Experts Reveal Certain Rheumatoid Arthritis Supplements to Potentially Avoid

(Newswire.net — January 2, 2017) Orlando, FL — Pain and other symptoms caused by conditions such as arthritis have long been making the lives of sufferers more challenging. There are sufferers who turn to the use of supplements to help avoid the possible side effects linked with the use of certain pain medications. Unfortunately, it seems that not all arthritis supplements are safe to use.

Experts reveal certain supplements to potentially avoid with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).  Some supplements may not only cause adverse reactions but may also interact with some medications.

According to Nathan Wei, MD, rheumatologist and Director of the Arthritis Treatment Center in Frederick, Maryland, there are supplements that may significantly help to provide joint pain relief and work well with pharmaceutical drugs.

However, it is undeniable there are supplements that are more harmful than beneficial. One of the supplements rheumatoid arthritis sufferers should avoid is aconite, which comes from the buttercup family of flowers. While aconite is highly poisonous, it has long been used in Chinese medicine.

According to the Journal of Cardiology Cases report in January 2013, this type of supplement may cause vomiting, nausea, and potentially life-threatening irregularity in heartbeat. Thus, experts discourage the use of aconite as part of RA management.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), arnica is a poisonous plant. This perennial plant has also been used for medicinal purposes throughout the ages, especially in the potential treatment of osteoarthritis. Since there have not been any studies that documented the effectiveness of arnica as an RA supplement, and considering its possible poisonous effects, experts suggest that it should be avoided.

Another supplement sufferers of RA should avoid is cat’s claw, which is made from the bark and root of a certain vine native to the Amazon rainforest and Central America. This supplement is believed to help reduce arthritis inflammation but according to the Arthritis Foundation, cat’s claw may cause a variety of side effects such as dizziness, headaches, nausea, and vomiting.

While there are supplements to avoid, there are also those highly recommended by some rheumatologists. One is glucosamine, which is a naturally-occurring substance in the body. This natural alternative has long been believed to be a powerful joint health supplement.

Glucosamine does not cause side effects like certain other RA supplements, mentioned above. It is even believed to be a safer alternative to some pain medications, whose use may often be linked with side effects.

In addition to being safe to use, glucosamine is also thought to be effective in reducing inflammation and easing pain.

One of the most popular types of glucosamine supplements available in the market today contains a natural ingredient called methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), which is also thought to potentially fight arthritis pain and inflammation.

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