourage the development of rheumatoid arthritis. A majority of arthritic victims cannot tolerate gluten, gliadin, and dairy goods. Medical papers demonstrate that a two-week fast with vegetable broth can help to reduce its symptoms. Medical papers demonstrate that diet that is abundant with cold water fish can reduce the inflammation. Therefore, take large quantities of fruits and vegetables, and foods that are low in arachidonic acid (animal fats) to ease the painful symptoms.
Herbs may provide some relief of symptoms caused by rheumatoid arthritis. Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) assigns herbs as food, they can effectively manage its symptoms. Valerian is a botanical plant that has potent medicinal properties that can remedy muscle and joint pain. Ginger, curcumin, and boswellia are common natural treatments for rheumatoid arthritis. In Ayurveda, their prime usage is to reduce inflammation. If you plan to use botanical supplements, be sure to request for counsel from your medical professional.
You can use dietary supplements such as fish oil, glucosamine sulfate , and chondroitin as natural treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Fish oil has high amounts of two omega-3 fatty acids: EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). These omega fatty acids can produce compound that reduce inflammation. However, they do not appear to slow the progression of the disease.
Glucosamine is present in the fluid around the joints. It is a kind of amino sugar that is thought to aid in cartilage growth and maintenance. Cartilage is a strong but flexible tissue that covers the ends of bones. This will not allow the bones to rub against each other, and absorbs the force of impact. Chondroitin sulfate is an element present in the cartilage surrounding the joints. It is part of a large protein molecule (proteoglycan) that gives cartilage elasticity. Glucosamine promotes the growth and maintenance of articular cartilage while chondroitin sulfate prevents other body enzymes from declining the building blocks of joint cartilage.
Although you may prefer the natural treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, you should not brush off orthodox care. This form of arthritis is a complicated disease to treat. Even if you choose to use natural methods, you should maintain regular visits to a rheumatologist to monitor for serious complications.
Both Sandra Kim Leong & Andy Lim are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.