Complementary and Alternative Therapies Beneficial for Arthritis

Suffering from arthritis? Consider a complementary or alternative therapy (CAT). According to a recent study, nearly one-quarter of those suffering from arthritis chose to implement a form of CAT in addition to medical treatment, and most found that the therapy improved their condition—either by helping them sleep more soundly, increasing activity levels, or reducing pain.

The 250 study participants, aged 20 to 90, had either rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. The CATs they used, in order of popularity, were:

• herbal therapy (83 percent)
• exercise (22 percent) 
• massage (12 percent)
• acupuncture (3 percent)
• yoga and meditation (3 percent) 
• dietary supplements (3 percent) 

Speak with your health care practitioner
The study also advises speaking to your health care practitioner about CATs, as nearly 60 percent of the study participants didn’t do so. This way, patients can rest assured that there won’t be any interactions between the natural health products they choose and the medications they have been prescribed.