Homeopathic medicine, treatment and remedies for Rheumatoid arthritis

Here are some of the homeopathic remedies that are used for the management of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms:

• Rhus Toxicodendron
  Common Name: Poison-ivy
  Symptoms: Rhus Toxicodendron mainly acts on fibrous tissues like those around the joints and is used to treat joint stiffness and pain in joints and rheumatic pains. This remedy is also used to treat problems arising from lifting heavy weight or strains. Additionally, it helps relieve the following symptoms:
  • Excessive restlessness and apprehension, especially at night
  • Headache; the back of the head is painful to touch
  • Jaw pain
  • Joint inflammation
  • Stiff neck, especially at the nape 
  • Pain in ligaments and tendons
  • Paralysed limbs
  • Sciatica (back pain) which worsens at night and in cold weather
  • Tenderness in the knee

Symptoms are aggravated at night and on lying on the back or right side. Cold and humid weather also worsens the symptoms. The patient feels better on stretching their limbs, moving about, and with warm applications.

• Ledum Palustre
  Common Name: Marsh-tea (Ledum)
  Symptoms: Ledum palustre is mainly indicated in rheumatic diseases and joint pain. It helps in the management of the following symptoms:
  • Shooting gouty pain in feet and limbs, mainly in small joints
  • Cataract along with gout
  • Rheumatism that begins in lower limbs and moves upwards
  • Throbbing pain along with a sensation of pressure in shoulder that worsens with movement
  • Cracking joints which worsens due to the warmth of bed
  • Swelling and easy spraining of ankles with painful soles

Symptoms are relieved by soaking the feet in cold water but worsen from the heat of bed.

• Bryonia Alba
  Common Name: Wild hops (bryonia)
  Symptoms: Bryonia alba is indicated for stitching, tearing type of pain which worsens when the patient keeps moving around and gets better with rest. These patients experience rheumatic pains and swellings with inflammatory effusions in the synovial membranes. Other common symptoms that can be managed by this remedy include:
  • Neck pain
  • Pain in the lower back
  • Painful and stiff knees
  • Swollen feet
  • Pain that worsens on slight motion
  • Pain in limbs on putting pressure

Symptoms worsen in the morning, with exertion, slight motion, and while eating, while they improve with rest, and on lying on the painful side

• Apis Mellifica
  Common Name: The honey-bee
  Symptoms: Patients who benefit from this remedy tend to experience stinging pain, oedema, and are unable to bear the slightest touch. These patients also experience the following symptoms:
  • Swelling and pain in knees
  • Stiffness and swelling in feet
  • Rheumatic pain in arms, legs and back
  • Numbness in hands and fingertips

These symptoms worsen in the afternoon, touching or putting pressure on the affected area, and after sleeping, whereas they improve on bathing with cold water and spending time in open air.

• Belladonna
  Common Name: Deadly nightshade
  Symptoms: Belladonna mostly acts on the nervous system and relieves symptoms such as pain and convulsions. It also helps in the management of the following symptoms:
  • Stiff neck with pain in the nape
  • Pain in hips, thighs and lower back
  • Shooting pain in the arms and legs
  • Red, swollen joints with red radiating streaks 
  • Radiating rheumatic pain 
  • Jerking of limbs that leads to unstable gait
  • Cold extremities

These symptoms aggravate in the afternoon, on lying down and on touching the affected area, but improve when the patient sits in a semi-erect position.

• Calcarea Phosphorica
  Common Name: Phosphate of lime
  Symptoms: Patients who benefit from this remedy exhibit the following symptoms:
  • Rheumatic pain that aggravates with draught
  • Stiff and pain in the arms and legs
  • Joint pain
  • Numbness of limbs that worsens on change in weather
  • Bone pain
  • Discomfort while climbing upstairs

These symptoms aggravate in cold and humid weather but improve in dry and warm atmosphere.

• Ruta Graveolens
  Common Name: Rue-bitterwort
  Symptoms: Ruta graveolens mainly acts on cartilages and the periosteum (layer that covers the bones) and is indicated for the treatment of conditions arising from strain in the flexor tendons. It also helps relieve the following symptoms:
  • Sprains resulting in lameness
  • Body pain
  • Bruised feeling in the extremities and spine
  • Stiff and painful hands and wrists
  • Sciatica that worsens on lying down
  • Pain in tendo-achilles (tendon at the back of the ankle)
  • Pain in thighs on stretching the limbs
  • Tenderness of feet and ankle bones

All the symptoms worsen in cold and humid weather and on lying down.

