Top 10 Alternative Treatments For Rheumatoid Arthritis In Hands

Suffering from a condition like RA can be really frustrating:

• you can’t do things on your own
• pain is sometimes unbearable
• you start losing your independence

But fortunately, there are solutions. 

And today – let’s focus on the best 10 alternative treatments for rheumatoid arthritis in hands.

Note: I’ve tried all of these treatments myself, so they’re based on my personal experience.

My top recommendations are the ones that worked best for me, so make sure you check out the top 3 treatments. 

 

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#10 – Gluten-Free Diet

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Though not all people agree with it, going gluten free can sometimes help.

But only in certain cases.

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1. Why Try It?

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Because it could make your RA easier to treat.

If no medicine can cure the pain from your hands – gluten allergy may be behind.

Some people are allergic to gluten and that’s what increases their arthritis flare-ups:

1. When you have RA, you have chronic inflammation.
2. Most of your joints are constantly swollen.
3. Gluten allergy will intensify that inflammation even more
4. So eating gluten-rich foods will make you feel worse. 

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2. How It Can Help

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It can tell whether your pain is caused by an extra allergy to gluten or not:

1. There’s no blood test that can determine that.
2. So all you can do is to follow a gluten-free diet for a few weeks.
3. If your health improves, it’s surely the allergy behind your pain.
4. Once you solve that allergy, your arthritis will get better.
5. But if you don’t get any improvement, you’re surely not allergic to gluten.
6. In this case – you can move to #8.

Now – going gluten-free can be really hard, especially in the first days.

But at this point, there are lots of products without gluten. So it’s a lot easier than 5 years ago.

Try to go gluten-free for 1 or 2 weeks and see if there’s any improvement. 

If it is – you will see that it was worth the hard work.

 

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#9 – Acupuncture

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I personally don’t consider it a great treatment – but acupuncture might help.

But not everyone – just certain people.

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1. How It Can Help

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If you have no gluten allergy, it’s your RA causing all the pain. 

So you need a practical remedy. That’s why acupuncture might help – at least for a while:

• it involves inserting small needles under your skin.
• that doesn’t sound too soothing
• but in some cases, the pain decreases for a few hours

Now – scientists can’t really tell how acupuncture relieves the pain.

Some believe it increases the level of opioids from your body, which are meant to decrease pain. [1]

But one thing is clear. In some cases, acupuncture can really relieve the pain from RA. In others, it can’t. 

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2. Biggest Downside

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First of all – it doesn’t work for everyone. That’s the #1 downside.

But there’s one more:

1. Acupuncture itself doesn’t treat arthritis at all.
2. In fact, it doesn’t even improve the condition.
3. The only thing it does is masking the pain.
4. Even though that’s a great thing, your arthritis is still progressing.
5. Also – the actual inflammation is still there.

So acupuncture is similar to pain relieving creams.

They can bring relief for a few hours – but they don’t treat the real problem.

So using only acupuncture (no matter how useful it is) – will only worsen your condition.

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3. My Experience

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Personally, I’m not a huge fan of acupuncture:

• I tried it myself and it did help, but only for a while.
• After every session of treatment, my pain would go away for a few hours
• However, it usually came back at night

Considering the sessions were quite expensive – it was pretty useless, if you ask me.

However, there are some people who had better results for a longer period.

For this reason, acupuncture remains a worth trying alternative treatment.

It’s only important to see if it has positive results for you or not.

 

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#8 – Essential Oils

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That’s actually one of the most popular remedies when it comes to arthritis.

Too bad it’s not the most potent one.

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1. How It Can Help

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Just like acupuncture – essential oils offer a temporary relief. However, they do work for real:

• decrease a big per cent of the pain
• start working within minutes
• but unfortunately, the relief only lasts for a while

However, a lot more people prefer essential oils (compared to acupuncture):

1. You can use them at home.
2. There are lots of oils available everywhere.
3. Very low price and expenses.
4. On the other hand, acupuncture can be quite expensive.

