Nontraditional arthritis treatments: Some may help, but be wary

Herbal treatments

Nutritional supplements

Bee and snake venom

Metals and magnets

Relaxation techniques

Other nontraditional treatments

Evaluate any treatment

Americans spend millions of dollars each year on nontraditional treatments for arthritis. Some people eat shark cartilage. Others swear by chick cartilage or white raisins soaked in gin. Still others send for products that promise miracle cures or secret ingredients.

You might seek out such treatments for several reasons. You may find that conventional arthritis medications offer little relief, or you may not be able to tolerate the side effects that occur with such treatments, especially after long-term use.

Some people believe that natural substances must be safe because they're natural, but this is not always the case. Arsenic and nightshade are two natural substances that people have used to improve health, but both can kill you. Just because medications are available without a prescription does not mean they are free of side effects.

Nontraditional treatments are sometimes forms of complementary or alternative medicine. In most cases, researchers have not studied these treatments extensively using widely accepted scientific methods.

Even so, a growing body of evidence indicates that some complementary treatments can help treat and manage some diseases. The following are a few promising -- and not so promising -- options.

Herbal treatments

Herbs are the basis for many traditional medications, such as aspirin and morphine. Practitioners of some complementary therapies believe that certain herbs have anti-inflammatory properties. These herbs include:

Cumin

Coriander

Celery

Evening primrose oil

Turmeric

Devil's claw

Thunder god vine

Feverfew

Capsicum

Cinnamon

Yucca

Dandelion

Ginger

Some practitioners believe these herbs may help, but little research has been conducted on the plants' effectiveness. The results from clinical trials of evening primrose oil and capsicum for rheumatoid arthritis have been mixed. A trial of ginger as a treatment for osteoarthritis found it may be helpful. Research into turmeric, devil's claw, feverfew and willow found no benefit for the inflammation that occurs with arthritis.

For centuries Chinese practitioners have used the herbal remedy Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF) to treat inflammation and musculoskeletal injuries. TwHF is a vinelike plant that grows in southern China. However, TwHF can be toxic at high doses and can cause heart damage, kidney failure, intestinal problems, shock, decreased sperm production and menstrual irregularities.

Research may some day help carve a niche for some herbs in arthritis treatment. For now remember that many herbs contain powerful substances that can be toxic or interfere with medications. There is much less standardization of these herbs than of prescription drugs, and potency can vary a great deal. Talk to your doctor before you take any herbal preparation.

　　From Mayo.org