Rheumatoid Arthritis
Natural Remedies

Natural Remedies for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Effective Solutions

| Modified on Dec 01, 2024
The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Annie (Orange, Ca) on 12/10/2017
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I responded to dietary changes too. My frozen elbow (over a year not straightening it) has full range of motion now! My RA is painful but much improved with diet change. I do best eating greens, such as salads. I avoid most grains and dairy like the plague. No joke. Juicing fruit and veggies or going to Nektar every other day is helping me A LOT!! I am not taking those creepy biologics anymore, too many scary side effects. If you have Rheumatoid try this :green salads every day with a little chicken and rice, eat this for a week, then add in foods slowly and see how your body responds. & Ask God for a healing.


Lemon Peel and Olive Oil
Posted by Rob (Kentucky) on 11/18/2020
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Lemon Peel/Olive oil (This has worked for me every time I use it. I currently use this formula for hip pain (RA), knees and toes. It works great)

This recipe can be found on the internet in various forms but the ratio's are wrong and it take 2 weeks to complete. Well, I don't have 2 weeks to wait so here is the method I use to speed the process up.

Lemon peel and Olive oil ointment can be used topically to massage into painful joints anywhere on the body, arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), gout, frozen shoulder, varicose veins/poor circulation of the arms and legs, skin fungal, viral and bacterial issues, ringworm (fungal), shingles (viral), skin burns, cellulite, chickpox sores (viral), chiliblains, cold sores, mouth ulcers and fever blisters (viral) of the mouth, diabetic neuropathy, eczema/psoriasis, foot and hand care, rubbed on forehead for headache/migraine/fever, inflammation, insect bites, nail health, phlebitis/thrombosis for the legs (together with internal use), respiratory problems, and many others.

The phenols in the olive oil will coat and fight inflammation, while the other ingredients go to work on pain and inflammation and the root cause of the problem.

To use lemon peels to fight the pain of inflammation. Inflammation in the body is the cause of much pain and illness. Inflammation means that the body's blood vessels are dilated and swollen. This swelling leads to redness, pressure, stiffness and pain. Although pain can be felt anywhere in the body, most commonly the pain of inflammation is felt in the joints. Joint pain can occur in any part of the body that has bone to tissue connection. That means that any one of the 360 joints in your body could be experiencing the pain of inflammation. Lemon peel can be taken internally and eaten, however, the benefits from the pain-relieving properties of the peel are believed to be best absorbed externally through the skin. Some compounds found in lemon peel cannot be passed to the bloodstream through digestion.

Nutritional Value Of Lemon Peel

Lemon peel contains 5 to 10 times more nutrients and minerals than does the juice. It contains Calcium. Iron. Magnesium. Phosphorus. Potassium. Sodium. Zinc. Copper. Selenium. vitamin C. Thiamin. Riboflavin. Niacin, Pantothenic acid. vitamin B6. Folate. vitamin A and vitamin E.

Lemon peel and Olive oil for joint pain relief

When you apply this remedy made with olive oil and lemon peel topically to the affected area, it will help improve your circulation in order to provide joint pain relief. One of the most overlooked benefits of lemons is that they can help prevent joint pain.

*The ingredients are chock-full of nutrients that reduce inflammation, pain, and stiffness.

*Also, the lemon peel contains substances like limonene, citronella and phellandrene, 3 essential oils that help relax muscles and joints, helping with any difficulty moving. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/lemon-oil

*The extra virgin olive oil contains antioxidants oleocanthal acid and omega 3 fatty acids, well-known for their ability to help painful, inflamed tissues.

*Together, these ingredients improve cellular oxygenation processes while optimizing the transportation of nutrients to your joints, a determining factor in preventing the breakdown of cartilage.

*However, it's also worth mentioning that the remedy helps stimulate your lymphatic system, a key factor in removing toxins that play a role in the pain.

*Additionally, applying it using massaging motions helps flush out retained fluids, and as if that weren't enough, prevents the accumulation of uric acid.

Rob's Quick and Dirty Recipe

Ingredients:

*Extra virgin olive oil

*6 - 7 lemons

*Eucalyptus oil (try your mixture with or without eucalyptus to see which works better for you)

*One quart mason jar with lid

*Blender

*Clean gauze

*Plastic-wrap

Preparation:

*Using a potato peeler, peel all the yellow/white (the pith) parts off the lemons. Then, place the lemon peels in a blender and add enough olive oil to cover them completely. 1:4 lemon peels to olive oil ratio is what I use. Blend the lemon peels/olive oil together. I use the pulse setting on my blender. You will want to blender it to the texture of apple sauce.