So do essential oils really decrease the pain?

Well – some do it better, others do it worse, but overall they do help. It also depends from person to person.

The best essential oil I know is probably CBD – because it’s meant for pain.

It’s made from marijuana – which is also great for relieving pain (not the same part used for drugs).

However – regular oils work just as well. So in case you don’t have any essential oil – use Coconut, Olive or even Castor Oil. 

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2. Biggest Downside

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They simply mask the symptoms – just like acupuncture:

• the inflammation is still there
• pain comes back shortly after
• they don’t treat the cause

So as an alternative treatment, essential oils are great. But as a lone treatment – they’re surely not.

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3. My Experience 

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I tried essential oils myself and I was quite satisfied:

1. They did what they promised – relieving the pain.
2. But this relief only lasted a few hours.
3. So I had to reapply the oils several times a day.

If you count that I had to wait about 30 minutes until they soaked in – I was really losing a lot of time.

Therefore, essential oils are a great alternative treatment – but unfortunately, it’s too short to be any good.

However, I really advise you to try them at least once.

 

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#7 – Omega 3 Fish Oil

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Here’s another really popular remedy for arthritis.

I personally know a lot of people using it – and not just for RA.

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1. How It Can Help

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So what’s so special about fish oil?

Well – it contains probably the highest quantity of Omega 3 acids ever:

• these acids are great for inflammation
• they fight directly against inflammatory molecules
• In this way, they keep the swelling under control
• Additionally, they reduce the pain

Now – the best thing about fish oil is that it works in most cases.

You only have to consume it daily and it will do all the work.

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2. Biggest Downside

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Fish oil can’t decrease the arthritis pain all alone – especially if you have a strong inflammation (like in RA).

However, it can be a long-term help – unlike acupuncture and essential oils.

The best way to get this oil is directly from the source. But unless you live near the sea, you can’t have fish in every meal.

For this reason, most people take Omega 3 Acids as supplements: 

• they’re not as comfortable as eating fish
• but they’re way cheaper

But once again, keep in mind that these pills alone won’t cure you pain.

You also need a stronger treatment (supplements with anti-inflammatory herbs work best).

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3. My Experience

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I didn’t have amazing results with Omega 3 supplements. At least – not as a lone treatment:

• didn’t decrease my RA pain considerably
• I still had stiff joints
• inflammation was still present

Now – this remedy really helps, especially if you have a milder form.

But if your arthritis is more severe (like mine), associating it with stronger supplements should work much better.

Based on my experience, turmeric is the best herb for inflammation and RA (much stronger than fish oil).

So taking them together should be better than taking Omega 3 alone.

 

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#6. Occupational Therapy

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First of all – what is this thing?

Well, it’s some sort of physical therapy done by a specialist in that condition. [2] In this case, it would be arthritis.

Now – occupational therapy is way more specific than regular physical therapy:

• there’s only one person per class
• each therapist only works with one person at a time

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1. How It Can Help

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Physical therapy works great for knee of leg pain.

However – the effects for hand pain aren’t so amazing. On the other hand – occupational therapy works much better even for hands.

Here’s how an occupational therapist can help you:

• teach you have to deal with everyday things that are difficult
• perform physical activities with your hands

Shortly – things that you can practically use. 

You can also use certain joint pain hacks for everyday activities that seem difficult.

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2. Biggest Downside

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As you might expect – occupational therapy is pretty expensive.

The therapist only handles one person alone, so the costs are obviously higher.

However – sometimes you can get discounts for one or several sessions. It depends on your medical insurance company.

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3. My Experience

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I tried occupational therapy as well – but the advice I received wasn’t extremely valuable for me.

I could already do enough everyday stuff myself, so I could manage well enough.

