by Brenda Schmitt

Created on: September 21, 2009   Last Updated: September 22, 2009

Holistic medicine is aimed towards improving overall health by complete lifestyle changes. What works for one person may not work for another and a band aide approach that fails to take into account overall lifestyle changes may have little effect. Arthritis symptoms can respond to holistic measures.

It's also important to understand that just because an herb, supplement or other type of holistic treatment is natural doesn't mean it is harmless. Foxglove is an all natural plant and the source of the now synthetically made dioxin. It can be very helpful for some heart conditions and it is a poison that can kill you used inappropriately.

Some herbal remedies can interfere with or increase the affect of prescribed medications such as Coumadin. It's important to be proactive in your own care and research any supplement or treatment you choose to use, especially if you are already on prescribed medication. Many doctors are not very receptive to the use of alternative modalities and you may have to search for a doctor who will support your desire to try them. Many of these remedies have been studied and found to have greater effect than placebos and can be useful as adjuncts or stand alone treatments. However, some have not been studied and it is not scientifically proven they help. Use your own judgment. For myself I have found many of these remedies have helped.

The following treatments, supplements, home remedies and herbs have been used to treat arthritis:

1) Vitamin B12 with folate in a study was found to be as effective as NSAIDs such as Ibuprophen without the side effects. The dose in the study was 20mcg of B12 with 6400mcg of folate.

2) GLA which comes from borage seed or primrose oil has been used to treat arthritis. The dose used in one study was 1400mg daily.

3) Glucosamine and chondroitin have been used to treat arthritis. Side effects have included heart burn, stomach upset and diarrhea. Also glucosamine is made from shrimp shells so probably should not be used by those allergic to shellfish and may increase blood sugar. It seems to be most effective when pain is severe and less effective as a deterrent when pain is mild.

4) Devils claw has been used as an anti-inflammatory. Devil claw is hard on the stomach and should not be used by people with ulcers, or gallstones. Devils claw also may decrease blood sugar so people on diabetic medication should be wary of its use.

5) White willow bark has been used for centuries for fever and inflammation and pain

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