Among the reasons why some people consider natural cures for arthritis are issues with side effects of arthritis medications, a wish for greater relief of symptoms and/or disability, and a belief that alternative therapies are safer and more "natural." Vitamin D, glucosamine-chondroitin products, and magnetic bracelets are a few of these natural "cures." Arthritis treatments that are unproven should never been used in place of proven conventional treatments.
We have all read the personal claims -- "After two months of this product, I stopped limping.
I am now playing tennis with less pain and my knees have stopped swelling." Or you might have heard about a so-called "natural cure for arthritis" from a friend. "My shoulder hurt for three months. I took this product and it got better." Based on these types of stories, one might assume there are arthritis treatments that your healthcare provider is not telling you about. In fact, search the Internet for "natural cures for arthritis" and you are bound to find many available products. These products can include natural remedies such as:
Glucosamine-chondroitin products
Sam-e
Vitamin D
Magnetic bracelets for arthritis.
These claims can be attractive, especially for people living with a chronic condition like arthritis. Some people may even achieve unbelievable results from some of these remedies. But there is something important to keep in mind before you consider any of these natural "cures." For most types of arthritis, there is no cure -- natural or not.
What is meant above by most types? The term arthritis is used to describe more than 100 conditions that can cause inflammation of a joint. Most types of arthritis have no cure. The three most common types -- osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout -- are among these types of arthritis that do not have a cure.
Yet, there are several forms of arthritis that may get better on their own and never come back. Others might be cured with medicine. For example, infectious arthritis -- which is an arthritis caused by an infection with bacteria (septic arthritis), virus, or fungi -- can often be cured with medicines (such as antibiotics for a bacterial infection or antifungals for a fungal infection). But when it comes to an arthritis cure, these examples are the exceptions rather than the rule.
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