But it’s worth trying in certain cases:

• were diagnosed with RA quite recently
• your condition progressed lately

Otherwise, if you learned to do the basic stuff – I believe it’s not worth the money.

But as an alternative treatment, it’s surely an effective one.

 

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#5 – Yoga

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If you’re a fan of meditation and exercising, yoga can be a great help for your RA.

However – it helps more in terms of relaxing than actually relieving pain.

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1. How It Can Help

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Compared to acupuncture, yoga is a better choice for most people:

• a session is quite affordable for anyone
• you can practice yoga at home, all by yourself
• however, you need a qualified person for acupuncture

And overall, the effect is about the same in both.

Yoga is more of a mental reliever, while acupuncture decreases the pain for a short while (only in some people).

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2. Biggest Downside 

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It’s not a real pain reliever – that’s the #1 problem:

• doesn’t influence your arthritis in any way
• only makes you forget about the pain

Basically – your joints are still swollen and painful. But you simply don’t feel the pain as strong as before – it’s a mental thing.

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3. My Experience

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I did try Yoga myself – but the results weren’t amazing.

My joints didn’t get any better in terms of swelling – nor did my pain go away.

However, I did feel a lot better speaking of energy and general shape.

So I do recommend Yoga – but not as a real treatment. As an activity, it can take your mind off the pain and give you a boost of energy.

 

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#4 – Topical Menthol

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Most pain relieving creams are based on menthol.

So what exactly can this substance do for RA?

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1. How It Can Help

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You can use menthol topically in 2 forms:

• infusion
• paste

Let’s take the first one – because it’s also the easiest.

1. Use some menthol crystals (not mint leaves) – as they’re more powerful
2. Boil them with water.
3. Place your hands above the boiling pot for a few minutes

You’re not really applying the menthol in this way – but the effect is still useful.

You can also make a menthol paste and apply it directly on your hands.

In fact – it works even better because it’s more concentrated. In this case:

1. Add the crystals in a bowl with water.
2. Mix them until you get some kind of sticky paste.
3. You can then apply it on your hands for 15-30 minutes
4. Within 15 minutes, you should experience a fast relief.

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2. Biggest Downside

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As it’s used on the skin – menthol’s effect isn’t a very long one:

• the pain relief only lasts for a while
• doesn’t treat the real cause
• only masks the inflammation

Now – its effect lasts longer than essential oils, that’s a fact. But even so – it’s not the best choice on the long term.

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3. My Experience

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I used menthol quite a few times – but as I said, its effect is just temporary (a few hours at most). [3]

That’s why I don’t really recommend creams/topical remedies for arthritis:

• only hide the pain for a few minutes/hours
• don’t treat the real cause
• might worsen the actual problem on the long term

Sure enough – you can use creams, just make sure you’re also using an internal treatment.

Supplements are my top recommendation, because their effects are on the long term. 

 

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#3 – Proteolytic Enymes

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What exactly are these enzymes?

It’s quite simple – some compounds with several major benefits for pain and arthritis. 

So what do these enzymes have to do with arthritis? How can they affect the pain level?

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1. How They Can Help

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Just like most remedies from this list – proteolytic enzymes are anti-inflammatory:

• fight back inflammatory molecules
• reduce the swelling throughout the body

But here comes the interesting part:

They fight inflammation through several mechanisms. So you’re not counting on them just for one thing.

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2. Where To Find Them

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Fortunately, our pancreas produces a pretty large quantity of proteolytic enzymes. So basically – we get them naturally.

However, most of that quantity is used for digestion. That’s why many people need an extra quantity that fights inflammation:

• Fruits like pineapple or papaya are probably the best sources
• It’s essential to them fresh
• Any cooking procedure will destroy the enzymes

So if I were you, I would definitely give these enzymes a chance.

They can’t make miracles alone, but they can be a great alternative treatment for your hand pain.

 

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#2 – Capsaicin Patches

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You surely know about Cayenne pepper and its benefits in inflammation.

