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3 Ways To Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis Naturally
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2. Vitamin D
A study found that over 76% of rheumatoid arthritis patients were deficient in a critical nutrient that plays an enormous role in maintaining overall health. Vitamin D deficiency has become very common in the industrialized world. This is because the body’s primary source of vitamin D is sunlight. When UV radiation from the sun is absorbed into your skin, it promotes vitamin D synthesis in your body. Vitamin D is technically a hormone rather than a vitamin, and you can also get it from certain foods, like fatty fish and certain dairy products, that are vitamin D fortified. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to rickets, a weakening of the bones and joints in children, and as stated above, also contributes to similar conditions, like arthritis, in adults.
In a study conducted in India, researchers gave patients 60,000 IU of vitamin D per week for 6 weeks, then the same amount once a month for 3 months afterward. The patients who received this vitamin D mega-dosing experienced significantly improved symptoms.
It is also possible to get vitamin D from supplementation. Take it with your most fatty meal of the day, as it is a fat soluble compound.
3. Fish and Cod Liver Oil
Fish oil supplements are often marketed as being good for joint health. According to many studies, that’s not just marketing hype: in a 12-month study, scientists in Scotland gave fish oil supplements to patients with rheumatoid arthritis who were undergoing treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Amazingly, the patients who took fish oil were able to decrease their use of NSAIDs by 59 percent!
According to another British study, as well as one conducted in Germany, cod liver oil appears to be effective for relieving rheumatoid arthritis as well. In the German study, daily cod liver oil supplementation improved symptom in 68 percent of patients. The British experiment with cod liver oil found that nearly 40 percent of patients taking the supplement were able to reduce their NSAID use, versus only 10 percent of the control group.
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The medical establishment is often slow to change, and more research needs to be done before the majority of doctors will recommend taking one of the three aforementioned supplements before conventional treatment. But if you have rheumatoid arthritis, it certainly can’t hurt to talk to your doctor about supplementing your current treatment with one of the natural treatments mentioned here. With the help of these three supplements, you can help manage your condition, rather than letting it manage you.
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