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The usual first line of treatment if you suffer from arthritis is a prescription for medicine to help ease pain and inflammation. But orthodox treatments that ease arthritis, most commonly non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) and COX (an inflammatory chemical that occurs naturally in the body) inhibitors, can have some nasty side-effects. Research has shown that natural treatment for arthritis can be just as effective as your doctor’s orders, so you may want to consider letting your body heal itself before you head off to the pharmacy.

What your prescription means

Common arthritis treatment targets Cyclooxygenase, or COX, an inflammatory chemical in the body. Medicine that inhibits COX can relieve inflammation and pain. NSAIDs like ibuprofen and aspirin do come with side-effects, though. Some even argue that they can worsen arthritis, by depleting nutrients essential for joint repair, like folic acid, iron and zinc. COX-2 inhibitors can seriously affect heart health, and increase the risk of atherothrombosis, even in the short term.

While you should never stop treatment for any condition without first discussing it with your doctor, he or she is likely to be open to some of the following natural therapies that ease arthritis.

Keep moving

Even thought the pain and stiffness that accompany arthritis might make you feel like doing nothing but sitting down and grit your teeth through the pain, research shows the benefits of staying active are very real for arthritis sufferers. This doesn’t mean you should start running marathons, but you should definitely consider some low-impact exercise. Swimming is an excellent option, as it won’t put any pressure on your joints, as is simply walking and moving around in a swimming pool, and the gentle movements of tai chi will also help increase your flexibility.

Something fishy

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Countless studies have confirmed the benefits of fish oil containing omega-3 fatty acids in reducing inflammation in the body. People on a typical western diet tend to consume high levels of omega-6 fatty acids (found in sunflower oil, for example), which can cause an imbalance that stops any omega-3 fatty acids we take in from doing their job well. So taking a fish oil supplement like krill or salmon oil makes good sense.

Go Mediterranean

A recent study found that people on a Mediterranean diet, consisting of fish, fruit, olive oil, cereals and beans, had a 56 per cent decrease in arthritis symptoms. That’s quite a big improvement, so eating less red meat and dairy, and including more olive oil in your diet, could definitely help ease your pain.

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