*Next, pour the mixture into the mason jar. Top off the mason jar with olive oil to about 2 inches from the rim.

*Place the mason jar into a pot filled with water on the stove. Add a mason jar ring or rolled up pieces for aluminum foil underneath the mason jar so it dose not make contact with the metal pot. Slow simmer the jar in a warm/hot bath for about 6 hours. Stir mixture with a butter knife every hour. Keep a check on the water level and add more water as needed. After 6 hours, turn off stove and allow to cool to room temperature.

*Stir mason jar and pour out one tablespoon into a small bowl then add the eucalyptus oil (10 drops per tablespoon of oil added to the finished ointment).

*Soak some gauze and place it over the painful area. Ideally you should apply this treatment at night, so that the ointment can soak into the skin while you sleep. Use it just like a Castor oil Pack.

Warning: Lemon contain natural molecules that react with UV light and cause a sensitivity reaction and a special type of sunburn. Essential oil companies often label their products that contain these compounds with a warning to avoid direct sun/UV light to the area for 12–48 hours after applying.

How to apply

*First, submerge a gauze bandage into the mixture and then apply it to the affected joint.

*Next, cover the gauze with plastic wrap, and then, if possible, with a wool scarf.

*Then, let the oil work overnight for best results.

*Next, apply every night until you get relief from the pain.

*As a preventative remedy, apply at least 3 times a week.

If you would like an even more relaxing effect for joint pain relief, heat the oil by putting the jar in a bowl of hot water before applying it. But remember to check the temperature to make sure it won't burn your skin. Additionally, you can use it to massage your joints, especially if the pain is due to fatigue or fluid retention.

Rheumatoid Arthritis and UTI Connection
Posted by Ray (Calgary, Ab) on 01/30/2013
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Antibiotics and Lignans

Don't forget about Lignans and other natural antibiotics. The best source of lignans is flaxseed oil, sesame seed, green leafy veggies like cabbage, broccoli, kale, spinach, apricots and strawberry. But it should do to take sesame oil. The lignans have anti-biotic effects. And of course don't forget cranberry juice that works against germs in urinary tract infection. Why take lignans???

Well, anyone with RA should read (or get their physician to read) an article that appeared in the journal Clinical & Developmental Immunology in March 2006. The title says it all:

"Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease triggered by Proteus urinary tract infection"

The article summarizes all the evidence. It explains a lot: why more women than men get RA and more women than men get urinary tract infections. Why urinary infections happen more often in those with RA. And much more. The evidence is overwhelming. But unfortunately not well known to physicians. I recently spoke to 2 physicians who vehemently denied that my wife's RA, that started after a UT infection, had anything to do with the infection.

But if you don't believe this then there is an easy solution: get yourself tested for antibodies to Proteus. You might surprise yourself.

Of course once natural antibiotics get rid of the Proteus the battle is not over. Why???

Because, unfortunately, certain molecules in joint collagen of certain genetically predisposed people, unfortunately, LOOK LIKE molecules in the Proteus bacteria. Thus the body thinks it is still fighting the bacteria when it is only fighting our joint tissue. (Our side is killing our own civilians because they look like the enemy.)

So you still have to use the other measures in earthclinic to calm the body down, and let it know that the war is over. (Don't forget massage to calm the autonomic nervous system).

Dietary Changes
Posted by Mart (California) on 04/13/2015
★★★★☆

I tried turmeric, sour cherry juice, sardines and papaya for Rhuematoid Arthritis. Only to make me worse. I took a blood test called ALCAT which tested my blood against foods, oils, protein, nuts, dairy, wheat and additives. I found out all the above items caused inflammation response on my blood. I received the list of foods and only ate the ones on my list I had no sensitivity to. This helped me tremendously. You can ask your doctor or search the internet. It will not cure you but reduce the inflammation. I keep trying to reduce my stress and continue to nourish my body and try to heal it. I have lost my marriage, house and job. It has been a journey for me. I wish everyone health and good journey.


