Natural Remedies for Psoriatic Arthritis

Cold or heat treatment, massage, and exercise may help relieve joint discomfort and inflammation.

Swollen joints, joint and back stiffness, and weariness. These are just a few of the symptoms you can experience if you have psoriatic arthritis.

“Psoriatic arthritis is a kind of inflammatory arthritis observed in persons with psoriasis, a skin illness characterized by red scaly skin patches,” explains rheumatologist Binita Sapkota, MD. “It’s a condition in which your immune system is hyperactive and targets both your joints and your skin.”

While medicine is an important component of managing your pain and inflammation, you may also be interested in psoriatic arthritis home remedies that can help control some of the symptoms.

Dr. Sapkota explores popular natural therapies for psoriatic arthritis and if they actually work.

Is it possible to repair psoriatic arthritis naturally?
While it is not feasible to entirely treat psoriatic arthritis with natural remedies, there are certain things you may do to alleviate the pain and suffering caused by psoriatic arthritis symptoms.

Among the symptoms are:

• Joint discomfort.
• Tenderness in the joints.
• Swelling of the joints.
• Lower back and joint pain or stiffness.
• Fatigue.
• Anemia.

“If left untreated, inflammation can damage the joints, producing abnormalities. “It can also induce inflammation surrounding the ligaments, resulting in dactylitis, or inflammation of the whole finger or toe,” explains Dr. Sapkota. “Psoriatic arthritis may also be accompanied with nail abnormalities such as pitting, ridging, or even full nail destruction, as well as inflammation in particular regions of the eyes.”

While certain symptoms of psoriatic arthritis may not concern some people, for others, the pain can be excruciating and disturb their everyday life.

If you’re searching for relief from some of these symptoms, you might want to investigate a holistic approach to psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis natural therapies

Natural therapies are not part of a comprehensive approach to psoriatic arthritis. There are also some lifestyle modifications you can make.

“It’s crucial to stress that these measures should be included as additional therapies, not as a replacement for drugs,” Dr. Sapkota says.

She discusses typical natural remedies and if they are useful.

Exercise

When you go to the gym for a workout, you should know what exercises you should do. Dr. Sapkota usually suggests range-of-motion exercises to deal alleviate stiffness by concentrating on flexibility and mobility. She also recommends low-impact activities like walking, swimming, or yoga, as well as strengthening workouts using hand weights or resistance bands.

“Strengthening your muscles will aid in the protection of your joints,” she explains. “When the muscles are strong, the joints are less stressed, which eventually helps reduce tension and calm pain.”

Cold and hot treatment

Heat and cold treatment can be used to relieve pain. This method may be used several times each day, but you should restrict the duration you apply heat or cold to 15 to 20 minutes at a time.

“Heat treatment works by boosting blood flow to your joints, which helps to reduce joint stiffness. “Cold treatment reduces blood flow and inflammation and edema,” adds Dr. Sapkota. “Cold treatment is often beneficial during a psoriatic arthritis flare-up when the joints are aggressively swollen. When you have inflamed joints, you should avoid heat therapy.”

Joint defense and energy conservation

The way you walk in your daily life might assist relieve joint tension and weariness. Consider how you sit at work, for example: Make sure you maintain appropriate posture at your workplace or when performing chores by not putting too much emphasis on one section of your body.

“The appropriate posture helps reduce undue stress on certain joints,” explains Dr. Sapkota. “You should also be careful how you hoist things up and make sure the object’s weight is equally distributed.”

Fish oil supplementation

Omega-3 fatty acids are abundant in fish such as salmon, trout, and tuna. Some research suggests that omega-3 fatty acids can assist people with psoriatic arthritis reduce joint soreness, redness, and the frequency with which they use over-the-counter pain medicines.

“Unfortunately, there is conflicting evidence on its efficacy in psoriatic arthritis,” Dr. Sapkota observes. “Further study is required to determine the advantages of fish oil.”

If you wish to take a fish oil supplement, see your doctor first because the supplement may conflict with some drugs.

“And the dose that may be beneficial for psoriatic arthritis or inflammation is really high — up to 10 tablets daily,” she says. “You may check whether taking fish oil supplements helps, and if not, I would recommend discontinuing.”

Supplemental turmeric

You’ve most likely used the yellow spice in your meals or drinks. And you’re surely aware that turmeric is high in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory qualities.

So, what does this mean for someone suffering from psoriatic arthritis? Dr. Sapkota believes that additional study is needed to properly understand turmeric’s effects and whether it might assist reduce joint inflammation.

“There are certain precautions to take when using turmeric. “Those on blood thinners should avoid it,” she advises. “It also has to be taken in large dosages, which might upset your stomach.”

Capsaicin

Have you come across lotions and ointments that include capsaicin?

Capsaicin, an active component found in chili peppers, may help relieve achy joints by numbing pain receptors and reducing inflammation.

“When administered to the location of discomfort, capsaicin can momentarily reduce pain. “Capsaicin is thought to reduce the hormone implicated in pain,” explains Dr. Sapkota. “However, some people may have skin irritation.”

The use of Epsom salts

Epsom salts, a magnesium and sulfur combination, are commonly used in a warm bath to assist ease tight muscles. While it has been used for hundreds of years, no study has been conducted to validate its advantages.

According to Dr. Sapkota, Epsom salts may temporarily reduce joint swelling in people with psoriatic arthritis. She advises just using it for 15 minutes at a time.

Acupuncture

The traditional Chinese method of inserting extremely thin needles into certain spots on your body has been found to aid with pain alleviation in cases of back pain or headaches.

Yet, there is no evidence that acupuncture can assist with joint discomfort in people with psoriatic arthritis.

“There are some anecdotal (based on personal stories, not scientific) claims that it has helped with the discomfort,” Dr. Sapkota explains. “It’s because patients with psoriatic arthritis might suffer chronic pain or stress at the same time.”

Massage

A massage might leave you feeling quite calm. While it may appear to be a luxury, the practice has been shown to aid with problems such as back discomfort and tight muscles.

Can it, however, assist with psoriatic arthritis?

 

According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, a qualified massage therapist’s massage may ease those tense muscles surrounding your joints.

“There have been suggestions that massage therapy can help with pain and tension. “It can also aid with sleep,” Dr. Sapkota explains.

Supplements containing vitamin D

Vitamin D (which we may receive via the sun, meals like salmon, or fortified alternatives like milk) helps lower inflammation, among other things.

“People with psoriatic arthritis have lower levels of vitamin D than the general population, so it’s crucial to consume a vitamin-rich diet,” Dr. Sapkota emphasizes. “Supplements are advised if your level is low.”

She does, however, point out that there is no strong evidence for taking vitamin D supplementation in patients who already have a normal vitamin D level.

Is a natural cure appropriate for you?

It is advisable to consult your healthcare physician before beginning any natural psoriatic arthritis remedies. While many of these natural therapies appear promising, there is no assurance that they will work for you.

Remember that these natural cures aren’t a panacea. To ease symptoms, they should be utilized in combination with treatment and medicine.

“When determining whether to pursue a natural treatment, you should also consider how much something could cost you. “Buying vitamin D or fish oil pills, or even getting a massage and acupuncture, might be costly,” adds Dr. Sapkota. “Since each person is unique, you may react differently to complementary therapy. I recommend experimenting with one therapy at a time to see what works best for you.”