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Natural Remedies for Rheumatoid Arthritis
By Cathy Wong, ND Updated July 24, 2013 What is Rheumatoid Arthritis? Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory condition that causes pain and swelling of the joints, especially the smaller joints of the hands and feet. It generally affects both sides of the body at the same time. Other symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are: • Aching or stiffness of joints, especially after sleep or rest • Loss of motion in the affected joints •Decreased strength in the muscles attached to the affected joints • Fatigue • Low grade fever • Joint deformity over time • Small lumps, called rheumatoid nodules, that form under the skin Rheumatoid arthritis is believed to be an autoimmune disease, resulting in the immune system attacking tissues that lines joints. Natural Remedies for Rheumatoid Arthritis There is no known cure for rheumatoid arthritis. Alternative therapies are popular among people with rheumatoid arthritis, however, they should complement, not replace, conventional care. Here are some natural remedies that are used for rheumatoid arthritis. (1) Omega-3 Fatty Acids Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of fat. Our bodies can't make omega-3s on their own, so we must obtain them through our diet. There is reasonably strong evidence that omega-3 fatty acids may help people with rheumatoid arthritis. The results of over 13 double-blind, placebo-controlled studies involving a total of more than 500 people suggest that omega-3 fatty acids may improve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. One of the ways it appears to work is by decreasing the production of inflammatory chemicals. Although omega-3 fatty acids reduce symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, they don’t appear to slow the progression of the disease. Cold water fish such as salmon, sardines, and anchovies are the richest food source of omega-3 fatty acids. But instead of eating more fish which contain mercury, PCBs, and other chemicals, fish oil capsules are considered a cleaner source of omega-3 fatty acids. Many companies filter their fish oil so that these chemicals are removed. Fish oil capsules are sold in health food stores, drug stores, and online. Most brands should be stored in the fridge to prevent the oil from going rancid. Although flaxseed oil is often used as an alternative to fish oil, it doesn't appear to have the same anti-inflammatory effects as fish oil at achievable intakes. Fish oil capsules may interact with blood-thinning drugs such as warfarin and aspirin. Side effects may include indigestion and bleeding. Fish oil should not be taken two weeks before or after surgery. Fish oil can also cause a fishy aftertaste. To prevent this, fish oil is usually taken just before meals. (2) Gamma-linolenic Acid (亞麻油酸 / 維生素F) Although there is more evidence that omega-3 fatty acids may improve symptoms of rhematoid arthrits, some studies suggest that gamma-linoleic acid, another type of essential fatty acid, may also help. It is found in borage oil, black currant seed oil, and evening primrose oils. A review of studies by researchers with the respected Cochrane Research Collaboration concluded that there was some potential benefit for the use of gamma-linolenic acid in rheumatoid arthritis, although further studies were needed. (3) Boswellia (乳香) Boswellia is a herb that comes from a tree native to India. The active ingredients are the boswellic acids, which have been found to block chemical reactions involved in inflammation. It is used by people with rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. Although there have been a couple of preliminary studies that suggest boswellia may reduce symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, we need more research to know whether it's effective. There is also no evidence that it can slow disease progression like some conventional drugs for rheumatoid arthritis. Boswellia doesn't appear to cause gut irritation that can occur with many conventional pain relievers. Boswellia is available in pill form. It should say on the label that it is standardized to contain 60 percent boswellic acids. It should not be taken for more than eight to 12 weeks unless under the supervision