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Deborah (Denison, TX) on 07/12/2007
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis 14 years ago. My grandmother told me about ACV and the many ways it could help arthritis, sleeping problems and stomach problems. I take 1 tbsp. once daily with just water and all of my physicals for the SLE & RA have come back great. I have no deformity in my joints and have not had a flare up in over 7 years. I also had several bleeding ulcers & was having to take daily stool samples to my doctor, but my physical showed scarring but no ulcers. I also use ACV as a toner for my face and my pores are smaller and my age spots are nearly invisible. I have printed out several pages of literature on ACV and have over 20 friends on this daily regimen and all of them can tell the difference and have been taken off their medications for their illnesses from arthritis to high blood pressure & cholesterol. I am a 48 year old grandmother that works with a younger market and I work circles around all of them. ACV helped me with my SLE, RA, Ulcers, Chronic Fatigue, Crohn's Disease and IBS. I had a sister die from SLE and normal life expectancy is 10 years and I am going on 15 years after my diagnosis.


Borax
Posted by David K. (Minnivale, Western Australia) on 09/02/2022
★★★★★

A friend had chronic rheumatoid arthritis for a long time before I met the family. I told him to try taking boron in the form of borax, but because of the label on the container, would not - even though I showed him that I take it every day as 'preventative' medicine. So essential as our soils are deficient in it - the reason why sheep and cattle suffer from arthritis.

I showed him the on line publication, "The Borax Conspiracy" which while remaining hesitant, decided to ask his specialist if it was OK to take it.

The reply was, "If it does not do you any good, it will certainly not do you any harm." So he took ¼ teaspoon for two weeks, after which he was pain free and off all his medication for which had to have blood tests every 3 months'.

When he said to the specialist, "I suppose you will recommend this to all your patients?" The reply was: "I am not allowed to." Of course, so many people make money as a result of the suffering of other people.


Dietary Changes, Supplements
Posted by Ma (Phoenix) on 06/11/2020
★★★★★

This is my experience with the epsom salt flush. A brief health history first:

I suffer from R. Arthritis for about 10 years. The first 9 years I've been able to manage pretty well with exercise strict diet and herbs. The last year, I seemed to have gotten worse to a point that I couldn't get out of bed. Everything I ate caused me severe joint pain that I just would starve myself and sleep all day. I also noticed that I wasn't hungry anymore and lost about 15 lbs in less than 6 months. I'm petite 110lb and went down to 95 lbs where my bones in my shoulders and ribs were showing. I tried my own natural remedies: turmeric, acv, etc. and still severe pain

Finally after 6 months of nothing working, I saw a local ND but she was no help. All she did was suggest detox supplements that she sold and although I had a little bit more energy, my joint pain was unbearable, like 9 to 10 unbearable and barely getting any sleep at night. I spent about $1000 on her and I was still suffering. She also was a devout believer in muscle testing, so she would tell me I couldn't eat this food or that food which left me barely eating and starving myself further.

I tried elimination diet while in her care and I was starving myself figuring out what foods to eat. I think she made me worse. Then I broke down and decided to spend money on a functional practitioner and he ordered a thorough panel of tests: blood, stool, urine, etc. I found out that I was severely deficient in vitamins, iron, calcium, etc. So I had several bacteria in my stool (h.pylori), had methylation, and high ammomia, high cholesterol, etc. So instead of tackling my bacteria issues which were causing me digestive issues, he sold me expensive herbal supplements to focus on reducing inflammation which cost another 200. Then after 2 weeks he started adding b vitamins and vitamin d but no probiotics or anything to focus on my digestion. I drank Ted's antibacterial tea (1 tsp of each: thyme, cumin, oregano, ceylon cinnamon, and 1/2tsp of clove (everything was grounded) and drank that 2 to 3 times a day and that really helped my joint and my digestion but was still feeling nauseous and having very loose stools..

Finally I decided to let him go and found an amazing ND from N. Mexico. I left a message to the front desk about my issues and he told her to call me back told me to take 4 drops of Lugols first thing AM and Afternoon on empty stomach wait an hour and then take enteric probiotic then wait an hour to eat. He said in about 4 days you should start feeling better. In 2 days, I was pain free and was able to eat way better. Not perfect but 80 to 85% improvement. I decided to drive 6 hours to go see him the next week. I told him about my lab test and all my issues. He didn't even look at them. He knew exactly what I needed. I forgot to add that I also have a very painful right shoulder that is frozen. An xray showed demineralization and osteoporosis (he said vitamin c will cure this).

