Homeopathy can help with arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, knee arthritis, cervical spondylosis, chronic back pain, and any type of chronic pain and inflammation. Click here to learn more about using homeopathy for fibromyalgia. Our treatments can be used safely along with standard pharmaceutical treatments. Homeopathy is safe, effective, and has no side effects.
For a chronic health condition such as arthritis, self prescribing is not recommended; it is best to consult with a professional classical homeopath.
Scientific Studies Prove that Homeopathy can Effectively Treat All Types of Arthritis & Chronic Pain
In this study, carried out at the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital, 41 people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis were treated with enteric coated aspirin and 54 people suffering from the same condition were treated with individualised homeopathic treatment. The results of the two forms of therapy were compared at the end of the trial and it was found that those on homeopathic treatment did considerably better than those on aspirin. In addition, 16 of the 41 people taking aspirin during the trial experienced side effects while those taking homeopathics experienced no side effects.
46 patients using a number of different homoeopathic medicines, prescribed according to homoeopathic principles, were given this medicine or a placebo with their normal anti-arthritic drug. The trial was carried out blind and significant results were achieved with the homeopathic medicine over the placebo in all areas measured.
Gmnunder R, Kissling R. “The Efficacy of homeopathy in the treatment of chronic low back pain compared to standardized physiotherapy.” Zeitschrift für Orthopädie und ihre Grenzgebiete, 2002 Sep-Oct;140, 5, 503-8.
In this controlled, randomised, prospective study, 43 people suffering from chronic low back pain were treated for two months either by homeopathy or by standardised physiotherapy. Assessment based on the initial and final clinical investigations, an Oswestry questionnaire, and visual analog scale, found that the most successful method of treatment was homeopathy.
Labrecque G., Guilleminot J. “Effect of Bryonia on Experimental Arthritis in Rats.” Berlin Journal of Research in Homoeopathy, 1, 3, 1991, 169, (Congress Report Poster).
In this study, 35 male rats suffering from arthritis were treated with placebo or 4X, 4C or 9C potencies of homeopathic Bryonia for 15 days and assessed at various stages using grip strength body weight as assessment criteria. At the end of the treatment period, all of the Bryonia potencies had improved the condition when compared to placebo, with Bryonia 4C providing the best outcomes.
Maronna U, Weiser M, Klein P. “Comparison of the Efficacy and Tolerance of Zeel comp. and Diclofenac for the Oral Treatment of Gonarthrosis.” Biological Medicine, 2000, 29, 3, 157-158.
Diclofenac, a non-steroidal inflammatory drug, is a commonly prescribed medicine for rheumatic diseases. The effects of this drug were compared to those of Zeel, a homoeopathic complex preparation, with 121 people suffering from gonarthrosis. The trial was designed as a randomised, double-blind, actively controlled parallel study. Assessments for pain, stiffness and functional ability were carried out at 2, 4, 6 and 10 weeks after commencing treatments and by the end of the 10 week period, there were no statistical differences observed in the outcomes of both treatment regimes. The homoeopathic complex product and the drug were equally effective in the management of gonarthrosis.
Mohan GR, et al, “Cervical Spondylosis- a Clinical Study,” British Homoeopathic Journal, July 1996, 85, 131-133.
In this uncontrolled study, 154 people suffering from cervical spondylosis were prescribed either homoeopathic Calcium fluoride, or a remedy selected via repertorisation of their mental and physical general symptoms, and their progress monitored for 1 year. Of those given Calc fluor, clinical improvement was seen in 60% of cases. 48% of those given the remedy arrived at by repertorisation reported clinical improvement.
Shealy CN, Thomlinson PR, Cox RH, Bormeyer V. Osteoarthritis Pain: A Comparison of Homoeopathy and Acetaminophen. American Journal of Pain Management, 8, 3, July 1998, 89-91.
In this trial, 65 sufferers of osteoarthritis (OA) were split into 2 groups, and through a double blinding process were given either a homoeopathic medicine or Acetaminophen, a commonly prescribed drug for pain relief in OA. Researchers found that homoeopathy provided a level of pain relief that was superior to Acetaminophen, and produced no adverse reactions.
In this controlled double-blind trial, 172 people with radiographically confirmed symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee were randomly assigned to receive treatment with either piroxicam gel (a commonly prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory gel) or a gel containing 3 homeopathic ingredients (Symphytum, Rhus tox and Ledum). At the conclusion of the trial it was found that the gel containing the homeopathic ingredients was at least as effective as the piroxicam gel.