of a qualified health practitioner. (4) Devil's Claw (南非鉤麻) Devil's claw is a plant native to southern Africa. Its name comes from the small hooks on the plant's fruit. The active ingredients in devil's claw are believed to be iridoid glycosides called harpagosides, which are found in the secondary root. Devil's claw has been used for thousands of years in Africa for fever, rheumatoid arthritis, skin conditions, and conditions involving the gallbladder, pancreas, stomach and kidneys. A study published in the journal Rheumatology compared a devil's claw extract providing 60 mg harpagosides a day and and 12.5 mg a day of the anti-inflammatory Vioxx (now off the market) for 6 weeks in 79 patients with an acute exacerbation of low back pain. Devil's claw was as effective as Vioxx in reducing pain. More studies, however, are needed before we can confirm that devil's claw is effective for rheumatoid arthritis. For more information about devil's claw, read the Devil's Claw Fact Sheet. 南非鉤麻 (devil's claw) 南非鉤麻是屬於多年生蔓生草本植物，有著類似於蘿蔔的根和塊莖。南非鉤麻原產自於非洲南部和東部，現主要分布於安哥拉、納米比亞、南非等地。 南非鉤麻的果實粗糙而且有倒鉤，有著許多的藥用價值，非洲人民用來治療疼痛和發炎的癥狀。現在多用來治療消化道疾病及關節炎。 南非鉤麻浸泡油是橙黃色的液體，有著特殊的草藥香氣和強烈的苦味，能夠抗炎止痛的功效。南非鉤麻油有著強烈的苦味，能夠促進消化，對胃部和膽囊有著滋補和促進的作用。南溝鉤麻油濃度較高，一般添加比為1%-2%，可以內服，現在歐美許多地方都能買到南非鉤麻油的湯劑、片劑等。 南非鉤麻油按摩使用一般認為是安全的，如果內服的話，最好遵從醫生的指導下進行，胃或十二指腸潰瘍患者禁服，孕婦禁服。 Other Proposed Remedies •Acupuncture •Adrenal extract •Balneotherapy •Beta-carotene •Burdock •Copper •Ginger •Magnesium •Magnets •Methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM) •Molybdenum •Pantothenic acid •Probiotics •Selenium •Turmeric •Vegetarian/vegan diet •Vitamin B6 •Vitamin C •Vitamin E •White willow •Yucca •Zinc Sources Fritsche K. Fatty acids as modulators of the immune response. Annu Rev Nutr. 26 (2006): 45-73. Lee S, Gura KM, Kim S, Arsenault DA, Bistrian BR, Puder M. Current clinical applications of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Nutr Clin Pract. 21.4 (2006): 323-341. Remans PH, Sont JK, Wagenaar LW, Wouters-Wesseling W, Zuijderduin WM, Jongma A, Breedveld FC, Van Laar JM. Nutrient supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids and micronutrients in rheumatoid arthritis: clinical and biochemical effects. Eur J Clin Nutr. 58.6 (2004): 839-845. Soeken KL, Miller SA, Ernst E. Herbal medicines for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review. Rheumatology (Oxford). 42.5 (2003): 652-659. |
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GLA - 亞麻油酸 / 維生素F
(Gamma-Linolenic Acid / GLA ) 成份介紹 γ亞麻油酸也稱為維生素F，在身體內亞油酸合成脂肪酸，經過作用後變成前列腺素(PEG1)，前列腺素是一種重要的抗發炎物質，同時也是血液稀釋劑及血管擴張劑。在人體中所佔的份量雖然極為少量，仍然具有強力的生理作用。月見草油、黑醋粟種子油、琉璃苣油都含有γ亞麻油酸(GLA)。 月見草中所含的抗發炎物質已經被某些實驗證明對於類風濕性關節炎的患者有益[1]。 γ亞麻油酸(GLA)經試管實驗[2]及部份的動物實驗[3][4]證實，具有抗癌的能力，初步研究證實，將γ亞麻油酸(GLA)注射進入腫瘤細胞中，可以使腫瘤細胞退化[5]，對於癌症病情有控制及改善的作用。另外γ亞麻油酸(GLA)對於控制血液中的膽固醇也有幫助[6]。 亞麻油酸(GLA)能夠在核果、種子及部份植物油中發現的脂肪酸，理論上能夠轉換成前列腺素，但是很多因素會妨礙這個轉化過程，包括疾病、老化、飽和脂肪、氫化油、血糖問題及不適量的維他命C、鎂、鋅、維他命B群，直接提供γ亞麻油酸(GLA)，可以跳過這些障礙，轉化為前列腺素[7]。 亞麻油酸(GLA)能改善血壓、血糖值，對全身產生正面作用，醫界發現前列腺素具有降低血壓、血糖值、膽固醇值、阻止血液凝固、血管擴充、子宮收縮等多種作用。 適用病症： 糖尿病 濕疹 乳房纖維囊腫 骨質疏鬆症 經前症侯群 風濕性關節炎 動脈硬化症 注意力不集中症 間歇性跛行 大腸急躁症 多發性硬化症 雷諾氏症 硬皮病 斯耶格恩氏症候群 皮膚潰瘍 遲發性運動障礙 參考文獻： [1] Joe LA, Hart LL. Evening primrose oil in rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Pharmacother 1993;27:1475–7 [review]. [2]Dippneaar N, Booyens J, Fabbri D, Katzeff IE. The reversibility of cancer: evidence that malignancy in melanoma cells is gamma linolenic acid deficiency-dependent. S Afr Med J 1982;62:505–9. [3]Pritchard GA, Mansel RE. The effects of essential fatty acids on the growth of breast cancer and melanoma. In Omega-6 Essential Fatty Acids: Pathophysiology and Roles in Clinical Medicine. Horrobin DF (ed). New York: Alan R Liss, 1990, 379–90. [4]Lee JH, Sugano M. Effects of linoleic and gamma-linolenic acid on 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced rat mammary tumors. Nutr Rep Int 1986;34:1041. [5]Naidu MRC, Das UN, Kshan A. Intratumoral gamma-linolenic acid therapy of human gliomas. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 1992;45:181–4. [6]Ishikawa T, Fujiyama Y, Igarashi O, et al. Effects of gammalinolenic acid on plasma lipoproteins and apolipoproteins. Atherosclerosis 1989;75:95–104. [7]Horrobin DF. The importance of gamma-linolenic acid and prostaglandin E1 in human nutrition and medicine. J Holistic Med 1981;3:118–39. |
