• Arthritis Natural Remedies

Supplements don’t help Arthritis!

I often get asked “will natural remedies help arthritis?” I can confidently say that supplements don’t help Arthritis.

What! Well to qualify that…if used incorrectly they can be useless, expensive and even dangerous! But when used correctly they can be very effective!

The key is to understand their particular role and then use them appropriately. There are a few different categories of natural supplements so I will explain them in these roles and hopefully this will make things clearer!

Please remember to check with your Doctor first as some of these supplements will interact with pharmaceutical drugs.

Natural Remedies for Arthritis:

  • Glucosamine and Chondroitin; These are the supplements that help the cartilage around the joints. On there own they have little know benefit on inflammation. If the joint is being worn this may slow the process, however the maximum benefit would be found with the wearing forces on the joint being addressed first.
  • Fish oils; these are specifically for inflammation. But the critical factor with fish oils is using the right type! The fish oils high in EPA concentration are the ones you need for inflammation. It is thought that a dose of above 3 grams a day is the minimum needed which is quite a lot! Any less would probably be ineffective.
  • Boswellia, ginger, peppermint etc; there are a myriad of herbs available for inflammation. The deal with herbs is that they are individual specific so some will help and others will not help at all. In fact some will irritate things more! So these need to be used with care.
  • Homoeopathic remedies (Bryonia, Rhus Tox, Ruta grav etc);Homeopathics are fantastic for all forms of arthritis, they can help with pain, inflammation, and stiffness. But they are even more critically individually sensitive, so you must only use the right fit for you… trial and error can be risky. Consulting with an experienced Homeopath is recommended!
  • Magnesium, copper and B vitamins; These are to help reduce muscle spasm and improve muscle function. They will only help if you are deficient in them! Calcium can block the effects of magnesium so this needs to be considered…too much magnesium and you will spend a lot of time sitting on the toilet! Copper is a trace element and can help cramps but too much is highly toxic…use with professional advice.

Remember check with your Doctor first!