Which of these 4 alternative arthritis remedies actually work?

Is your arthritis pain becoming unbearable? Discover the benefits and drawbacks of four alternative arthritis treatments.

Arthritis, or inflammation of the joints, is a painful condition marked by joint pain, tenderness and difficulty moving.

• Sixteen per cent of Canadians over the age of 15 suffer from this condition.
• Although there is no cure, several alternative arthritis treatments are available to improve an affected individual's quality of life.

Glucosamine sulfate, an amino sugar, is used as a dietary supplement to treat arthritis pain.

• Read your supplement's label carefully: experts caution that while glucosamine sulfate seems as though it may be effective in treating arthritis, glucosamine hydrochloride is not.
• Additionally, neither seems to be effective in the long-term, and some researchers remain skeptical.
• Patients using glucosamine sulfate should take 1,500 milligrams once a day in order to see the best effects.

Side effects

• Don't exceed the recommended dose of glucosamine, because this can cause rashes, diarrhea, headaches and constipation.
• There's also evidence that a sustained high dose of glucosamine over time may affect pancreatic cells, increasing an individual's risk of diabetes.

Chondroitin is a substance related to glucosamine that is also often used to ease arthritis pain.

• It may be used individually, or together with glucosamine.
• Like glucosamine, chondroitin hasn't been conclusively proven to ease pain, although there are studies that show promise.
• Patients should take 800 to 1,200 milligrams of chondroitin daily in order to see positive effects.

Side effects

• Notably, there are virtually no negative side effects of chondroitin supplementation.

Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) where a trained practitioner inserts thin needles shallowly into certain spots on a patient's skin.

• These needles regulate what TCM identifies as chi, the body's vital force.
• While the effectiveness of acupuncture is still in question, its use for relief of arthritis pain is cautiously supported by studies.

Side effects

• Acupuncture generally has few if any side effects when conducted by a trained, licensed practitioner using standard, sterile needles.

Capsaicin is what makes peppers spicy.

• When applied to skin up to four times a day, it can relieve the pain of arthritis and other conditions.
• Researchers aren't sure how it works, although many suspect it blocks nerve channels that relay pain signals.

Side effects

• Capsaicin can irritate the skin or even cause an allergic reaction, so test it on a small area of the skin when using it for the first time, before applying it to larger regions.
• Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after handling capsaicin cream to keep it from accidentally spreading to sensitive mucus membranes.