When conventional medical treatment doesn't provide sufficient pain relief, people are more likely to try complementary and alternative therapies.
In general, there is not enough scientific evidence to prove that any complementary health approaches are beneficial for arthritis, and there are safety concerns about some of them. Some mind and body practices and dietary supplements may help people manage their symptoms and therefore may be beneficial additions to conventional treatments, but there is not enough evidence to draw conclusions.
Key Points
- Some complementary health approaches—particularly dietary supplements—may have side effects or may interact with conventional medical treatments or each other. Although many dietary supplements (and some prescription drugs) come from natural sources, “natural” does not always mean “safe.” In particular, the herb thunder god vine (Tripterygium wilfordii) can have serious side effects.
- Do not replace conventional medical therapy with an unproven health product or practice.
- Tell all your health care providers about any complementary health approaches you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.
Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate
In recent years, the nutritional supplement pair glucosamine and chondroitin has shown some potential for reducing the pain of osteoarthritis, though no conclusive proof has emerged to date. Both of these nutrients are found in shark cartilage, the shells of shellfish, and pig ears and noses, and are components of normal cartilage.
The Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT) assessed the effectiveness and safety of these supplements when taken together or separately. The trial found that the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate did not provide significant relief from osteoarthritis pain among all participants. However, a subgroup of study participants with moderate-to-severe pain showed significant relief with the combined supplements.
The 4-year trial was conducted at 16 sites across the United States. The results were published in the Feb. 23, 2006 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Acupuncture
Some people have found pain relief using acupuncture, a practice in which fine needles are inserted by a licensed acupuncture therapist at specific points on the skin. Preliminary research shows that acupuncture may be a useful component in an osteoarthritis treatment plan for some patients. Scientists think the needles stimulate the release of natural, pain-relieving chemicals produced by the nervous system.
The longest and largest randomized, controlled phase 3 clinical trial of acupuncture ever conducted revealed that the therapy relieves pain and improves function in knee osteoarthritis, and it serves as an effective complement to standard care. The trial was the first with sufficient rigor, size, and duration to show that acupuncture reduces the pain and functional impairment of osteoarthritis of the knee.
These results also indicate that acupuncture can serve as an effective addition to a standard regimen of care and improve quality of life for people who suffer from knee osteoarthritis.
Massage
In this pain-relief approach, a massage therapist will lightly stroke and/or knead the painful muscles. This may increase blood flow and bring warmth to a stressed area. However, arthritis-stressed joints are sensitive, so the therapist must be familiar with the problems of the disease.
Folk remedies
These include wearing copper bracelets, drinking herbal teas, taking mud baths, and rubbing WD-40 on joints to "lubricate" them. While these practices may or may not be harmful, no scientific research to date shows that they are helpful in treating osteoarthritis. They can also be expensive, and using them may cause people to delay or even abandon useful medical treatment.
Vitamin Supplements
The progression of osteoarthritis may be slower in people who take higher levels of vitamins D, C, or E, or beta carotene.
Green Tea
Many studies have shown that green tea possesses anti-inflammatory properties. One study showed that mice predisposed to a condition similar to human osteoarthritis had mild arthritis and little evidence of cartilage damage and bone erosion when green tea polyphenols were added to their drinking water. Another study showed that when added to human cartilage cell cultures, the active ingredients in green tea inhibited chemicals and enzymes that lead to cartilage damage and breakdown.
Further studies are needed to determine the effects of green tea compounds on human cartilage.
Source: Vivacare
Last updated : 11/17/2022