Osteoarthritis

Sign/Symptoms
Creaking Joints Fever (Raised Body Temperature) Joint Bone Swelling Joint Decreased Range of Movement Joint Instability Joint Pain with Movement Joint Tenderness Joints Loose Joints Stiff Joints Swollen Pain Joint (Arthralgia) Pain Muscle (Myalgia)

Drugs
Aspirin Celecoxib Cortisone Diclofenac Flurbiprofen Ibuprofen Indomethacin Ketoprofen Methylprednisolone Naproxen Piroxiam Prednisone Sulindac Tiaprofenic Acid

Treatments
Surgery Arthroplasty or Hemiarthroplasty Total Joint Replacement Laminectomy Osteotomy Medical Procedure Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) Weakly Against Moderate Evidence Low-Level Laser Therapy No Recommendation Very Low Evidence Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) No Recommendation Low Evidence Transcutaneous Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Weakly in Favour Low Evidence Vitamins Copper No Recommendation Very Low Evidence Minerals Copper No Recommendation Very Low Evidence Alternative Medicine Astragalus (Astragalus Membranaceus, Locoweed) No Recommendation Very Low Evidence Devils Claw Weakly in Favour Moderate Evidence Cloves (Caryophyllum Aromaticum, Eugenia Caryophyllata) No Recommendation Very Low Evidence Essiac Tea (Flor Essence) No Recommendation Low Evidence Flax Seed Oil No Recommendation Low Evidence Glyconutrients No Recommendation Low Evidence Kampo No Recommendation Very Low Evidence Mistletoe (Iscador, Viscum Album) No Recommendation Low Evidence Thuja (Eastern White Cedar, Thuja Occidentalis) No Recommendation Very Low Evidence Tumeric (Curcuma longa) Weakly in Favour Low Evidence Uncaria tomentosa Plant (Cats Claw Herb) No Recommendation Very Low Evidence Vitae Elixxir No Recommendation Very Low Evidence Pau Darco (Lapachol, Tabebuia Impetiginosa, Tabebuia Heptaphylla) Strongly Against Very Low Evidence Peppermint Oil No Recommendation Very Low Evidence Pine Bark No Recommendation Very Low Evidence Pokeweed Antiviral Protein (PAP) No Recommendation Very Low Evidence Alternative Therapies Acupuncture Weakly in Favour Very Low Evidence Acupuncture Weakly in Favour Very Low Evidence Magnetic Therapy No Recommendation Very Low Evidence Moxibustion No Recommendation Very Low Evidence Neural Therapy No Recommendation Very Low Evidence Remedial Education (Individualized Education Program) Weakly in Favour Low Evidence Lifestyle Changes Bracing Weakly in Favour Low Evidence Physiotherapy Weakly in Favour Low Evidence Occupational Therapy Weakly in Favour Low Evidence Rest Weakly in Favour Low Evidence Increase Exercise Strongly in Favour Moderate Evidence Regular Exercise (30 Minutes A Day) Weakly in Favour Moderate Evidence Weight Reduction Strongly in Favour High Evidence Walking Aid (eg. Cane or a Walker) Strongly in Favour Low Evidence Medical Therapy Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) Weakly in Favour Low Evidence Transcutaneous Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation No Recommendation Low Evidence Arthroplasty or Hemiarthroplasty Weakly in Favour Low Evidence Laminectomy Weakly in Favour Low Evidence Osteotomy Weakly in Favour Low Evidence Total Joint Replacement Weakly in Favour Low Evidence

Attributes
Commonality is common

Further Tests
Apolipoprotein B Concentration Apolipoprotein B (Apo B) (Decreased) Protein Electrophoresis (Blood, Serum Protein) Alpha-2-Globulin (Blood, Serum) (Increased)

Efficacy of Alternative and Other Treatments According to GRADE* Ranking:

Vitamin E [1, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help in preventing some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. Please note, this acts as a PREVENTATIVE treatment, and not necessarily symptomatic relief. This vitamin can have harmful effects if taken in doses higher than 100% of the recommended daily allowance.

Recommendation: No recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that vitamin E supplements can help to prevent or treat arthritis )

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Vitae Elixxir[1, 54, 55]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. Warning: Possible side effects of Vitae Elixxir include diarrhoea, pain, and a general worsening of existing symptoms.

Recommendation: No recommendation (Available evidence does not support claims that vitae elixir helps to treat arthritis)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Turmeric [1, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53]:

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Early laboratory studies show that turmeric may be of benefit in the treatment of arthritis. However, further studies are needed)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Thuja (Eastern White Cedar, Thuja Occidentalis) [1, 45, 46, 47]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. Little is known about the full effects of Thuja, so it is not recommended for medicinal use. Thuja can be poisonous if ingested in large amounts.

