You may recognize turmeric as a spice widely used in Indian cuisine. But did you know turmeric is also becoming a popular alternative medicine treatment for rheumatoid arthritis?

The yellow-colored turmeric powder comes from the root of the turmeric plant, and it’s what gives curry powder and mustard their bright yellow color.

To understand why turmeric works, it’s important to know what it can do for you.

For starters, turmeric is extremely rich in antioxidants. Some, like vitamins C and E, I’m sure you’re familiar with. But turmeric also contains some lesser-known powerful antioxidants like curcumin.

Antioxidants have a huge impact on your rheumatoid arthritis and we will look at this topic in great length. Stay tuned!

Now that you know what turmeric is and why you can use it as an alternative medicine treatment for your rheumatoid arthritis, let’s take a look at how much turmeric you should take.

It’s important to discuss with your doctor your interest in taking turmeric to treat your rheumatoid arthritis and any potential interactions with the drugs you are on. But, here’s the problem. Most doctors I know are not aware of turmeric’s value in rheumatoid arthritis. So…don’t be surprised if you don’t get much support.

In Part 3 of our look at turmeric as an alternative medicine treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, we’re going to explore the possible side effects of turmeric.

If you have a liver, gall bladder or bile blockage, gall stones, or stomach ulcers, turmeric is not for you.

Also…if you develop a rash or hives, or experience breathing problems, stop taking turmeric and tell your doctor. This may mean that you are allergic to turmeric. It’s also important to avoid taking turmeric on an empty stomach.

Turmeric may also leave a bitter taste in your mouth, and can cause stomach ulcers if you take a high dose over a long period of time (You should be OK with the dosages I suggested in Part 2). High doses of turmeric can also act as a blood thinner, so don’t take turmeric if you’re already taking blood-thinning medications.

Check back in with me in the coming days as we explore oils as an alternative medicine treatment for your rheumatoid arthritis.

Steps to Improve Your Health

Dr. Steven Dell

You’ve probably heard eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids is good for your heart.

But did you know eating fish and taking fish oils can also be a good alternative medicine treatment for your rheumatoid arthritis? It’s true!

Today, many of us aren’t getting enough of the good omega-3 fatty acids in our diets that help reduce inflammation. By increasing your omega-3 fatty acid intake, you can actually reduce your inflammation caused by your rheumatoid arthritis. In fact, increased inflammation may be a cause of your rheumatoid arthritis.

Unfortunately, many of us are also eating too many processed and fast foods high in bad fats. These bad fats actually cause inflammation in our bodies!

So, to get our fats back in balance, we need to eat less processed and fast foods high in bad fats, and start getting more good fats through fish and fish oil.

Stay tuned and I will help you discover how fish oils fit into an overall alternative medicine supplementation program for rheumatoid arthritis, which oils to take and the right dosage.

Steps to Improve Your Health

Dr. Steven Dell

So, now we know fish oils are a good alternative medicine treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

But how do you know what to take?

The usual dose is 2,000 - 4,000 mg per day of EPA/DHA, which is the main ingredient in fish oil. I recommend you look for high potency capsules so you can take fewer capsules each day.

If you opt to take cod liver oil, the old fish oil standby, make sure it doesn’t contain vitamins A or D because these vitamins can be toxic in large doses.

Also…most of the time, unless you have a “wellness spending account”, your health insurance will not pay for these alternative medicines. The cost of this alternative medicine treatment averages about $35-45 a month.

Keep in mind you have to be very careful about the company you buy them from. The worst thing you can do is take bad oils.

Stay tuned as I help you continue to discover how fish oils fit into an overall supplementation program for rheumatoid arthritis.

Steps to Improve Your Health

Dr. Steven Dell

Okay…. We’ve looked at how fish oils work, and how to add fish oils to your overall supplementation program for your rheumatoid arthritis.

Now, let’s review a couple of other things that are good to know if you are using fish oil as an alternative medicine treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

Once you start taking fish oil, it’s important to allow 3 months for the fish oil to work. With any alternative medicine treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, don’t worry about evaluating its effectiveness for at least 90 days.

Also, very rarely, some people experience gas or an upset stomach when they begin taking fish oil. You might want to start out taking a smaller dose of fish oil and work your way up to the recommended dose of 2000 - 4,000 mg per day to reduce the chance of getting an upset stomach.

If you get a “fishy” reflux, try freezing the capsules before you take them. If this doesn’t work…switch brands.

Stay tuned as I continue to help you discover new alternative medicine treatments and supplementation programs for your rheumatoid arthritis.

Steps to Improve Your Health

Dr. Steven Dell

Dealing with stress can be tough, but it can be even tougher when you’re also trying to manage your rheumatoid arthritis.

Let’s take a look at some easy and effective ways to manage your stress while suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.

The first step you need to take in learning how to manage your stress is to identify what really matters. A lot of times, we end up getting stressed over things that just aren’t that important. Learning to identify what’s really important to you is the first step in successfully managing your stress.

Exercise is another great way to manage both your stress and your rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. Exercises like walking and swimming are great stress releasers, and they’re also easy on your joints. Gradually work yourself up to 60 minutes of low intensity exercise per day, moving at a pace where you can breathe through your nose. This amount of movement is the gold standards for health. You will sleep better and battle another symptom of stress – sleeplessness!