Fish Oil to Cure Arthritis
by Mabel Dugmore
Every day, patients are diagnosed with arthritis, but it is by no means a "new" condition. On the contrary, arthritis has an ancient history. Even still, despite the fact that medical professionals have spent centuries developing newer and better treatments, one arthritis remedy holds almost archaic qualities.
Fish oil is used to treat more than one hundred different types of arthritis. All forms are unique, yet most share similar chronic and painful symptoms. Men, women and children suffer with swelling of the affected areas, morning stiffness, sharp and throbbing pain, localized or widespread pain and a mild to severe loss of mobility.
Just as arthritis can present itself in many different forms, patients can benefit from a wide range of treatment options. Arthritis treatments vary from conventional drug therapies to specialized yoga and other alternative methods. Of course, every arthritis case is unique, so each treatment method may not bring relief to every patient.
There is also an interesting shift underway that is affecting the way that doctors treat patients with arthritis. Natural medicine is becoming mainstream, and alternative treatment options are becoming an acceptable part of arthritis therapies. Fish oil is one of the latest trends that doctors and nutritionists are excited about.
Fish oil is known to be rich in two types of omega-3 fatty acids: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Both of these omega-3 fatty acids are highly respected and well documented for their abilities to reduce the inflammation associated with arthritis. These strong anti-inflammatory properties make fish oils a natural choice for arthritis sufferers. Of course, patients do have questions. Do fish oils work as arthritis treatments? More importantly, can fish oil actually relieve pain?
The problem with most alternative medicine therapies is that they are relatively new, and lack sufficient medical and scientific research needed to provide definite proof. Fish oil is one of these treatments yet to be clinically proven effective. Early research findings, however, are encouraging.
Recent laboratory studies and clinical trials have suggested that because the omega-3 structure of fish oil makes it helpful in reducing the morning muscle stiffness and joint pain suffered by so many arthritis patients. Researchers have not yet determined the appropriate dosage required for maximum effectiveness, or the appropriate durations of fish oil treatment programs.
Patients should be aware of the potential side effects of taking fish oil for arthritis:
Blood Clots
In some cases, fish oil has been shown to increase risks associated with the blood's clotting abilities. In other words, some people may find that fish oil affects the time it takes for the blood to clot. This can be an important issue in cases where the patient is already taking medications that affect the clotting of blood.
Lower Blood Pressure
Fish oil supplements may also interact with blood pressure medications. Supplementing the diet with fish oil while taking high blood pressure medications may cause a significant drop in blood pressure.
Possible Contaminants
Fish oil can pose a danger due to the significant levels of contaminants that may be present. The natural mercury level in fish can cause it to be an unsafe choice for some patients. Consuming fish oils may pose serious risk, particularly to young children and pregnant or nursing women. Fishes that typically contain the highest mercury levels are tuna, swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish and shark.
If you are interested in trying fish oil for arthritis but worried about the risks, search for oils from fishes that tend to be lower in mercury. You'll have to do a bit of digging to find this information, but the results are worth the efforts.
Patients should be aware of other possible concerns before starting fish oil therapy for arthritis. Other side effects associated with taking the supplements, such as gas and other stomach disturbances, are usually relatively minor.
Arthritis is certainly not a new disease. However, new treatment options are promising a new relief for arthritis sufferers. To find out more about fish oil, and other alternative arthritis treatments, speak to a trusted herbalist or your family doctor.
Essayist Mabel Dugmore enjoys writing articles for a variety of Internet sites, on healthy living and pregnancy themes. This article is available as a unique content article with free reprint rights.
Article Source: BestDailyArticles.com
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