Can Fish Oil Relieve Arthritis Pain?

Since man has walked the earth, he has complained of stiff, achy joints. It seems that arthritis is just a fact of life for millions of people all around the world. How many of us greet each new day with stiff and painful joints? Too many. Arthritis is so widespread and common that weíve begun to associate it with getting older.

There are over a hundred forms of arthritis. Luckily, there are also plenty of options for treating arthritis symptoms. Prescription drugs and low-impact exercises, such as yoga, are popular therapies. However, those treatments arenít right for everyone. Each patient should work with their doctor to find a regimen that suits their situation.

More and more patients and doctors are seeing the benefits of alternative therapies. Coupled with traditional treatment plans, alternative and natural therapies can be powerful weapons against arthritis pain. One popular remedy is fish oil. Itís lauded for its content of omega-3 fatty acids. These acids have long been thought to promote heart health.

Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA and DHA, are also thought to reduce inflammation in joints. Some consider them to be potent anti-inflammatory that removes the need for conventional drug therapy. But how powerful is fish oil, really? Is it the new cure for arthritis pain, or just a flash in the pan?

Can Fish Oil Relieve Arthritis Pain?

Itís unfortunate that alternative therapies donít have a wealth of studies and evidence to prove their efficacy. Most of the evidence for fish oil is anecdotal. That is, patients and doctors swear that it works for them. But there has also been a group of studies that put fish oil to the test. The results? Fish oilís omega-3 fatty acids do bring relief from the pain and inflammation of arthritis. Further studies will need to be done to determine how much fish oil a patient should consume, and for how long.

Unlike many natural therapies, fish oil has been linked to certain side-effects and drug interactions. It seems to affect the bloodís ability to clot. People who are taking blood thinners or other blood-affecting medications should talk to their doctor about possible drug interactions before adding fish oil to their diet. Also, fish oil can drop blood pressure to dangerously low levels in patients who take blood pressure medicine. To be on the safe side, ask your doctor before you start taking any supplement ñ particularly if youíre taking other medications.

Fish oil is also a tad risky in that it might contain contaminants. You might have heard all the hype about fish containing dangerous levels of mercury. Certain types of fish contain more mercury than others. The fish that contain the most mercury are tuna, swordfish, king mackerel, and shark. Try to limit your consumption of these fish, and look for other types of fish which are considered to be low-mercury. A little research on the Internet or a call to the fishís manufacturer can get you the information you need about mercury levels.

Besides these concerns, fish oil is relatively risk free. If taken in larger than recommended quantities, it might cause minor bloating, gas, or diarrhea.

Is Fish Oil Really Effective in Easing Arthritis Pain?

Doubting Thomases actually have good reason to be cynical, as the effects of fish oils on arthritis patients have never been officially proven. However, many health experts are confident that this remedy will be approved by the health department as a certified treatment option for arthritis.

In fact, several studies are already being conducted to test the medical worth of these oils. So far, there is no word as to the recommended dosage or the length of treatment necessary for fish oils to be an effective cure to most symptoms of arthritis. The official verdict will come out once the health experts are able to draw conclusions from their studies.

In the course of their research though, some potentially dangerous properties of fish oils have been discovered. The most remarkable is that fish oils were found to have blood-thickening properties.

Consuming significant amounts of fish oil can actually make your blood clot much faster than normal. This can be risky especially for arthritis patients who have high blood pressure issues. In addition, consuming fish oils while a patient is also on drugs that affect blood circulation can lead to disastrous results.

Another dangerous property of most fish oils is their extremely high mercury content. Mercury has been established as a poisonous substance when ingested especially in considerable amounts.

Furthermore, mercury should never be consumed by pregnant or lactating women, as well as children. Not all fish oils are abundant in mercury, though. There are several types of fish that are low in mercury but still high in omega-3 fatty acids, and the oils of these fishes will probably be the most effective and safest type.

The benefits of fish oils far outweigh the negative points, so health professionals are hopeful that fish oils will soon be in the market as one of the most promising cures to arthritis.