Homeopathic Medicines for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune, chronic, inflammatory disorder causing joint inflammation with pain, swelling, and stiffness of joints. These symptoms usually begin from small joints of the hands or feet and can later affect other large joints too. It tends to involve multiple joints at a time and in a symmetrical way.

Rheumatoid arthritis can be efficiently treated with homeopathy with zero side effects as homeopathic medicines are of natural origin and devoid of any toxins. Homeopathic treatment can provide noticeable improvement in symptoms like joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. It can decrease the frequency and intensity of your pain markedly, improve your range of motion, and prevent any deformity of joints and extra-articular (other than joints) complications if opted in the the very beginning of the complaint. It can limit further progression of the disease. In mild to moderate cases, if the prescribed remedy course is followed regularly, cure might occur in many of the cases. In severe cases with joint deformity, cure may not be possible but homeopathy promises great help in symptomatic relief here and checks further joint damage. As homeopathic treatment has individualized approach in each case, the remedy selection and dosage depend on factors like severity of symptoms, age of patient, chronicity of complaint or any parallel complex symptoms involved.

Homeopathy optimises rather than suppresses immune system

As rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, which means the body’s own defense cells start destroying their own healthy tissues, it is known to be caused by overactive immune system. Homeopathic treatment can successfully offer help in optimizing the overactive immune system to reduce inflammation and gradually reduce the progression of chronic ailments. Homeopathy in no way suppresses the immune system.

Non-habit forming medicines, no harmful effects

Homeopathic remedies are not habit-forming and can offer effective treatment in chronic cases of rheumatoid arthritis with no negative response. These medicines can be taken along with conventional medicines. Gradually, homeopathic medicines can reduce the dependency on harmful conventional drugs.

Homeopathic medicines do not carry the risk of any harmful after-effects. Rheumatoid arthritis treatment in conventional medicine includes DMARDs (Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs), NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs) and steroids which have side effects and can lead to other complex conditions. Though these medicines can be taken in case of intense pain and severe inflammation, their long term use should be avoided.

Top 10 Homeopathic Medicines for Rheumatoid Arthritis

The top medicines for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis are Rhus Tox, Apis Mellifica, Bryonia, Antimonium Crudum, Actaea Spicata, Caulophyllum, Arnica, Ledum Pal, Calcarea Carb and Sanguinaria Can.

1. Rhus Tox –For painful, stiff joints better from movement

Rhus Tox helps to relieve joint pains and stiffness by reducing  joint inflammation. Persons needing it mainly have joint stiffness in the morning and also after a period of inactivity. Warm applications and motion of affected joint brings relief. Massaging the joint also offers relief .

When To Use Rhus Tox?

The key indication for using this medicine is pain and stiffness in joints which gets worse by rest and better by movement.

How to use Rhus Tox?

Though Rhus Tox may be used in different potencies, it is best to begin with 30C potency. Rhus Tox 30C can be taken two to three times a day as per severity of problem. Higher potencies like 200C and 1M can also be considered afterward but only under the supervision of homeopathic expert.

2. Apis Mellifica – For reducing swelling in joints

Apis Mellifica is a well-indicated medicine for cases where joint is highly swollen. Along with this the joint is red, and inflamed. Joint pains which are mainly burning, stinging type are also well treated with Apis. Joint is also sensitive to touch.

When To Use Apis Mellifica?

This medicine is recommended when there is intense swelling in joint along with redness, heat and burning, stinging pains.

How to use Apis Mellifica?

Apis Mellifica 30C can be used once or twice a day.

3. Bryonia – For red, hot, swollen, painful joints worse motion

Bryonia is helpful for cases where joints are red, hot and swollen. Besides, there is pain in joints. The pains are sharp, stitching type. The pain gets worse by motion and better with rest. Warmth may relieve the pains.  It is Indicated when  mostly knee and elbow joints are involved.

When To Use Bryonia?

Bryonia is well indicated to manage red, hot, swollen joints with pain which is worse from movement and better from rest.

How to use Bryonia?

One may use Bryonia 30C one to three times a day as per symptom intensity.

4. Antimonium Crudum – To reduce pain in finger joints

It is very beneficial to treat pain in finger joints and reduce its inflammation. Persons needing it mainly have worsening of pain from cold. They find relief by warm applications. Drawing sensation in the fingers may also be felt.

When To Use Antimonium Crudum?

Antimonium Crudum can be considered when there is pain in finger joints worse from cold and better from warm applications.

How to use Antimonium Crudum?

This medicine can be used in 30C power once a day.

5. Actaea Spicata – For wrist pain and swelling

Actaea Spicata is mainly given for cases where wrist pain and swelling are present. Wrist is also red with heat. The pain is worse from motion. It is also indicated to treat pain and swelling in other small joints of fingers, toes and ankle.

When To Use Actaea Spicata?

This medicine is prominently indicated to manage pain and swelling in wrist along with heat, redness worse from movement.

How to use Actaea Spicata?

The recommended dose for its use is Actaea Spicata 30C one or two times a day.

6. Caulophyllum – For small joints Arthritis

Caulophyllum is also used for treating arthritis affecting small joints. The small joints are painful and stiff in cases needing it. The joints of fingers, toes, ankle and wrist are affected in such cases. The pains keeps on shifting in minutes from one joint to the other. In some cases, nodes are present on finger joints.

When To Use Caulophyllum?

