Health
News
What works for arthritis?
Report casts doubt on complementary medicines for arthritis
Many complementary treatments for arthritis fail to provide relief and some may even be dangerous, according to a UK report compiled by the Arthritis Research Campaign (arc).
Scientists reviewed 40 different studies that looked at the effectiveness of different alternative medicines for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA) and fibromyalgia. The team found that two thirds of the RA treatments and nearly a fifth of OA treatments showed little or no effect while no treatment was found to be very effective against fibromyalgia.
But it wasn't all bad news - fish oil treatments for RA scored 5 out of 5 on the effectiveness scale – reducing joint pain and stiffness and improving general well-being. For OA, capsaicin gel, made from chilli peppers, came out top also scoring the full five points for effectiveness in relieving pain and joint tenderness.The popular OA remedy, glucosamine, did not fare so well with studies showing mixed results – although glucosamine sulphate scored better (3) than glucosamine hydrochloride (1).
Rheumatoid Arthritis causes pain and swelling of the joints particularly the wrists, fingers and feet. Osteoarthritis, often referred to as 'wear and tear' of the joints occurs when the cartilage becomes damaged and generally affects the knees and hips. Fibromyalgia refers to pain and tenderness in the muscles, tendons and ligaments.
Other treatments looked at included antler velvet; blackcurrant seed oil; collagen; eazmov herbal preparation; feverfew; flaxseed oil; green-lipped mussels; homeopathy; reumalex herbal mixture; selenium; Chinese herb tong luo kai bi; vitamins A,C and E; and willow bark.
Professor Gary Macfarlane, from the University of Aberdeen, who led the research, said that it was essential that people with arthritis had some guidance on complementary treatments, "While over 60 per cent of people with arthritis or other aches and pains use some form of complementary and alternative medicine - and find different things work for them - it is useful to also have the scientific evidence available and just as important to know how safe we think they are to use."
It is thought that around 46 per cent of people in the UK will try some form of complementary medicine at least once.
However, many of the products on the market remain unregulated and often there is very little scientific evidence to support their use.
"Complementary medicines are widely used by people with arthritis as they seek to avoid taking potentially harmful drugs, preferring natural products," said Professor Alan Silman, the Arthritis Research Campaign's medical director. "However, natural does not mean they are either safe – or effective. Many people spend hundreds of pounds on these products and they need to know that there is a strong chance of benefit."
The report graded the compounds for safety and found that one quarter of the remedies were given an 'amber' safety warning, meaning they had significant side effects. One 'red' code was given against thunder god vine for RA which can be extremely poisonous if not extracted properly.
Jane Gray, President of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH) welcomed the report:"This report is a commendable attempt to provide information on self-help products for osteo and rheumatoid arthritis," said Gray. "NIMH was delighted that the study showed effectiveness of a number of herbal treatments. Indeed capsicum, which is available on prescription in the form of cream, gel and plasters, was found to be the most effective complementary medicine for the treatment of pain and tenderness associated with OA. Other herbal preparations similarly ranked highly including borage seed oil, ginger, devil's claw, pine bark extracts, rosehip, and Phytodolor, a herbal mixture containing aspen, common ash bark and golden rod herb."
Gray encourages people wanting to try herbal remedies to seek professional advice. "Many people self-prescribe herbal medicines and frequently purchase preparations and combinations of herbs available on the high street or on the internet. This can be dangerous and, if products do not work or cause adverse effects, people are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified herbalist."
Useful links
- The facts about rheumatoid arthritis
- Self help for rheumatoid arthritis
- What you need to know about osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis cure only a jab away?
- Treatments for rheumatoid arthritis
- Arthritis, diet and exercise
- The connoisseur's guide to oils
- Questions to ask your doctor
- Herbal remedies: fever few
- All about vitamin A
- Guide to vitamin E
- Vitamin C
- A guide to chondroitin
- All about glucosamine
- Herbal remedy: ginger
- Herbal remedy: devil's claw
Information on this site is for interest only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult your own doctor about any specific health concerns.
