Cayenne (Capsicum frutescens). The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of creams, lotions and ointments made with capsaicin, the active compound in cayenne, for mild pain relief. pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and neuropathy. However, only 2 clinical trials conducted on around XNUMX patients with rheumatoid arthritis have studied the effectiveness of these products.¹⁴.

Dosage

Apply to affected areas, up to 4 times a day, a cream, lotion or ointment containing 0,025% to 0,075% capsaicin. It often takes 2 or 3 days of treatment before the full therapeutic effect is felt.

 Devil’s claw (Harpagophytum procumbens). Devil’s claw root has demonstrated an ability to reduceinflammation. Since 1989, its use has been recognized by Commission E to treat degenerative musculoskeletal disorders. The results of several clinical trials, with or without a placebo group and of small size (around XNUMX patients), indicate that devil’s claw root can improve mobility and significantly relieve pain.^17,18.

Dosage

Take 1 or 2 tablets (or capsules) of 500 mg, 3 times a day, or 1,5 g to 3 g per day. Dosages may vary depending on the type of extract. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

 Fish oils. Fish oils, which have an anti-inflammatory effect, are the most widely studied natural supplements for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The authors of a summary published in 2003 identified at least 13 clinical trials conducted on 567 subjects. The results indicate that fish oils, an important source of omega-3s, may relieve some of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, including stiffness morning¹¹. They would also make it possible to reduce the dosage of anti-inflammatory drugs.

Dosage

Take 3 g to 4 g of AEP / DHA each day in the form of fish oils. However, it can take 2 to 3 months for fish oils to relieve symptoms.

 Phytodolor®. This standardized herbal medicine, marketed in Europe as a tincture to be taken internally, consists of trembling aspen (populus), European ash (Fraxinus excelsior) and goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea) with a 3: 1: 1 ratio. This product would be more effective than a placebo in reducinginflammation and the pain. Ten randomized studies were performed, including 6 with placebo, including a total sample of 1 people with different forms of arthritis (mostly osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis)¹⁹. A meta-analysis conducted in 1999 concluded that Phytodolor® has an efficacy comparable to conventional treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in relieving pain.¹⁹. However, the methodology of the rheumatoid arthritis trials is questionable¹⁴ and the side effects of the product are not well known²⁰.

 Borage oil (Borago officinalis) and Evening primrose oil (Oenothera biennis). Due to their content of gamma-linolenic acid or GLA (a form of omega-6 fatty acid that does not compete with omega-3 metabolism), borage oil and borage oil are recognized as Evening primrose oil has some utility in treating rheumatoid arthritis, although few studies have yet looked into the matter^12-16 . So far, doses of 1 mg / day or more appear to relieve symptoms of arthritis while doses below 400 mg are ineffective.¹⁴. See the Borage Oil and Evening Primrose Oil sheets for more details.

Dosage

Take a daily dose of borage oil providing 1,4 g to 2,8 g of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) or 5 g to 6 g of evening primrose oil per day.

Curcumin. A search⁵¹ in a small group of patients has shown that curcumin has the same effectiveness in relieving pain as a low dose of diclofenac.

Dosage: 500 mg twice a day.

 Tai chi. According to the authors of a systematic review published in 2004, based on 4 randomized controlled studies including 206 participants³⁴, the practice of tai chi can provide improved range of motion of the lower limbs, especially the ankles. In contrast, tai chi had no clinically significant effect on ease in daily activities, joint pain and swelling, or overall improvement as assessed by the patient. In 2007, however, another meta-analysis concluded that due to the poor methodological quality of the studies considered, tai chi had not proven its effectiveness. In 2008 and 2010, 2 small clinical trials carried out on 20 and 15 patients with rheumatoid arthritis respectively, however, concluded that tai chi was effective on the body. functional ability and the quality of life^39-40 .

 Acupuncture. The majority of trials on inflammatory rheumatism (rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, lupus, scleroderma, etc.)^25-28 are studies of low methodological quality. In 2008, a meta-analysis looked at 8 studies that tested acupuncture in 536 people with arthritis. Six of them showed effectiveness on pain or morning joint stiffness²⁹. According to the authors, however, further studies are needed to conclude.

 Tripterygium wilfordii. The roots of this plant, also called Thunder God Vine, have been used in Chinese medicine for over 400 years to relieve arthritis pain. Some studies suggest that extracts from these roots (taken by mouth) may help reduce the pain and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties.^21-24 . However, scientific evidence is still scarce; and the results, variable.

 Cassis (Ribes nigrum). ESCOP recognizes the medicinal use of blackcurrant leaves (psn) as an adjuvant treatment for rheumatic disorders. The body has identified a large enough number of in vivo studies showing the anti-inflammatory properties of the leaves to officially recognize this use, which had already been established by tradition. Blackcurrant seed oil, rich in gamma-linolenic acid, may also provide relief¹⁴.

Dosage

Infuse 5 g to 12 g of dried leaves in 250 ml of boiling water for 15 minutes. Take 2 cups a day of this infusion, or take 5 ml of fluid extract (1: 1), 2 times a day, before meals.

 The boswellie (Boswellia serrata), turmeric (Curcuma longa), ginger (Zinziber officinalis) and licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) have been used traditionally by people with rheumatoid arthritis to relieve symptoms.

 Apitherapy. Some testimonials report a decrease in pain and inflammatory disorders caused by rheumatoid arthritis by using the venom d’abeille^32,33. A small clinical trial published in 2008⁴¹ shows that the use of bee venom in addition to conventional drugs can reduce arthritis symptoms more effectively than a drug-placebo combination. See our Apitherapy file.

 naturopathy. In naturopathy, diet is often the first way explored to relieve rheumatoid arthritis⁴. The aim is to reduce the symptoms of the disease by consuming foods which do not exacerbate inflammatory processes and which reduce allergic reactions as much as possible.

 Aromatherapy, hypnotherapy, reflexology and manual therapy (chiropractic, massage therapy, osteopathy). These therapies would allow better pain control in some people and positively change the perception of pain.⁴². These claims are based on numerous clinical observations, but no convincing clinical trial has yet proven their effectiveness on the symptoms of arthritis. To learn more about these therapies, see the sheets of the same name in the Therapies section of Complementary Approaches.

 balneotherapy. Balneotherapy or hydrotherapy can be effective against pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis⁴³. The effectiveness of thermal cures is also recognized by several expert committees for relieving rheumatic pain. A Cochrane review⁵² was unable to conclude because the authors consider the data to be of insufficient quality.