There are several alternative therapies that are effective for reducing the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)—an autoimmune disease which causes the lining of your joints to become inflamed, red and swollen. This disease affects more than 1.3 million adults every year—and occurs more often in women than in men.

People have found success through acupuncture, chiropractic treatments, herbal medicine and dietary therapies. Some patients have found relief through homeopathy—or giving minute doses of a drug that in massive amounts produces symptoms similar to those of the disease itself. Other patients have tried hydrotherapy—or the treatment of physical problems under the care of a trained therapist by placing all or part of the body in water.

Since RA is an autoimmune disease, stress reduction and relaxation training are essential to calm and balance the immune system and to reduce symptoms.

Detoxification and support of the digestive system are important because poor digestion can lead to a buildup of undigested materials, which leak through the gut and into your bloodstream. And this may be a contributing factor in the development of rheumatoid arthritis.

I recommend detoxification and a cleansing diet which restores colon health, as well as the continuation of a healthy, whole foods diet. Foods rich in essential fatty acids, such as cold water fish, have anti-inflammatory characteristics. There are many possible combinations of herbal medicines you can try to treat RA.

One herbal combination that works for many sufferers is a mixture of tinctures of meadowsweet, willow bark, black cohosh, prickly ash, celery seed, nettle, wild yam and valerian.

There are many anti-rheumatic and anti-inflammatory herbs. In most cases, it is best for treatment to be on an individual basis before trying any herbs on your own. A practitioner trained in herbal medicine can look at your needs and symptoms in order to determine what treatment would be best for you.

Once you have evaluated yourself and your needs, you can decide which of the many alternative methods and treatments will bring you the most relief from your painful RA symptoms.