Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when
the immune system mistakenly attacks the membranes that line the joints and
causes inflammation. For now, there’s no cure for this chronic disease, and the
drugs used to control symptoms can have side effects ranging from nausea to
anemia to liver damage. Natural remedies usually can’t replace conventional medicines,
they can help you moderate the dosage or frequency of these drugs to the level
where side effects aren’t a problem.
So here are the most effective and
best-studied ways to relieve RA symptoms naturally:
An Anti-Inflammatory Diet
The anti-inflammatory diet,
popularized by Andrew Weil, M.D., is rich in whole grains, fruits and veggies,
beans, herbs, olive oil, fish, spices and green or white tea. It's low on red
meat, flour, sugar, and saturated fat, with no recommendation for trans-fats.
Another aspect of the anti-inflammatory diet is not to eat too much. Fat cells manufacture
a variety of inflammatory chemicals that can make RA symptoms worse.