Recommendation: no recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that Thuja helps to treat arthritis)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Pokeweed Antiviral Protein (PAP) [1, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. Warning! All parts of the plant, Pokeweed (Phytolacca Americana), is poisonous and should not be ingested. Thoroughly cooking the plant reduces that toxicity. The effects of the improperly prepared plant include vomiting, diarrhoea, cramps, headache, confusion, convulstions, low blood pressure, heart block and death. Only plant extracts (PAP) or thoroughly prepared plants should be ingested, and even then, under professional medical guidance.

Recommendation: no recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that PAP helps to treat arthritis)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Pine Bark Extract [1, 37, 38, 39]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that Pine Bark extract helps to treat arthritis)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Peppermint Oil [1, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that peppermint helps to treat arthritis)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Pau D'Arco (Lapachol, Tabebuia Impetiginosa, Tabebuia Heptaphylla) [1, 30]:

Please note, this treatment has potentially serious side effects. Some of the chemicals in the plant are known to be toxic. High doses are known to cause liver and kidney. Even at low doses, chemicals in the plant may interfere with blood clotting, causing excess bleeding and anaemia. Pau D'Arco should be avoided, especially by pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Recommendation: Strongly against (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that Pau D'arco helps to treat Arthritis. This, combined with its potentially harmful side effects if taken without supervision from a doctor or pharmacist gives enough reason to avoid this treatment.)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Mistletoe (Iscador, Viscum Album) [1, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. WARNING: The mistletoe plant should NOT be eaten because it is poisonous. May cause seizures, coma and death. It should only be taken as a purified mistletoe extract, and only in recommended doses.

Recommendation: No recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that mistletoe has any affect on the treatment of arthritis)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Kampo [1, 23, 24]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: No recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that Kampo helps in the treatment of arthritis)

Grade of Evidence: moderate quality of evidence

Glyconutrients [1, 21, 22]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (Available evidence does not support claims that glyconutrients help to treat arthritis. More studies are needed.)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Flaxseed Oil [1,18, 29, 20]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that flaxseed oil helps to treat arthritis)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Essiac Tea (Flor Essence) [1, 16, 17]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (available evidence does not support claims that Essiac Tea helps to treat arthritis)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Copper [1, 14, 15]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that copper bracelets or supplements help to treat arthritis in any way)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Comfrey (Blackwort, Symphytum Officinale) [1, 11, 12, 13]:

Please note, this herb is TOXIC IF TAKEN ORALLY, OR IF APPLIED TO AN OPEN WOUND. Can cause severe liver or kidney damage and lead to death. May ONLY be used as a cream over intact skin, and does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: weakly in favor (ONLY TO BE USED AS A CREAM OVER HEALTHY SKIN. Studies have shown that if applied over intact skin, creams with Comfrey extracts can help to treat the symptoms of arthritis)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Cloves (Caryophyllum Aromaticum, Eugenia Caryophyllata) [6, 7, 8, 9, 10]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that Cloves help to treat arthritis in any way)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Chlorella (Green Algae, Chlorella Pyrenoidosa) [3, 4, 5]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that Chlorella helps to treat arthritis in any way)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Cats Claw (Uncaria Tomentosa) [1, 2]:

Recommendation: no recomendation (insufficient evidence to support claims that Cats Claw can help to treat Arthritis)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Bromelain (Sulphydryl Proteolytic Enzyme, Ananas Comosus):

Recommendation: no recommendation (Available evidence shows mixed results to claims that Bromelain helps to treat arthritis)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Black Cohosh (cimicifuga Racemosa):

Recommendation: no recommendation (Available evidence does not support claims that Black Cohosh helps to treat symptoms of arthritis in any way. Studies have yielded mixed results)

Grade of Evidence: moderate quality of evidence

Astragalus (Astragalus Membranaceus):

Recommendation: no recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that Astragalus helps to treat arthritis)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Arnica Root (Arnica Montana):

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (available evidence shows that Arnica is in no way helpful in the treatment of arthritis)

Grade of Evidence: moderate quality of evidence

Aconite (Aconitum Napellus, Monkshood, Fu-Tzu):

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself, and it not recomended for use because it is EXTREMELY TOXIC and can cause irregular heartbeat, heart failre, and death, even when only used only on the skin.

Recommendation: strongly against (Due to the lack of therapeutic effect on Arthritis , and due to its harmful effects, Aconite is NOT RECOMENDED)

Grade of Evidence: high quality of evidence

Transcutaneous Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (There is not enough evidence supporting the role of TENS in arthritis)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Osteopathy:

Recommendation: no recommendation (Available scientific evidence does not support Osteopathy as helpful alone in arthritis)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Neural Therapy:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (no reliable clinical studies have been done to support Neural Therapies role in reducing arthritis)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Moxibustion:

Recommendation: no recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to show that moxibustion has any effect on arthritis)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Magnetic Therapy:

Recommendation: no recommendation (Clinical trials regarding Magnetic Therapy treating arthritis have yielded mixed results)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT):

