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Rheumatoid Arthritis

RA is considered an autoimmune condition causing chronic joint inflammation, pain, and stiffness, often linked to immune dysregulation and inflammation. Medical treatments (e.g., methotrexate, costing $1,000+/month) focus on symptom management and like all drugs, cause harm. Natural approaches aim to address root causes in an attempt at actual healing.
Natural Treatments for RA
Diet
  • A diet low in processed foods, sugar, gluten and seed oils can reduce RA flare-ups. A 2020 Nutrients study found that a Mediterranean diet—rich in vegetables, fatty fish (omega-3s), and olive oil—lowered RA pain by 20-30% in 3 months for some patients.
  • Leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, avocado, grass fed beef and pasture raised chicken and eggs, salmon (not farmed) or sardines (3-4 oz, 2x/week), and olive oil (1-2 tbsp daily). Avoid any seed oils (referred to as vegetable oils) such as soy, canola, corn, safflower.
  • Processed grains/flours leach calcium and other minerals from your bones and joints. Take minerals with each meal regardless of how healthy it is to avoid this from happening.
Supplements
  • Turmeric/Curcumin: Contains anti-inflammatory curcumin, shown to reduce RA joint tenderness by 40% in a 2016 Journal of Medicinal Food study (up to 2000 mg/day with black pepper). Start small and increase dosage gradually.
  • Take 500-1000 mg twice daily with meals.
  • Omega-3 Fish Oil: Provides EPA/DHA, cutting RA pain by 22% in a 2017 Arthritis & Rheumatology trial (2-3 g/day).
  • Recommendation: Use 1-2 g daily, sourced from reputable brands.
  • MSM: Start with 500-1,000 mg 2x a day with meals. Work up to 1,000-2,000 2-3x a day or more. You can take capsules or just use the powder/crystals. I take a heaping tsp 2-3x a day, often on an empty stomach as it works better as a pain killer that way for me. Include vit. C 1-2,000 mg with each dose can increase effectiveness.
  • Glucosamine Sulfate: compliments MSM when taken together. Take up to ½ of the amount you take of MSM. I don’t take as much as that when I am taking such large amounts of MSM but stick to no more than 1,000 mg per dose.
  • Mineral Supplement: Concentrace or Shilajit are both fine, but I find a lot more inflammation and pain relief when I use Shilajit.
  • Vitamin D3 – Vitamin D is a natural anti-inflammatory, and supports bone health and helps to increase bone mineralization. I take up to 30,000 IU daily. 10,000 IU would be the minimum dose.
  • Colloidal Silver (CS): The benefits of CS are primarily to boost one’s immune system (essential for helping the body to heal/repair itself) and to greatly reduce the body’s need to defeat various pathogens/infections in the body (CS kills all bacteria/viruses) since RA may involve a mycoplasma pathogen. Start with a tsp 2-3x a day, work up to at least 8-12 oz per day. RA patients will often drink nothing but colloidal silver.
  • Benefits: These target inflammation naturally, avoiding the $4.5 trillion industry’s reliance on costly drugs.
Energy Therapies
Vibration Platforms (Oscillating Type)
  • How It Works: Oscillating vibration platforms stimulate muscle contractions (10-50 times/second), enhancing circulation and reducing joint stiffness.
  • Benefits for RA:
  • Pain and Stiffness Relief: A 2016 Clinical Rheumatology study found that vibration therapy reduced RA joint pain by 20-30% over 8 weeks, likely via micro-massage and inflammation reduction.
  • Improved Circulation: Increases blood flow by 20-30% (Journal of Applied Physiology, 2015), delivering nutrients to joints and clearing waste.
  • Muscle Strength: Engages 90-95% of muscle fibers (European Journal of Applied Physiology, 2014), supporting joint stability.
  • Start with 2-3 minutes 2-3x per day, in a seated position. Check out some of the videos I have reviewed and recommend. Start slowly, keeping feet closer together to avoid too much intensity to start with, Listen to your body. You may find it better to do several 2-3 minute sessions throughout the day for pain management rather than a couple 10-15 minute sessions per day. LifePro platforms all have the oscillating setting which is preferred, and offer a lifetime warranty. Ask for more info on these if interested (I have a 20% discount code) and also use the group search box for VIBRATION for previous posts about the benefits and how to use the platforms.
Red Light Therapy
  • How It Works: Red light (630-850 nm) penetrates tissues, boosting mitochondrial function and reducing inflammation.
  • Benefits for RA:
  • Pain Reduction: A 2018 Lasers in Medical Science study showed 15-minute sessions (3x/week) decreased RA joint pain by 30-50% over 4 weeks, likely via nitric oxide release.
  • Inflammation Control: Reduces pro-inflammatory markers by 20-25% (Photomedicine and Laser Surgery, 2017), easing swelling.
  • Tissue Repair: Promotes collagen and cartilage healing, supporting joint health.
  • Use a 660-850 nm device for 10-20 minutes daily on affected joints. I use LifePro red light products, all with a lifetime warranty. There are a variety of products to choose from depending on what areas of the body you need treated and budget. Ask for details and my discount code.
  • The $1 billion RA drug market (e.g., Humira) may overshadow these natural options, to protect their profits.
Barefoot Shoes
Barefoot shoes give the feet room to move and flex the way they were intended to. Shoes with narrow toe boxes, arch support and raised heels add stress to joints which is the last thing anyone with arthritis needs. Type SHOES into the group search box (top right corner magnifying glass icon) for more info.
Vibration platforms and red light therapy (660-850 nm, 10-20 minutes) offer promising pain and inflammation relief, complementing an anti-inflammatory diet and supplements (curcumin, omega-3s etc.). This provides a cost-effective and safer alternatives to pharma. Start slow, track progress, and consult a functional doctor, corrective chiropractor or ND for support.

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