Alternative Treatment for Polyarticular Arthritis

Polyarticular arthritis indicates arthritis is present in four or more joints. You might have rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which is caused by the immune system's mistakenly attacking joint tissue, or osteoarthritis (OA), which is caused by age-related breakdown of the joints. Both conditions cause pain, swelling, tenderness and stiffness. The University of Maryland Medical Center and alternative medicine expert Dr. Andrew Weil offer several suggestions for natural symptom relief.

Using Alternative Therapy

Alternative treatments for polyarticular arthritis can be used as a complement to standard therapies or as a replacement for them. It is very important to talk with a health-care professional experienced in using alternative medicine, ideally for your specific condition. This is especially important if you choose to forego conventional medicine.

Talk to your doctor before you start using natural supplements. While supplements are generally safe, as with drugs, they can interact with other treatments and are not appropriate if you have certain health conditions. Working with an experienced health-care provider can help you design an effective and safe treatment strategy.

You do not need to take every supplement listed here as some offer similar benefits; this is where working with a experienced provider is beneficial. In order to receive optimum benefit from alternative medicine, you must address all aspects of your health and not focus just on your condition. You must commit to a healthful diet and other lifestyle choices that contribute to overall well-being.

Reducing Inflammation

Reducing inflammation is very important for managing symptoms of arthritis. Inflammation triggers and worsens joint damage. Including and excluding certain foods is a powerful way to combat inflammation. Foods that trigger the release of inflammatory chemicals include saturated fats found in animal products, foods made with white flour and sugar. Foods that fight inflammation include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, whole soy foods, cold-water fish, nuts and seeds. Use liberal amounts of garlic, onions, turmeric and ginger in your cooking.

Certain supplements have anti-inflammatory properties. The University of Maryland Medical Center suggests trying SAMe (100 to 200mg before breakfast), omega-3 fatty acids in the form of fish oil or flax seed supplements (take one or two capsules or 1 tbsp. twice daily), bromelain (40mg three times a day), turmeric (300mg three times a day) or devil's claw (200mg twice a day).

Symptom Relief Through Alternative Treatment Modalities

According to the University of Maryland's website, acupuncture has been shown to provide significant pain relief and improved mobility and joint function for people with OA. Anecdotal evidence indicates it might be useful for RA, but scientific evidence is lacking. You will require several treatment sessions to achieve maximum benefit from acupuncture. Spinal manipulations by an experienced chiropractor might provide pain relief and increased range of motion, but scientific proof is lacking for this, as well.

If you are interested in using these treatments, it is important to remember that one session is usually not enough to produce significant change. These treatments may or may not work for you personally but if you want to try them, give them a chance to work. You will need multiple sessions and the practitioner will suggest a treatment schedule based on her assessment of your condition.

Stress Reduction

Engaging in mind/body techniques is important for reducing stress and other negative emotions. This can improve general well-being and ease the pain and other symptoms of these conditions. Experiment with t'ai chi, yoga, meditation, deep breathing, positive visualization and anything else that you think will help you feel better.