Alternative Therapies for Arthritis

According to definition, arthritis means inflammation of the joints. There are pain, swelling of the joint, redness and increase in the local temperature. The question comes to our mind primarily is whether it is rational to go for any alternative medication to treat arthritis. The golden rule is ‘If it does not give you any harm and help to keep you active, you can go for it’.

This matter raises multifocal issues and there is no single answer. Physical exercise, massage and hot fomentation are well known alternative approach to treat arthritis, but the modern medicine is also accepted the method and recommending the same for a long time.

Alternative therapies for arthritis have a very wide range. It begins with ‘A’ (stands for Acupuncture) to ‘Z’ (stands for Zinc sulfate). In between there are metallic bracelet to food supplements to yoga to magnetic therapy- just to mention a few.A lot of patients search for alternative therapies for arthritis as to get rid of the crippling pain. In fact, a survey conducted by the Arthritis Foundation of America stated that more than 70% of the arthritis patients have sought for alternative pain reliving approach n a time during the course of their therapy.

Here are some of the useful agents of alternative arthritis pain relief-Chondroitin Sulfate and Glucosamine- these two substances are present normally in the synovial fluid of the joint. At present they are being produced in the laboratory synthetically and are marketed. They have no role to reduce the pain but they have an immense power to halt the progress of Osteoarthritis besides increase in the repair process of the damaged joint.

Methyl Sulfonyl Methane or MSM has the power to deliver natural sulfur to the joint. It can reduce the intensity of the inflammation. Consequently, the total improvement in the effective pain management occurs. Turmeric, Yograja, Guggulu, Aniseed oil, Mahamas oil, Cinnamon, Menthol and Camphor are recommended by the Ayurveda (Indian system of holistic medicine).

An herb, Bosewellia, has got immense anti-inflammatory action. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese therapy of pain relieving. Numerous needles are introduced over the pressure points to get rid of pain. Another alternative medication for arthritis is Magnetotherapy. They say that the magnetic field created by applying multiple smaller magnets reduces the pain.