Why Use Rheumatoid Arthritis Natural Remedies?

Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most feared forms of arthritis. It is an autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack the tissues around the joints, though it may also affect other organs in the body. It may be triggered by a number of causes, like infection, tissue injury or even emotional trauma, and can affect even those who are not of advanced age.

Rheumatoid arthritis or RA is treated by conventional medicine by means of several medications: analgesics to treat the pain, anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce swelling, and immunosuppresive medications to combat the effects of the immune system gone wild. However, these drugs often have toxic side-effects when used long-term, which means those who must live with the disease find themselves in a very bad place indeed.

One of the options that those with RA have is to use rheumatoid arthritis natural remedies to treat the symptoms of pain, and regulate the immune system. These treatments are without the side-effects that conventional treatments have, and so are considered a safer option for those with the disease.

However, there are some definite concerns about rheumatoid arthritis natural remedies that have other people decide not to take them. One of these concerns is that these natural remedies commonly lack sufficient evidence in the form of research and scientific studies to confirm the efficacy of the treatments.

Most times, the best evidence available for rheumatoid arthritis natural remedies is anecdotal in nature. And the times where there has been research done, the studies are often inconclusive or otherwise deficient in some manner to be effectively used as proof.

There are tests and research being performed to verify the claims of these natural remedies, but as of yet, they have either not been reported, or have been unconfirmed, or not completed. Because of this, conventional medicine has also been hesitant to promote the use of these natural remedies.

Why then do people continue to put their trust in these natural remedies at all? There are a number of reasons for this. One of the major reasons is that people desire an option for their treatment, and sometimes even an option that is unconventional and unverified is more desirable than a treatment that may cause them more pain and discomfort, as is sometimes the case with conventional drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Another reason is that many people trust the anecdotal evidence and testimonies that others provide, not needing further scientific proof.

Yet others have come to a near-desperate need to try anything that claims to be a solution for their RA, clinging to them as placebos if they prove ineffective in order to avoid conventional treatments. Others have themselves found that rheumatoid arthritis natural remedies are effective for them, and so continue on using these remedies to treat their rheumatoid arthritis.