RACGP
Australian Family Physician
Australian Family Physician

Advertising

Volume 39, Issue 9, September 2010

Arthritis disease The use of complementary therapies

Marie Pirotta
Download article
Cite this article    BIBTEX    REFER    RIS

Background
While effective drugs are available to deal with the symptoms and modify the progress of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, these may cause serious adverse events and not all patients will obtain relief. Many people with these diseases use complementary medicines.
Objective
This article presents an overview of the evidence for the most promising complementary therapies for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, with other information that general practitioners need to know.
Discussion
There is reasonable evidence to support the use of glucosamine, avocado/soybean unsaponifiables and chondroitin in osteoarthritis, and omega-3 fatty acids and gammalinolenic acid in rheumatoid arthritis. However, no current evidence does not equate to lack of effectiveness. Rigorous research into the use of complementary medicines in arthritis is evolving and many of the systematic reviews used in preparation of this article are being updated every few years to incorporate new trial evidence as it becomes available.

Download the PDF for the full article.


Download article PDF

Advertising

Australian Family Physician RACGP

Printed from Australian Family Physician - https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2010/september/arthritis-disease-the-use-of-complementary-therapi
© The Australian College of General Practitioners www.racgp.org.au