So he gave me this regimen: no gluten or dairy, eat chicken, eggs, legumes, and lots of fruits and veggies, 4000 mg of vit c, a mutivitamin which includes probiotics and digestive enzymes, fulvic and humic acid drink, plant based iron supplement, and said to sit in sun for 30 minutes everyday for vitamin D. He also told me about earthing which I try to do everyday but now I'm looking into making an earthling mat for my bed. He also said, do an epsom salt flush. I waited a few days to do this flush but in the meantime, everything he gave me, my pain went from 9 to 10 to 2 to 4 just in a few days.

So here is my experience with epsom salt flush. It was a horrible experience. It tasted terrible and although I had lots of chaff and green stones, I was nauseous and had diarrhea and pounding headache for a week rendering me not being able to take supplements or eat anything losing 5 lbs and my weight going down to 90lbs.. A few days later, I suffered severe pain heart palpitations that I thought I was having a heart attack that would not stop after a half hour. I almost went to the emergency room but was scared about the covid. I tried everything to calm it down: breathing exercises, meditation, thinking happy thoughts, but my heart kept pumping hard. Finally I decided to take cbd and it helped me fall asleep peacefully with no problems. I woke up in the morning and my heart started pounding again but not as badly as the night before. I decided to do some research on epsom salt and read that it has high magnesium and figured out on my own that you need potassium to balance it. So I ate banana and freshly squeezed pink grapefruit (from my tree) every day and I haven't had any problems with my heart ever again. It's been 2 weeks since I did the flush. I think the reason my body reacted so badly to it is because I was already sick from the h. Pylori and nutritionally deficient, and so underweight that my body couldn't handle that much magnesium. I want to try the flush again bc I think it will help my digestion but I'm doing extensive research before I engage. I also want to gain more weight before I put my body through that again.

Sorry such a long story but I am feeling way better. My body has been through so much for the past year that now I'm just getting my strength back and am slowly introducing my body to different foods, almost like a baby. My pain has subsided to level 1 to 2 maybe 4 on bad days. My right shoulder is better but I found out I pinched a nerve in my neck causing my shoulder pain which I can barely move. I'm just going to start pt and go from there. That Lugol's saved my life and now I can sleep eat and exercise. And what's amazing, it only cost $ 12 for 2 bottles of 2%. I spent over 4k on the the 2 doctors and got nowhere. Shows that even ND's don't know what they're doing. Finding a good one very rare.

Hope my story helps. Stay safe and healthy!


Dietary Changes
Posted by Martha (Florida) on 10/17/2017
★★★★★

I was diagnosed with RA 10 years ago, and the Doctor wanted me to go on a Steroid and a drug that would cause me to have my kidney, liver and bone marrow checked often. SO after much research I found your website, while reading, I discovered that "some" people can come down with an allergy to nightshade vegetables, which mimics RA. So I quit tomatoes, peppers and eggplant immediately, and started ACV and honey mixed with water 3 times a day and after a week all my symptoms disappeared. I now only have to take it occasionally if I eat something with peppers or tomatoes, I never eat eggplant, it's easy to avoid. But I don't see any posts or information about this allergy to nightshades on your site anymore?


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kurt (Seffner, Florida. USA) on 11/15/2008
★★★★★

Hello I was diagnosed with RA when I was about 35 years old. Over the last 11 years I've gone from walking and running to barely walking. A little over a month ago I found this site and decided to try the ACV. Now not being able to exercise I gained about 50 some pounds in 11 years. Since I've started taking ACV I have noticed that the RA has lightened up A little, But to be honest I missed a couple days of taking it, while in the hospital. Now normally, I eat pretty well and have had no problem with that. But when they weighed me at the hospital, I found that in the last month I have lost over 30 pounds without even trying. Now I have tried to loss this weight before on diets with no success. Now I'm just starting to notice that I am losing my appetite. So I'm not eating as much now. What a nice side effect to losing the pain of RA. My doctor has been after to lose weight over the last couple of years. Can't wait to see his face and tell him what I've been doing. I think he's gonna be shocked, I know that I was. Thanks Kurt


Acupuncture
Posted by D. (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) on 10/10/2015

Butterfly in MI - I have experienced the same, but only with one acupuncturist. Pain is definitely NOT a component of acupuncture. Find someone who knows what they are doing, i.e. has more knowledge, sensitivity and experience. Good intentions and a diploma do not a professional healer make.


