Fish Oil to Cure Arthritis

by Mabel Dugmore

Arthritis is a condition that seems to have an ancient history. And now, after medical professionals have spent centuries developing newer and better treatments, one arthritis remedy seems to hold certain archaic qualities.

Fish oil is used to treat more than one hundred different types of arthritis. All forms are unique, yet most share similar chronic and painful symptoms. Men, women and children suffer with swelling of the affected areas, morning stiffness, sharp and throbbing pain, localized or widespread pain and a mild to severe loss of mobility.

Just as arthritis can present itself in many different forms, there is also a huge range of treatment options. These vary from conventional drug therapies to alternative methods such as specialized yoga. Every arthritis case is unique and so, not every treatment method will bring the same results all patients.

There has recently been an interesting shift affecting the way that doctors treat patients with arthritis. While natural medicine becomes mainstream, alternative treatment methods are more readily available and accepted. The use of fish oil is one particular trend that is exciting doctors and nutritionists alike.

Fish oil is known to be rich in two types of omega-3 fatty acids: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Both of these omega-3 fatty acids are highly respected and well documented for their abilities to reduce the inflammation associated with arthritis. These strong anti-inflammatory properties make fish oils a natural choice for arthritis sufferers. Of course, patients do have questions. Do fish oils work as arthritis treatments? More importantly, can fish oil actually relieve pain?

Most alternative medicine therapies are relatively new and, as a result, can lack the sufficient medical and scientific research needed to provide definite proof. As such, fish oil has yet to be proven effective in clinical trials. However, early research findings are encouraging.

Recent clinical trials and laboratory studies conclude that fish oil, because of its omega-3 structure, can be helpful in reducing morning muscle stiffness and joint pain that so many arthritis sufferers live with. Researchers have not yet concluded the appropriate dosage required for maximum effectiveness, nor how the fish oil treatment program should last.

Patients should be aware of the potential side effects of taking fish oil for arthritis:

Blood Clotting

In some cases, fish oil has created risks by affecting the blood's clotting abilities. In other words, some patients may find that fish oil affects the time it takes for the blood to clot. In cases where the patient is already taking medication to affect the clotting of blood, this is an important issue to consider.

Lower Blood Pressure

Some patients taking fish oil supplements have found that the treatment may interact with existing blood pressure medications. If you supplement your diet with fish oil while taking high blood pressure medication, it may cause a significant drop in your blood pressure.

Natural Contaminants

Fish oil may naturally contain significant yet potentially dangerous levels of contaminants. Fish contain naturally-occurring mercury, and may be a poor choice for some patients. There are serious risks associated with the consumption of the contaminants found in fish oil, particularly to young children, pregnant women and nursing mothers. Shark, tuna, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish are known to contain the highest levels of mercury.

If you are considering taking fish oil supplements to treat arthritis, but you have concerns about the risks, avoid oils derived from those types of fish that are known to contain high levels of mercury. You'll need to conduct some research, but the results are worth the efforts.

Arthritis patients should be aware of other potential concerns before starting fish oil therapy. Gas and other stomach disturbances can result from taking the supplements, but these are usually relatively minor.

Arthritis is certainly not a new disease. However, new treatment options are promising a new relief for arthritis sufferers. To find out more about fish oil, and other alternative arthritis treatments, speak to a trusted herbalist or your family doctor.

About the Author:

Author Mabel Dugmore is a writer for a variety of Internet magazines, on healthy living and pregnancy topics. Click here for other unique 'fish oil' articles.