• Caulophyllum Thalictroides
  Common Name: Blue cohosh (caulophyllum)
  Symptoms: Blue cohosh specifically acts on smaller joints and helps relieve the following symptoms:
  • Local and internal thrush
  • Stiffness along with pain in the toes, fingers, and ankles
  • Severe pain in wrists
  • Pain shifting from one place to the other
• Pulsatilla Pratensis
  Common Name: Wind flower (pulsatilla)
  Symptoms: Wind flower is mainly prescribed on the basis of a person's disposition and mental state. These patients exhibit the following symptoms:
  • Shooting pain in the back (especially the tail bone on sitting) and nape of the neck
  • Thigh pain
  • Restlessness and chilliness
  • Shifting pain in extremities
  • Dull pain in heels in the evening
  • Painful hip-joint
  • Swollen and painful knee joint

These symptoms aggravate in the evening, after eating, from heat and lying on the painless or left side, whereas they improve on with movement, on having cold food and drinks, and on spending time in open air.

• Kalmia Latifolia
  Common Name: Mountain laurel
  Symptoms: Kalmia latifolia is considered to be an effective remedy for rheumatic conditions. It helps manage the following symptoms:
  • Visual impairment
  • Lumbar pain (pain in the lower back) 
  • Rheumatic iritis (inflammation of the coloured part of the eye)
  • A sensation of stiffness on moving eyes
  • Neck pain radiating down the arm
  • Weakness and numbness in arms and legs
  • Joint inflammation

Symptoms worsen in open air, on leaning forward, moving and on looking down.

Since homeopathic medicines are used in minute doses, the diet of the patient should be devoid of substances having medicinal properties that could either overwhelm or extinguish the effect of the medicines and act as an obstacle in the line of treatment.

Do’s: 

• Wear cotton instead of linen garments in warm weather.
• Perform regular exercises and eat appropriate foods (as suggested by the doctor) for faster healing in chronic cases.
• In acute cases, patients show a desire for certain foods and drinks. Gratifying these desires may only pose a slight obstacle in the radical removal of disease. Hence, it is advised to gratify the patient’s desires without refusing any food or drink.

Don’ts: 

• Do not use homeopathic preparations as a substitute for conventional immunisation.
• Avoid beverages like herb tea, coffee and liquors or beer with medicinal spices. 
• Avoid spicy dishes, soups and sauces made of onions, celery, meat and old cheese that have medicinal qualities.
• Homeopathic medicines must not be stored near perfumes, camphor, ether or other volatile products, as they neutralise the effect of the medicines.
• Sedentary lifestyle and uncleanliness must be avoided.

When an appropriate homeopathic treatment is given, some relief is expected even in severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis. Since rheumatoid arthritis affects multiple tissues in the body, the homeopathic approach is recommended and is indicated to be quite effective. A study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology reported that around 82% of patients experienced relief from arthritic pain with homeopathic medicines.

Another randomised study conducted in 172 patients showed that topical homeopathic gel was as effective as piroxicam gel in relieving osteoarthritis pain within 4 weeks.

The biggest advantage of homeopathic treatment is that it has minimal to no side effects. Since homeopathic medicines are derived from natural substances such as plants, animals and minerals, and are diluted serially to a considerable extent, they are considered safe and non-toxic and can be used in patients of all ages. When used as a complementary therapy, they do not interfere with the action of conventional medicines. They can be safely given to both children as well as elderly with rheumatoid arthritis. However, it is always best to consult an experienced homeopathic doctor before taking any homeopathic remedy.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that occurs when our body's immune system attacks and destroys healthy joints. The condition is usually treated through symptomatic management that slows down the progression of the disease. 

Homeoapathic remedies are said to be safe and effective in the treatment of rheumatic arthritis. These remedies are produced from natural substances and are given in minute doses so they are almost free of side effects. However, consult a homoeopathic physician instead of self-medicating with these remedies.