Arthritis disease - the use of complementary therapies.
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Pirotta
Marie
M
Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne, Victoria. m.pirotta@unimelb.edu.au
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D002807:Chondroitin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D018450:Disease Progression; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058005:General Practitioners; D005944:Glucosamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D029001:Herbal Medicine; D006801:Humans; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D059408:Pain Management; D030262:Soybean Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D030262:Soybean Proteins; D002807:Chondroitin; D005944:Glucosamine