Natural Remedies for Rheumatoid Arthritis Relief

Rheumatoid arthritis affects more than 1.3 million people in the United States. Contrary to popular belief, it isn’t a disease of old age, but an autoimmune disease that can affect anyone at any age.

In people with rheumatoid arthritis, the body attacks the lining of the joints, which causes the cushion around the joints to break down over time. Although rheumatoid arthritis affects the joints, it is a systemic illness, and the whole body is affected.

Common signs and symptoms include:

• muscle stiffness in the morning
• swollen joints that are hot to the touch
• fatigue
• pain that’s symmetrical (i.e., emerges in both of your hands or both of your feet)

The natural remedies to manage this disease include:

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Anti-inflammatory diets are typically low in animal protein and include more plant-based proteins, including legumes, nuts, and seeds. For people sensitive to lactose or gluten, they should also minimize those things.

Stretching

Stretching is important for rheumatoid arthritis to help the body stay as limber as possible. Applying heat and ice also help keep the ligaments and tendons and joints lubricated.

Good Mechanics

Making sure you have proper posture, muscle movement, and positioning is important to avoid strain on the joints.

“When you’re walking, you want to avoid your feet rolling in or out because that could affect your knees or your hips,” advises rheumatologist Rochelle Rosian, MD. “Keep an even gait, maintain good posture and engage your abdominal muscles. You want to make sure you’re wearing smart shoes, not flip-flops.”

In the kitchen, use tools with a thicker grip, and wear gloves while chopping food for more support. “Pick the kind of tools to use where your joints don’t have to work as hard,” says Dr. Rosian. “There are many brands of kitchen and garden tools that have more soft, squishy grips.”

For writing, you could put a grip on your pen or pencil to make everything “a little bit chubbier and a little bit squishier.” “A lot of people also get wrist supports to use when they’re on their computer, or cushions under their mouse or under their keyboards.”

Omega-3 Fish Oil

A recommended dose of omega-3 fish oil—specifically the kind with DHA and EPA—is 1,000 mg twice a day. Fish oil can interfere with other medications, so be sure to consult with your doctor before starting to take this.

Turmeric

Some studies have shown turmeric to have anti-inflammatory effects. The ideal dose, according to Dr. Rosian, is 750 mg twice a day, or 1,000 mg once a day.

What to Avoid

People with rheumatoid arthritis should avoid supplements touted as immune boosters. “This sounds counterintuitive, but…[p]eople living with rheumatoid arthritis don’t have a weak immune system. They have a dysfunctional immune system. So, it’ll boost the good parts of their immune system—and also boost the part that’s not functioning properly.”

Dr. Rosian says supplements such as glucosamine and MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) likely don’t have much of a benefit for rheumatoid arthritis.

Despite natural remedies for rheumatoid arthritis, some people do need additional medication or treatment, which may include anti-inflammatory medications, prednisone, immunosuppressive medicines, biologics, and injectable medications.