The most highlighting feature guiding its use is pain and stiffness in small joints including fingers, toes, ankle and wrist with frequent shifting of pain among these joints.

How to use Caulophyllum?

Caulophyllum 30C should be used twice a day for good results.

7. Arnica – For markedly tender joints

Arnica is majorly used when the joints are extremely tender. Person has great fear of touching the affceted joint due to pain and tenderness. The knee also has sore, bruised pain along with intense swelling.

When to use Arnica?

The leading symptom to use Arnica is extreme pain and tenderness of affected joint with pain from least touch.

How to use Arnica?

Arnica can be taken one to three times daily as the case demands.

8. Ledum Pal – For painful, swollen ankles

Ledum Pal offers great help in reducing pain and swelling in the ankles.

Persons needing it have worsening of ankle pain from movement. They find relief in it by cold applications. They may have ascending rheumatism where pain start from feet joints and then ascend to joints above it in the leg.

When to use Ledum Pal?

A person may opt its use for managing pain and swelling in ankles worse from movement and better from cold application.

How to use Ledum Pal?

It is suggested to use this medicine one to three times in a day as per the severity of pain and swelling.

9. Calcarea Carb – For pain and swelling in knee joint

It is an Important medicine to manage pain and swelling in the knee joint. The pains are drawing, tearing in nature . The knee is swollen mostly at night time. It is also hot and tenderness to touch.

When to use Calcarea Carb?

This medicine is indicated for cases having pain and swelling in knee joints worse at night

How to use Calcarea Carb?

This medicine can be taken in 30 C power not more than once a day. For using its higher potencies like 200C, 1M it is advised to consult a homeopathic doctor.

10. Sanguinaria Can – For shoulder joint pain

Sanguinaria Can works well to treat shoulder joint pain. It also helps to reduce attending stiffness in it. Shoulder pain gets worse by raising the arm in cases needing it. Worsening if pain at night is also noted in such cases.

When to use Sanguinaria Can?

The foremost feature for its use is pain in the shoulder joint worse raising arm and at night along with stiffness.

How to use Sanguinaria Can?

This medicine can be used once or twice a day in 30C potency.

Symptoms of  Rheumatoid Arthritis

The main symptoms are pain in joints, swelling in joints, stiffness of joints which mostly appear in morning and after periods of inactivity. In this, multiple joints are involved in a symmetrical manner i.e.  involving the same joints on both sides of the body.

The symptoms initially start from small joints of hands or feet and may  progress to other joints like wrist, elbow, shoulder, knee, hip and ankle .

The affected joint is also red, warm and tender to touch in flare up phase. Loss of joint function , mobility and deformity appear in later stages if not treated well in time. Few general signs and symptoms that may attend joint involvement include weakness, loss of appetite, weight loss, fever, muscle aches, depression and anaemia.

 Joint deformities

The main joint deformities that can develop in rheumatoid arthritis are as follows:

1. Swan neck deformity: in this deformity the joint in finger closest to fingertip gets bent towards the palm (flexion of distal inter-phalangeal joint) and the joint in finger nearest to palm bends away from it (hyperextension of proximal inter-phalangeal joint).

2. Boutonniere deformity : in this deformity the joint in finger nearest to palm gets bent towards the palm (flexion of proximal inter-phalangeal joint) and the joint nearest to finger tip bends back (hyperextension of distal inter-phalangeal joint).

3. Ulnar deviation: In this swelling in the metacarpo-phalangeal joints (joint that connect bone in palm to the bone in finger ). It leads to leaning of the fingers away from thumb towards little fingers. This deformity is also known as ulnar drift.

What Causes Rheumatoid Arthritis? 

The exact cause behind rheumatoid arthritis is not clearly understood. However it is thought to be an autoimmune disease.

What  triggers the autoimmune process for RA is not exactly known. But there are certain factors that increase the risk of the disease. First among them is genetic factor . Certain genes ( human leucocyte antigen HLA – DR1 and HLA – DR4) make a person more prone to develop this disease. Females are more at risk as compared to males. Persons of middle age group are more affected. Other factors that put a person at risk of this include a family history of this disease, smoking, obesity, environmental exposures like exposures to asbestos or silica, stress, history of viral infections like Epstein – Barr virus (EBV) and certain dietary factors.

Investigations for Rheumatoid Arthritis

The blood test done in cases suspected of rheumatoid arthritis are rheumatoid factor, Anti – cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti – CCP), ESR and c – reactive protein (CRP). Other tests include X-Ray and MRI of affected joints which are done to rule out the severity of the disease.

What are its types?

Seropositive: In this type persons with rheumatoid arthritis have their blood tests positive for rheumatoid factor or anti – CCPs.

Seronegative: A person may develop Rheumatoid arthritis even in the absence of rheumatoid factor or anti – CCPs. This is termed as seronegative type rheumatoid arthritis. In this type the blood tests are negative for RF and anti – CCPs. In such cases diagnosis is done on the basis of clinical symptoms and X- rays. This type is usually  milder than the seropositve type.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is when rheumatoid  arthritis affects children younger than 17 yrs of age.  It is also known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Palindromic rheumatism: In this recurrent attacks of pain, swelling appears in one or more joints all of sudden. It last for few hours or few days. In between the flare up attacks the pain and swelling subsides completely. It is not a type of rheumatoid arthritis but people having palindromic rheumatism have chance to develop rheumatoid arthritis.