Home Remedies for RA?

I currently am not taking anything for my RA. There is no cure and the meds being passed around have worse side effects than the disease itself, so I don't really want to go that route if I can avoid it. So I have been using myself as a guinea pig lately and some remedies have helped for certain probs, but some have not.

Apple Cider Vinegar is great for psoriasis, which is also a form of arthritis. I noticed a few months ago that I was getting bumps and lumps on my scalp that were not itchy, but flakey. I thought it was dandruff, which I have never had. So I bought the usual shampoo for dandruff control. Nope. Didn't work.
I have been prowling google and websites for the past 6 months and finally found a solution for a rinse. This solution also cleans out your insides and is supposed to help RA and I'm not sure which test is working since I've been doing both. What solutions? Nutra Joint..which is made by knox gelatin. A lady that works for RA patients says she drinks it every day and has been diagnosed with RA since she was 16. She is now in her 40's.

With the nutra joint, I have been drinking apple cider vinegar, which is also supposed to help. It DOES work as a great rinse for your scalp. Just use regular dandruff shampoo, then use half water and half ACV in a container to dump on your head as the final rinse. Yes, you will smell like a salad, but one your hair dries, the vinegar smell is not present. And it works. I use it as a wash for any spots that crop up not on my head and it helps.

The apple cider vinegar also is for other uses. I found this website while googling and it is amazing what ACV can do. It helps that it's so cheap, too.
http://lacetoleather.com/wondrugpag3.html

Also, you might want to read up on gluten. Seems gluten is a culprit as well for RA or any arthritis situations.

I think what I like best about the ACV tonic of honey mixed with it then adding it to a large glass of tea is it detoxifies your body. See link above. What it does for joints remains to be seen since I've only been using the tonic for about a week. My wrists don't hurt so much but like I said, I don't know if it's the Nutra Joint or the ACV..or both. So I stopped the ACV 2 days ago and I want to see what happens.

Anyway. Hello. I am new here. Thought I'd pass on my findings since I don't want to take rx meds if I can help it. I live on advil. Good thing I have a high tolerance for pain but i don't know how long I will be able to do it since RA does get worse with time, not better.

Hi Grace- and welcome!

I am also off of all RA meds and have been for the past 5 months.

I have a Dr. appt. next week and not sure what he's going to say about staying off.

It was my understanding that if you have RA- remission or no remission you must stay on DMARDS as a preventative of it coming back with a vengence and slowing any progression of joint erosion.

So I'm kind of aphrehensive about being off the drugs- but I love being off the drugs.

I haven't gotten any worse since I got off- but who knows what may be going on behind the scene.

The only thing I take is 5000 IU of vitamin D and 5000 mcg of Biotin which is a throw back for preventing hair loss while on the MTX- I just kept taking it when I kicked MTX to the curb.

Found this and thought I would share.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gion2olf-gM

I've been doing this since it rared it's ugly head, with Bagbalm as the "lotion". Yes, it works.

Nana-are you on any DMARDS?

Nana- a Disease Modifying Anti Rheumatic drug such as MTX, Plaquenil, etc..?
Did you say you have a lipoma? I had one once and luckily it went away on it's own.

  I have been patiently waiting for  months to see rheumy apt. is sept27   I know thats crazy but where i live theres not much choice.   so i have been doing holistic aproach until then and i feel alot better, I still have constant discomfort but the excrutiating

pain has calmed down.but i take alot of stuff so i cant say what is working the best.  I start mt day with a gluten free cereal and almond  silk. not milk.  then i take cox-2 control muscle comfort by kal and then @ pain rx   a big dose of fish oil. wait a while then a snack take chondroiten ,glucosamine etc..with devils claw. hi dose of vitamin d,  candida clense. anyways im feeling better but pain never completely leaves. but at this point its much more bearable. going to start with the apple cider vinegar. and im looking into bovine ligament injections.

Yep i called and begged them to get me in sooner she "put me on the list" sadly she said people just "no show" or she could get me in sooner. i live 1 1/2 hrs. away from little rock and they are the only place who would take me because i have pitiful insurance.  I just dont know what to think at this point im such a wimp when it comes to meds. i stopped prednisone abruptly after 4 days of 4 tabs in morning  and a tapper down i had seveer cramps and baaad diareah all morning i just couldnt take it. so i dont know how i will do on any of there rheumy drugs. what ive read in these threads has me scared to death.

Hey grace 52, I learned the hard way...lol that u have to use acv with a small glass of water. it gave me the worst heartburn evvver!

if i wanted that screaming burn i would much rather it be from wiskey! lol    oh my gosh i never made that mistake again.

gypsy- ahhhh cozumel for 3 weeks you lucky lucky lady! Enjoy!

I'm glad if I eased your mind a little and made you feel good- nothing makes me feel better than making someone else feel better!