Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis with Homeopathy

Homeopathy for the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis By Leslie Vandever

Can homeopathy, a popular alternative treatment for disease and illness, help relieve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)? Studies done during the last several years show that it can—but not in the way you might expect.

Homeopathy originated in Germany in the late 18^th Century, discovered by Samuel Hahnemann, a German doctor. A form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), homeopathy treats patients with highly diluted substances to trigger the body’s natural healing response. ‘Like cures like’ is the basis. Practitioners believe that a substance that causes symptoms in large doses can, in small amounts, treat the same symptoms. Diluted until they barely exist, the symptom-causing substances in homeopathic remedies are non-toxic.

There has been, thus far, no scientific proof that homeopathic remedies have any real effect on disease or illness. Nevertheless, many thousands of people all over the world believe they’ve benefitted from it.

Part of homeopathic treatment consists of close and frequent consultations between the practitioner and the patient. The patient is encouraged to talk about her disease and symptoms, what remedies she’s already tried, and whether they worked. Other aspects of the patient’s life, such as stress levels, overall health, diet, and physical activity bear scrutiny, as well.

Researchers believe that it may be this, the counseling aspect of homeopathy, that deserves the lion’s share of credit for improvements in the patient’s symptoms. The counseling that goes along with treatment is thorough, interested, compassionate, and uplifting. That encouragement, along with the patient’s belief in the ability of the medicine to help (the placebo effect) may be behind homeopathy’s success stories.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic (whole body) autoimmune disease that causes the body’s defensive immune system to attack its own tissues, in this case the synovial capsule that surrounds and protects the joints. The attack damages the synovium, other surrounding soft tissues such as the cartilage, tendons, and ligaments, and ultimately the bones that form the joints. Over time, the result is joint deformity and disability. In the meantime, the severe inflammation causes a great deal of often disabling pain.

RA may also attack organs, such as the linings of the heart and the lungs, and other soft tissues like the skin, the eyes, and the vascular system. People with RA are at a much higher risk of heart disease.

There is, so far, no cure for rheumatoid arthritis. But according to Homeorizon.com, a homeopathy website, there are a number of substances that, in homeopathic dilution, treat the pain and inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis. They include:

·         arnica

·         benzoic acid

·         bryonia

·         causticum

·         colchicum

·         kali carbonicum

·         pulsatilla

·         rhododendron

·         rhus toxicodendron

·         mercurius

·         belladonna

Homeopathic treatments, when paired with a healthy, nutritious diet that helps prevent weight gain and maintains a healthy weight; gentle, weight-bearing exercises like walking or bicycling; plenty of rest; and plenty of fresh water for good hydration and the removal of toxins can be helpful in treating the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

Leslie Vandever is a professional journalist and freelance writer with more than 25 years of experience. She lives in the foothills of Northern California where she writes for Healthline.

References:

·         Brien, S., et al. Homeopathy Has Clinical Benefits in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients That Are Attributable to the Consultation Process But Not the Homeopathic Remedy: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. (2010, March 18) Rheumatology. Oxford Journals. Retrieved on June 18, 2014 from http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/content/50/6/1070.abstract?ijkey=c5a26738e70845b158f6fc659fd96ba25814d9a4&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha

·         Homeopathy: An Introduction. (2013, May) National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved on June 18, 2014 from http://nccam.nih.gov/health/homeopathy

·         Herman, C.J., et al. Use of Complimentary Therapies Among Primary Care Clinic Patients With Arthritis. (2004, Oct.) Preventing Chronic Disease: Public Health Research, Practice, and Policy. Retrieved on June 18, 2014 from http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2004/oct/pdf/03_0036.pdf

·         Fisher, P. and Scott, L.D. A Randomized Controlled Trial of Homeopathy in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients. (2000, October 19) Rheumatology. Oxford Journals. Retrieved on June 18, 2014 from http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/content/40/9/1052.long

·         Sharma, V.V. Homeopathic Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis. (2008, July-August) Homeorizon.org. Retrieved on June 19, 2014 from http://www.homeorizon.com/homeopathic-articles/orthopedic/rheumatoid-arthritis-treatment

·         Homeopathy for Arthritis: Help, Harm, or Hoax? (2011, May 19) Pain-Topics News/Research Updates. Retrieved on June 18, 2014 from http://updates.pain-topics.org/2011/05/homeopathy-for-arthritis-help-harm-or.html

·         Earnst, E. A Systematic Review of Systematic Reviews of Homeopathy. 2002, December 17) British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. Retrieved on June 18, 2014 from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1365-2125.2002.01699.x/full