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Elle (Concord, New Hampshire) on 04/26/2007
★★★★★

I was diagnosed with Rhumathoid Arthritis at 11. At 18 (and it a lot of pain) I was given a book on curing arthritis naturally and set about doing it. One of the main proponents of the book was Apple Cider Vinegar. I took a cocktail of 2 teaspoons ACV, 1 teaspoon honey and 8 oz hot water twice a day. Within 2 or 3 weeks the flareups had ceased. It should be noted I also cut back on red meat and citric acids (they are everywhere!)which I discovered were a major trigger for me. And I took epsom salt baths twice a week. When I went back to my dr and had blood tests done my RA factor was down to a 2. (I have no idea what it was before but I am pretty sure 2 is almost nothing!) That was 25 years ago. I still have RA technically but I rarely have a problem with it. The first inkling I get that its sneaking back up on me I go back to the ACV. I still avoid my trigger food which have come to include, believe it or not, green beans. I believe trigger foods are different for everyone - only you can figure out what they are. I have not been on meds or seen a rhumatologist (sp?) in all that time. Thank god for ACV. Only for it I would be a cripple now instead of living the very full life that I do. I have to say that it makes me so mad that there is a very simple cure for RA and the medical world is not out there shouting about it. So many people suffer needlessly with this disease. If you have RA you owe it to yourself to go out there and find out what works for you. Find your triggers, try ACV, read all you can on natural cures. There is no magic pill - but there is a way and its all in your own hands. Goodluck and Good Health.

Borax
Posted by Veronica (Tilbury, Ontario, Canada) on 09/29/2017
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

My husband and myself have started drinking one 500 ml of borax water a day. My husband uses 1/4 teaspoon mixed into 1 500 ml of bottled water. I take 1/8 teaspoon mixed into 1 500 ml of bottled water and have been doing so for a little over a week and the results already are amazing. We drank this for 5 days in a row and go off 2 days. I suffer from RA (autoimmune disease) OA, fibro and a small list of other ailments. To make a long story short we are both feeling amazing and not only the swelling but the pain has subsiding immensely. We will both continue on this regium for life!


Borax
Posted by Milton (Miami, Florida) on 04/26/2017
★★★★★

I cured my rheumatoid arthritis in 4 weeks with borax. It had no effect for 19 days then on day 20 I could feel it working. I put 1/4 tsp in glass luke warm water and drink it in morning. Borax, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borax is low risk. Lot of people have taken it. Research it. To be on safe side just know what boron overdose symptoms are.


Dietary Changes
Posted by Anne (Laguna Beach, CA) on 09/12/2015
★★★★★

I tried acupuncture two times before my RA diagnosis. I will tell you the best thing that has helped my RA. It is eating a lot of raw vegetables and fruit and make sure to juice 2-3 times a day with fresh vegetable/fruit juice.

I still eat meat and fish, but I eliminated grains, dairy, nightshades, beans and nuts. My labs are much better and my anemia is almost gone. My hemoglobin had been an 8 while on the awful RA medicines. Now my hemoglobin is 11.4, it is almost normal. The RA medicines make me anemic. When I am taken off of them for awhile my anemia goes away.

Eat a vegetable salad for a week with some fish or chicken if in a flare and see if your inflammation comes down, it helped my pain levels come down.The juicing of vegetables and fruit is good because more nutrients get into the bloodstream. Eating 2 apples and 5 carrots would be ac hore, but juicing them insures a lot of vitamins and minerals to heal from RA.

I have healed some frozen joints doing this. I had joints that had no range of motion for over a year and then SLOWLY they became loose and started to move again, it is wonderful to see healing, when it felt like there was little hope.

Dietary Changes
Posted by Glenn (Toronto) on 05/05/2014
★★★★★

Rheumatoid Arthritis

ACV worked for me for about 3 years and gave out. Auto immune diseases are due to bad gut flora which are highly adaptable like superbugs. The answer lies in the diet and not the bandaid solutions listed here to mask pain. For starters cut out white rice and bread and don't take antibiotics, your poisoning is at your grocery and your doctors' offices as revealed by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride who has determined the causes of autism and most chronic diseases are in the gut. This should be front page news and instead I have not seen a complete regimen anywhere to get healthy and had to develop my own. Good luck.


Boron
Posted by Daza (Mackay, Australia) on 01/19/2013
★★★★★

Boron cured my RA. I no longer take any meds and live a fully active life without pain. It has a lower toxicity than Table Salt. The docs don't want you to know this as they will be out of a job. I had severe RA for 5 years. The docs ended up poisoning me with their so called remedy. You can get boron or borax tablets.


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