The Young and the RA

 Having a chronic illness can change how you view things. Alternative medicines and pills that before having RA you would never consider, start sounding like good ideas. I mean, what can any of it hurt, right? So since being diagnosed with RA, I’ve started adding all sorts of pills to my daily drug intake. And thanks to my mother’s incredible researching abilities, I learn more and more about supplementary treatment options every day. (On a side note, she is so well researched when it comes to my RA that doctors have mistakenly thought she has a medical degree. Yep. That’s my mom. She’s amazing.)

But for those of you without a super mom such as mine, I thought I would throw out some of the information I’ve learned over the past few years on treatments that may help you get your RA under control. 

One supplementary treatment that has gotten some press is using fish oil pills in the treatment of RA:

“There’s strong evidence that fish oil supplements with omega-3 fatty acids can ease rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms, help prevent Raynaud’s syndrome spasms and possibly relieve some lupus symptoms” (Arthritis Today). 

Borage seeds, evening primrose seed oil and flaxseed oil have also been seen to have similar effects.

Despite feelings about the benefits of pills such as fish oil, there is some disagreement on what the dosage should be. According to The Wall Street Journal, the studies done on the benefits of omega-3 have those in the study taking industrial-level doses of omega-3 — a lot more than is in the typical dose you find at the drug store. And while the benefits of adding omega-3 to one’s diet are fairly supported, there has not been enough research done on what dose is needed to be effective as a treatment for RA.

Fortunately for you, instead of downing a fist full of pills every night, you can add omega-3 to your diet in other ways:

“Regardless of the recommended dose, the need to stockpile bottles of supplements may diminish as more foods are fortified with omega-3 and as research shows ways of enhancing the benefits with other therapies” (The Wall Street Journal).

So next time you head into your supermarket to buy eggs, make sure you pick up the ones enriched with omega-3. Eat more walnuts, beans, fish, olive oil and of course take one of the pills listed above — bonus points for taking two to three of the pills a day (World’s Healthiest Foods). 

Ok, so now you know omega-3 is good for you and where to find it, you are probably looking from some more specific examples of how omega-3 might help treat your RA. Am I right?

Adding omega-3 to your diet can help not only treat your RA, but help reduce your need for other drugs such as methotrexate, which has some pretty strong side effects (See my earlier posting about methotrexate). Also the Mayo Clinic’s Web site reported:

“Multiple randomized controlled trials report improvements in morning stiffness and joint tenderness with the regular intake of fish oil supplements for up to three months […] Benefits have been reported as additive with anti-inflammatory medications such as NSAIDs (like ibuprofen or aspirin).” 

That means that you can’t just take omega-3 every once and a while. The more and longer you take it, the more it will help you.

Now, I have preached long enough about the benefits of omega-3, so I’ll give you some time to digest it all before I give you even more treatment options.

Until next time,

         S.P.