Using a double-blind protocol, 204 people suffering from radiologically confirmed and symptomatically active osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to receive either topical arnica or topical ibuprofen to be applied to the area where the condition was active. The success or failure of the treatments was assessed according to functional ability of the affected part and pain intensity in this area after 21 days of continuous treatment. Assessment of the results at the end of this period found that topical arnica was as successful as topical ibuprofen for the management of osteoarthritis.
Wiesenauer M, Gaus W. “Proof of the Effectiveness of a Homeopathic Preparation in Chronic Polyarthritis.” Erzten Akt Rheumatol, 1991, 16, 1-9.
In this randomised, double-blind clinical trial, 111 people being treated by 6 general practitioners for rheumatoid arthritis were given either placebo or a combination of homeopathic Berberis, Bryonia, Ledum, Nux vomica and Ledum. Using pain, stiffness, inflammatory signs, fatigue and a functional index to determine clinical outcomes, at the end of the 12 week treatment period it was found that the homeopathic combination provided superior results to those of placebo.
Mrs KS is an Asian woman, aged 39 when she first consulted me in April 1993. She had been diagnosed as suffering from rheumatoid arthritis about 18 months earlier. She worked in a supermarket, and although she had had some pain and swelling in her knuckle and finger joints for a couple of years before the diagnosis was made, this had never really bothered her until she started to work on checkout. (This was in the days before bar code scanners, so checkout involved a lot of keyboard work!) Within weeks of starting on checkout, she developed severe pain and swelling in many of her finger and knuckle joints. She was taken off checkout, but this lead to only slight improvement. Her GP referred her to the rheumatologist at the local hospital, and the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis was made, confirmed by blood tests. She had had several conventional treatments, which either did not help, or caused side effects.
Her GP was sympathetic and referred her to me at the RLHH. The basic features were typical of rheumatoid arthritis, but on talking to her a number of idiosyncratic characteristics came out. Although the problem had started in the hands, it had since involved a number of other joints, but unusually, the arthritis moved unpredictably from joint to joint. A knee, say, would be painful and swollen for a couple of weeks, then settle down by itself, only to flare up elsewhere. Her arthritis was definitely worse before her monthly period and it became clear she was quite depressed about the situation: she became weepy, on discussing it. But unlike the patient mentioned earlier, was quite willing to talk about her feelings, and seemed to feel better for doing so.
These features gave me a “tripod”, the traditional basis for a sound homeopathic prescription: one typical local, mental and general feature. I prescribed Pulsatilla. I saw her again a couple of months later and was pleased to hear that she was feeling much better in herself, more cheerful, and felt that her joints were better. She had reduced the painkillers (which upset her stomach) and was taking them on an “as required” basis. There have been some ups and downs since, and I have prescribed some other medicines, but always come back to Pulsatilla. The blood tests have steadily improved, and x-rays shown no further deterioration. She still works in the supermarket, but is now a manager. I continue to see her once or twice a year, but she now has virtually no trouble from the arthritis and takes only homeopathic treatment and nutritional supplements for it.
Miss AQ, 73, is a colourful and artistic character: a ballet dancer since her teens, she had risen to prima ballerina in a major company, and later taught ballet for many years. She came to me complaining of pain in various joints, particularly the knees. She had had numerous injuries and strains to her joints, especially feet and knees, during her career. On many occasions she had danced despite injury. She had had several operations on her knee cartilages. On examination, I found her to be extremely supple, able to touch the floor with the palms of her hands with straight legs. She had large nodes on her fingers.
It was clear that she had osteoarthritis relating to overuse and injury. She had been advised to have her knee joints replaced, but was reluctant to do so, because she felt that the previous knee operations had done more harm than good in the long run.
I was interested by her extreme flexibility; it seemed that this was not solely due to her professional training. As a child her mother had taken her to the doctor for “growing pains”, and the doctor said she had sway-back knees, and she had been “double-jointed”, able to bend her thumbs right back to her forearms. On this basis I prescribed Calcarea fluorica, and Symphytum, Rhus tox and Ledum cream to be rubbed into the joints. She came back a couple of months later, saying that the pains in her joints were under good control, the cream gave several hours relief when she needed it. She probably will need to have her knee joints replaced eventually, but for the time being she finds her symptoms quite tolerable.