NOT RECOMENDED

Recommendation: no recommendation (Available scientific evidence shows that HBOT does not help with treating arthritis)

Grade of Evidence: Moderate quality of evidence

Heat Therapy:

Recommendation: weakly in favor (clinical studies have shown that Heat Therapy can help relieve symptoms of arthritis)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Low-Level Laser Therapy:

Recommendation: no recommendation (There have been ambiguous results on the few studies done investigating the effect of laser therapy on arthritis)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Acupuncture:

Recommendation: weakly in favor (There is some evidence that suggest that Acupuncture may decrease the need for pain medication in arthritis)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Yoga:

Recommendation: weakly in favor (There is some evidence that Yoga can help in treating arthritis when used in conjunction with conventional medicine)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Tai Chi:

Recommendation: weakly in favor (a controlled trial has shown evidence that Tai Chi can help treat arthritis)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Neuro-Linguistic Programming:

Recommendation: no recommendation (No reliable evidence exists supporting claims that Neuro-linguistic programming helps in treating arthritis.)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Devil's Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens)[62, 63, 64, 65, 66):

Recommendation: weakly in favour (may have side effects)

Evidence: moderate quality of evidence

* www.gradeworkinggroup.org

Summary References

Treatment

1. Ades T, Alteri R, Gansler T, Yeargin P, "Complete Guide to Complimentary & Alternative Cancer Therapies", American Cancer Society, Atlanta USA, 2009

2. http://www.nutrasanus.com/cats-claw.html

3. Nakano, S et al. “Maternal-fetal distribution and transfer of dioxins in pregnant women in Japan, and attempts to reduce maternal transfer with Chlorella (Chlorella pyrenoidosa) supplements...” Chemosphere 2005 Dec; 61(9): 1244–55.

4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&list_uids=11347287&dopt=Abstract

5. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/chlorella

6. Ades T, Alteri R, Gansler T, Yeargin P, "Complete Guide to Complimentary & Alternative Cancer Therapies", American Cancer Society, Atlanta USA, 2009

7. Balch, Phyllis and Balch, James. Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 3rd ed., Avery Publishing, ©2000, pg. 94.

8. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, Third Edition by Dan Bensky, Steven Clavey, Erich Stoger, and Andrew Gamble 2004

9. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/cloves

10. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-clove.html

11. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19460762

12. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/comfrey

13. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2103401

14. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/copper

15. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002419.htm

16. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/essiac-tea

17. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-essiac.html

18. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/flaxseed

19. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-flaxseed.html

20. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/flaxseed/index.htm

21. http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=3228488

22. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/glyconutrients

23. Shibata, Yoshiharu and Jean Wu. "Kampo Treatment for Climacteric Disorders: A Handbook for Practitioners." Paradigm Publications, 1997

24. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/kampo

25. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/mistletoe

26. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/mistletoe/ataglance.htm

27. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002883.htm

28. http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/mistle40.html

29. http://www.bmj.com/content/333/7582/1293.full?ijkey=56e55886cc53e0c478801e74001edc3bea1c322e&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha

30. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/pau-d-arco

31. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/peppermint

32. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17420159

33. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19507027

34. http://www.medicine.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/booth/alternat/AT022.html

35. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-peppermint.html

36. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/peppermintoil/index.htm

37. http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00214032

38. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/pine-bark-extract

39. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-pycnogenol.html

40. http://www.cbif.gc.ca/pls/pp/ppack.info?p_psn=12&p_type=all&p_sci=sci&p_x=px

41. http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Phytolacca+americana

42. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/315368

43. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002874.htm

44. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/pokeweed

45. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002769.htm

46. http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_thoc2.pdf

47. http://vsearch.nlm.nih.gov/vivisimo/cgi-bin/query-meta?v%3Aproject=medlineplus&query=thuja&x=0&y=0

48. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/turmeric

49. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-turmeric.html

50. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/turmeric/index.htm

51. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/1668932.stm

52. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/10/28/curry-kills-cancer-cells-and-other-health-benefits-of-the-nations-favourite-dish-115875-21779950/

53. http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=turmeric

54. http://www.annieappleseedproject.org/vitaeelixxir.html

55. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/vitae-elixxir

56. http://nccam.nih.gov/news/alerts/vitamine/vitamine.htm

57. http://nccam.nih.gov/research/results/spotlight/070106.htm

58. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/vitamine.html

59. http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/76/4/703

60. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2586922/?tool=pmcentrez

61. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamine.asp#h3

62. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14669250

63. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14646256

64. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1409765

65. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16203115

Public Discussion

No discussions exist for this condition yet. You can be the first to create one!

Comment

This is a beta test version of the Everyone Healthy Database.Any medical information published or self diagnosed conditions on this website is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice and you should not take any action or change your current treatment before consulting with a certified health care professional. Please send comments, corrections and enquiries to admin@everyonehealthy.com.
Copyright 2024 everyone healthy. All rights reserved