With the recent negative publicity surrounding certain the COX-2 class of medications and fears over the safety of all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, many people are now considering complimentary and alternative therapies.

There are many complementary and alternative therapies. Some have gained acceptance in the wider medical community and some have scientific evidence supporting their claims. But there are many more that have only anecdotal reports as "evidence" of their benefits or non-scientific studies which have only been published in their non-medical journals. Also, just because something is "natural" does not mean it is 100% safe or free of side-effects and as with conventional treatments, what works for one person won't work for all. Another thing to be wary of when considering natural and alternative medicines is the fact that there is no regulation over the production of these medicines or the accuracy of the manufacturers claims. While there are many reputable manufacturers, tests by independent groups (such as CHOICE) have found many instances where the actual amount of the active ingredient in a natural or alternative medication is less than that stated on the label. As such, it is important to do your homework before deciding to try any complimentary or alternative therapy. You should also speak to your doctors before starting on any of these to ensure they will not interfere with any other treatment you are using and you should only ever try one new therapy at a time so you can properly assess its impact on you. We would also strongly encourage anyone with an inflammatory form of arthritis to stil use at least one disease modifying (DMARD) medication as none of these therapies have so far been proven to slow or stop the progress of the disease.

That said, this section of the website aims to provide general information on the more reputable complimentary and alternative therapies. While we do not promote any of these, we are happy to share personal experiences. So if you have tried any complimentary or alternative therapy and would like to share your experience (good or bad), please send an email to yawa@arthritisnsw.org.au .

Disclaimer
The information provided on this site should not replace the advice and guidance of your own health-care providers. All material is provided for educational and informational purposes only and is the opinion of the authors. Please check with your doctor before making any changes to your treatment.

Copyright 2002 NSW Young Adults with Arthritis.
Site Developed by Leanne Way. All feedback to yawa@arthritisnsw.org.au