Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease of the autoimmune system that leads to inflammation of the joints and even the organs. The body’s immune system mistakenly attacks these healthy tissues, leading to pain and discomfort. Over time, joint inflammation becomes more severe and so does the pain caused by it. There are many treatment options for RA including topical pain relief creams and balms, prescription medications and over the counter medications. There are also numerous natural remedies for rheumatoid arthritis pain, including herbal supplements, vitamins, infrared saunas and whole body cryotherapy treatment.
We will begin by reviewing supplements options with their benefits and risks of side-effects, followed by an alternative natural solution, cryotherapy AKA cryo.
Natural Remedies for Rheumatoid Arthritis: 10 Supplements Options
- Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish oil supplements, have been shown to reduce joint pain and stiffness in people with rheumatoid arthritis. Numerous studies have concluded that omega-3 supplements may have anti-inflammatory effects that can help alleviate symptoms.
- Side effects of fish oil supplements can include nausea, diarrhea, and fishy aftertaste. People who take blood thinners should consult their healthcare provider before taking fish oil supplements, as they may increase the risk of bleeding.
- Turmeric, a spice commonly used in Indian cuisine, contains a compound called curcumin which has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. Some studies have suggested that taking turmeric supplements may help reduce joint pain and swelling in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
- High doses of turmeric supplements may cause stomach upset, nausea, or diarrhea. People with gallbladder disease or those taking blood thinners should avoid turmeric supplements.
- Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to an increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis. Taking vitamin D supplements is one of the most commonly used natural remedies for rheumatoid arthritis that may help reduce the risk of developing the condition or improve symptoms in people who already have it.
- High doses of vitamin D supplements can be toxic and may cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. People taking certain medications, such as thiazide diuretics or corticosteroids, should be careful when taking vitamin D supplements.
- Ginger, a root commonly used in cooking and herbal medicine, contains compounds with anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have suggested that taking ginger supplements may help reduce joint pain and inflammation in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
- Side effects of ginger supplements can include nausea, heartburn, and diarrhea. Ginger supplements may also interact with blood thinners and diabetes medications.
- Devil’s claw, a plant native to southern Africa, has been used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of conditions and is known as one of the natural remedies for rheumatoid arthritis. Medical studies have shown that taking devil’s claw supplements may help reduce joint pain and stiffness in people with the condition, although more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness.
- Devil’s claw supplements may cause stomach upset, diarrhea, or headache. People with gallstones or peptic ulcer disease should avoid devil’s claw supplements.
- Boswellia, also known as Indian frankincense, is a tree resin that has been used in traditional medicine to treat inflammation and pain. Studies have suggested that taking boswellia supplements may help reduce joint pain and stiffness in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
- Side effects of boswellia supplements can include stomach upset and diarrhea. Boswellia supplements may also interact with blood thinners and some medications for asthma and inflammatory bowel disease.
- Willow bark extract contains salicin, which is a natural compound that is similar to aspirin. Some studies have suggested that taking willow bark supplements may help reduce joint pain and inflammation in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
- Side effects of boswellia supplements can include stomach upset and diarrhea. Boswellia supplements may also interact with blood thinners and some medications for asthma and inflammatory bowel disease.
- SAMe, short for S-adenosylmethionine, is a natural compound that is involved in various processes in the body, including the production of neurotransmitters and the regulation of inflammation. Some studies have concluded that taking SAMe supplements may be one of the useful natural remedies for rheumatoid arthritis.
- Side effects of SAMe supplements can include dry mouth, nausea, and diarrhea. SAMe supplements may also interact with antidepressant medications and medications for Parkinson’s disease.
- Green tea contains compounds called catechins, which have been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Taking green tea supplements may be one of the simplest natural remedies for rheumatoid arthritis that helps reduce stiffness and joint discomfort.
- High doses of green tea supplements may cause liver damage or insomnia. Green tea supplements may also interact with blood thinners and some medications for high blood pressure or depression.
- Cat’s claw, also known as Uncaria tomentosa, is a vine native to South America that has been used in traditional medicine to treat inflammation and pain. Some studies have suggested that taking cat’s claw supplements may help reduce joint pain and stiffness in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
- Cat’s claw supplements may cause mild digestive upset, dizziness, or headache. People with autoimmune diseases or those taking immunosuppressant medications should avoid cat’s claw supplements.
Natural Remedies for Rheumatoid Arthritis Alternative: Whole Body Cryotherapy
Supplements are one of the more popular alternative natural remedies for pain relief for arthritis, however when compared to the benefits of cryotherapy sauna, they fall flat in terms of both safety and effectiveness for natural pain relief. Cryotherapy is still relatively unknown in terms of its place amongst natural remedies for rheumatoid arthritis, although it was developed many decades ago for precisely these types of purposes. By quickly reducing the skin’s external temperature, the body’s immune system goes into hyper drive, traversing every nook and cranny of the anatomy – making repairs, healing inflammation, reducing swelling and providing natural pain relief.
The procedure is also thought to provide circulatory and detoxification benefits. It’s for these positive cryotherapy effects that the therapy is so popular with athletes, whom often experience joint and muscle pain and find that cryo saunas provide reduced recovery time and relief from common sports injuries. While not an immediate solution, multiple sessions (usually ten or more) have produced positive results in terms of arthritis treatment, with pain and discomfort being reduced in many people.
Aside from documentable results, another reason that cryotherapy may be the best choice amongst natural remedies for rheumatoid arthritis treatment is safety. It may seem absurd that a deep freeze chamber has little safety issues and is considered very low risk in healthy individuals who don’t have certain health conditions, but that’s precisely the case. It’s an incredibly safe procedure that is almost always very well tolerated because the cryo treatments last for only 2-3 minutes. It’s in this way that herbal supplements, long considered one of the best choices in preventative natural remedies for rheumatoid arthritis, fall flat.
Supplements are not a miracle cure for those leading an unhealthy lifestyle and consuming unhealthy diets. They are also simply not regulated the same way that medicines are. And in terms of safety, they can be risky when a low quality synthetic product is consumed. Similarly, the risk goes up when the wrong dose of the vitamin supplement is taken, which is very common with a high amount of misleading information available from unreliable sources.
Take for instance cat’s claw, which has been used as a natural rheumatoid arthritis treatment. Not only are its effects unproven, it can also lead to nausea and dizziness. Colloidal silver is also popular amongst herbal natural remedies for rheumatoid arthritis. However not only can it lead to serious health problems like kidney failure (rare), it can turn the entire body blue. Documented evidence suggests that cryotherapy may be a viable, effective and safe solution for the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.
Conclusion:
While there is no doubt that the cost of cryotherapy is higher than natural vitamin and herbal supplements (each session running around fifty dollars – check our price list), it’s worth noting that the long term costs of potential physiological damage from unregulated supplement use is much more expensive in terms of risk. If you’re considering natural remedies for rheumatoid arthritis, talk to your doctor about whole body cryotherapy to see if you may be missing out on a new age treatment that has been battling the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis since its inception.