Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is a debilitating, painful autoimmune disease that affects the joints, causing severe pain and discomfort. Patients with RA suffer not only from pain, but stiffness, fatigue, fever, and sleep disorders. According to healthandage.com, RA is a chronic disease that will affect a patient throughout their lifetime, requiring a variety of medicines, physical therapy, and in extreme cases, surgery. While there is no cure, there are several treatment options, including complementary/alternative medicine, commonly called CAM. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, NCCAM, alternative medicines are not considered conventional treatments at this time - that is "medicine as practiced by holders of M.D. (medical doctor) or D.O. (doctor of osteopathy) degrees." This means that alternative options are controversial.

However, some folks have had successes using home remedies. We must stress that alternative treatments and home remedies should not be used as a replacement for conventional medical treatments but rather to supplement that treatment. The NCCAM also stresses that patients should first seek diagnosis by a doctor, and follow up treatment with a rheumatologist. Also worth noting is that few alternative treatments have been proven to be completely effective, though some have shown promise, and more study is required.

So what are alternative treatments? There are a surprising number of alternative options available that might mean the avoidance of invasive surgeries, and they are not all herbal supplements, as you might think. Herbs are one way sufferers go about treating their disease. Some herbs - turmeric, ginger, frankincense - have been used to relieve arthritis symptoms, says Arthritis Treatment and Relief.

However, none of these herbs has been proven to work, and again more research is needed. Another form of treatment applies physical therapy in the form of acupuncture, chiropractics, massage, and balneotherapy, or spa therapy. The theory here is not necessarily to treat the joints themselves, but to provide forms of relief to the symptoms of the arthritis. These must generally be done often to provide substantial relief.

Another popular idea has been the use of yoga and tai chi, as well as forms of meditation, for pain control. Exercise for rheumatoid arthritis suffers may offer some relief. Exercise in small doses can relieve some of the pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Yoga and tai chi may be the answer. They help patients maintain muscle flexibility and increase mobility, stamina, and overall health. Perhaps the most important consideration to take when contemplating complementary or alternative medicines is trying them and deciding what works best for you.