Conventional treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, although effective for some sufferers, do not impress many others. Painkillers can have nasty side effects, such as giving you an ulcer. Some people do not like the whole medical system, which only treats the condition and not the whole person. You are considered a problem to solve instead of a person who needs help. This is why many people turn to alternative treatments for rheumatoid arthritis.

Acupuncture

One of the oldest and most accepted alternative treatments for rheumatoid arthritis is acupuncture. Sometimes acupressure is used instead, where a practitioner's fingers press firmly down on certain pints of the body. But acupuncture, with the use of inserting very fine sterile needles, seems to still give the most relief to a patient.

There are very few alternative treatments for rheumatoid arthritis that are covered in any way by health insurance companies, but acupuncture often is. You might only be reimbursed for part of your sessions, or only covered for your first few sessions. You need to check with your health insurance to be sure of the details. Acupuncture needs periodic sessions for the rest of your life to get relief.

Nutritional Therapy

The Arthritis Foundation does point out that they do not find any link between diet and Rheumatoid arthritis. However, many arthritis sufferers disagree. Nutritional therapy for rheumatoid arthritis can bring relief or less intense pain to many patients. Also, if you are overweight, then weight loss will definitely ease the strain on your joints.

Food allergies can also aggravate your rheumatoid arthritis pain. A nutritionist will most likely check you for food allergies and then prescribe a diet for you to follow. You also sometimes take vitamins, herbs or nutritional supplements like glucosamine, evening primrose oil or cod liver oil pills.

This is another alternative treatment for rheumatoid arthritis that may or may not be partially covered by your health insurance. Your regular doctor should be able to help you find a nutritionist. Sometimes your health insurance will help reimburse part of your sessions if your regular doctor writes to them proving that all other avenues were taken with no avail. Again, you have to talk with your insurance company for the specifics.

Chiropractic Therapy

Chiropractors are talked about so much in the media and by patients that it can be hard to remember that this is another alternative treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. This therapy is based on manipulating your spine, even through the use of inversion tables that make you hang upside down for a while.