Well, whether you tried it or not – it’s a really powerful remedy in terms of relieving pain. 

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1. How It Can Help

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Cayenne pepper contains capsaicin – the substance that gives its spicy taste.

But it’s actually this compound that produces pain relief:

When you apply it on your skin – it works extremely fast:

1. Your skin starts feeling hot and tingly.
2. That sensation goes away pretty soon.
3. Instead, you start to experience a numbing feeling.

What’s interesting is that capsaicin doesn’t work by numbing the pain.

That’s what makes it different from essential oils (that only mask the pain).

Instead, capsaicin is a real pain reliever. It works by blocking painful sensation in the area where it’s applied. [4]

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2. Biggest Downside

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Since it’s only applied on the skin – the relief won’t last forever.

In fact, capsaicin patches are another temporary remedy.

However – among topical pain relievers, capsaicin is the strongest remedy.

Unfortunately, it’s not advised to take it orally:

• it doesn’t really exist in many supplements
• it can be toxic in high doses

So I really recommend you to try the patches if you like skin-based remedies.

In fact, instead of using essential oils, try the patches instead. You only need to apply them and you’re done – no massage, oily skin or anything.

 

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#1 – Natural Turmeric Extract + Unprocessed Diet

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This is by far the best remedy for RA or chronic inflammation.

Turmeric makes wonders for inflammatory pain. 

Plus – natural diet prevents chronic swelling. So the benefits of this combination are huge.

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1. How It Can Help

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Once turmeric gets inside your body, it makes miracles:

1. Decreases the level inflammatory molecules.
2. Prevents their production.
3. Soothes consequent pain.
4. Improves existing swelling.
5. Decreases joint stiffness.

No matter how many essential oils or capsaicin patches you use – they will never be as effective as turmeric.

However, it’s not that simple. 

Not every kind of turmeric is as effective:

• the extract (curcumin) works best [5]
• however, you should also use it with turmeric powder
• too much curcumin can be dangerous (too concentrated)

Also – it’s important to choose a supplement with bioperine (which increases the absorption of turmeric).

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1. Biggest Downside

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Unfortunately, many turmeric products I tried were scams:

• they contained a low dose
• they had poor quality ingredients 
• or they lacked essential substances

I really advise you to take big care when you’re buying turmeric products. If you need a recommendation, that’s the product I’ve been using for about 2 years.

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3. My Experience

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I personally used this remedy – in fact, I’m already using it.

The reason why it’s #1 on my list is because it was the best natural remedy for my RA. 

It was one of the few things that really worked for me on the long term. And I’ve heard a lot of stories that said the same.

So in my opinion, this treatment is a must:

• choose a potent turmeric supplement
• go for a more natural diet
• give up sugar and other processed/harmful foods 
• try to stay away from alcohol
• drink plenty of water and stay hydrated

Believe me, this recipe is going to decrease your RA pain – but not just from your hands, from your whole body.

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My Final Verdict

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Here are my overall recommendations about RA alternative treatments:

1. Start with a gluten-free diet for a few weeks.
2. In this way, you can find if gluten has any connection with your RA.
3. If it does, try going gluten-free and see if your pain improves.
4. If it doesn’t, try a real remedy.

Now – if you choose mental alternatives like yoga or acupuncture, you shouldn’t expect any real improvement in your condition:

• they don’t improve your pain/problem
• you only start to focus less on the pain
• so you have the feeling it hurts less

However, here’s what I would do if I were you:

I would start directly with a turmeric extract – because there are almost 100% chances to success:

• treats the problem on the inside (both the cause and the pain)
• doesn’t only mask the symptoms
• best choice on the long term

So try to choose wisely because there’s no time to waste.

 

References:

1 – https://www.evidencebasedacupuncture.org/present-research/pain-2/

2 – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupational_therapy

3 – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3362986/

4 – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3169333/

5 – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12676044