The role of complementary and alternative therapies in managing rheumatoid arthritis.

Fam Community Health

Center for the Study of Complementary and Alternative Therapies, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.

Published: July 2003

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disease that is characterized by joint stiffness in the morning, symmetric joint swelling, and generalized fatigue. Given the limitations of medical treatment and the ongoing problems with symptom management, it is not at all surprising that many individuals with RA turn to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies. This article provides a brief overview of what is known about CAM use in RA, presents information on a few of the most popular therapies, and recommends further resources for nurses who work with individuals with RA.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00003727-200301000-00006DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

complementary alternative
8
rheumatoid arthritis
8
role complementary
4
alternative therapies
4
therapies managing
4
managing rheumatoid
4
arthritis rheumatoid
4
arthritis chronic
4
chronic inflammatory
4
inflammatory autoimmune
4

Similar Publications

Introduction: Cancer patients often face challenges in managing their disease, particularly with regard to contraindications related to medications, foods, and physical activity, which can negatively affect treatment outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate cancer patients' awareness of these contraindications and to explore the influence of sociodemographic factors, support systems, comorbidities, and medication use on their knowledge.

Methods: A cross-sectional prospective study was conducted with 125 cancer patients in Saudi Arabia between December 2022 and February 2023.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Amid ambitious net-zero goals and growing demands for freight logistics, addressing the climate challenges posed by the heavy-duty truck (HDT) sector is an urgent and pivotal task. This study develops an integrated HDT model by incorporating vehicle dynamic simulation and life cycle analysis to quantify energy consumption, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and total cost of ownership associated with three emerging powertrain technologies in various truck use scenarios in China, including battery electric, fuel cell electric, and hydrogen combustion engine trucks. The results reveal varying levels of economic suitability for these powertrain alternatives depending on required driving ranges and duty cycles: the battery electric for regional-haul applications, the hydrogen fuel cell for longer-haul and low-load driving conditions, and the hydrogen combustion engine to meet high power requirements.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The use of traditional and complementary medicine by cancer patients in SSA: A scoping review.

Health SA

December 2024

Discipline of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.

Background: The rate of traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) use is increasing worldwide, including among cancer patients who are often willing to try alternate therapies. Despite T&CM popularity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), there are limited data on its use with conventional treatments.

Aim: This scoping review aims to describe the prevalence of use, reasons for use, most common types of T&CM used, patient satisfaction with T&CM and disclosure of T&CM use to physicians among cancer patients in SSA.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

With over two millennia of history, traditional Chinese acupuncture ranks among the most renowned forms of supplementary and other healthcare. The use of acupuncture releases endorphins and serotonin, two naturally occurring painkillers, into the nervous system and stimulates it. It also modifies how pain signals are processed and perceived.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Both Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) pose significant healthcare burdens on the general population of America. Though first-line medications are available, concomitant burdens of polypharmacy, side effects, and inadequate control exist. Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) is a hands-on, physical manipulation technique that offers a personalized and direct approach to modifying the body's neuromuscular and viscerosomatic activity leading to decreased symptomatic burden with minimal side effects.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!