Fish Oil and Relief from Arthritis Pain

For centuries, people all over the world have been plagued by arthritis. To date, over 100 types of arthritis have been identified. Many of them exhibit similar symptoms: stiffness and pain in the joint, inflammation and inability to perform even the most mundane tasks.

There are plenty of treatment options for the different types of arthritis, from prescription drugs to low-impact exercises like yoga and Pilates to herbal supplements to hydrotherapy. For each case of arthritis, a unique combination of treatment options needs to be formulated. Every case of arthritis requires a different combination of treatment methods based on the type of arthritis and the severity of the disease.

Of late, however, many arthritis sufferers are turning to more natural methods of treating arthritis. A large part of this is because the natural methods have fewer side effects and are much cheaper than the conventional treatment methods like prescription drugs. One of the more popular natural arthritis treatments is fish oil, which contains omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids actually have two types: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

According to studies, EPA and DHA are found to be effective in reducing swelling. Because of this, health experts believe omega-3 fatty acids can potentially cure arthritis. But is this natural remedy really effective? Many still remain skeptical about the efficacy of fish oil.

Is Fish Oil Really a Viable Treatment for Arthritis?

The skeptics have good reason to doubt. After all, there has been no scientific study proving that fish oil is effective in helping people who have arthritis. But advocates of fish oil as a natural remedy for arthritis are pretty confident that it will be recognized as a viable treatment option for arthritis. A number of studies are already underway to determine the medical worth of fish oil. Early results are pointing towards fish oil’s omega-3 fatty acids as being able to relieve pain and inflammation caused by arthritis. However, more studies are needed to find out the dosage of fish oil that patients need to take and for how long.

In general, natural remedies do not have adverse side effects. However, some studies have found that fish oil has a few side effects and contraindications. For one, fish oil appears to affect blood clotting. Arthritis sufferers who are taking blood thinning medications should consult with their doctor before adding fish oil to their diet. It has also been found that fish oil can lower blood pressure to alarmingly low levels in arthritis patients who are taking medications for blood pressure. If you are taking such medications, it’s wise to speak with your doctor before taking fish oils.

Furthermore, most fish oils can contain high levels of mercury. Fish such as tuna, king mackerel, swordfish and shark tend to have more mercury content than others. Mercury, when ingested in considerable amounts, is poisonous. In this regard, limit your consumption of fish high in mercury content; go with those that tend to be low in mercury. If you are pregnant or lactating, avoid consuming fish with high mercury levels.

Taking into account all the above mentioned concerns, fish oil is still relatively safe to take. It may cause gas, minor bloating or diarrhea when consumed in larger quantities.

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.

Fish Oil as a Remedy for Arthritis

For hundreds of years, arthritis has been plaguing generations upon generations of people all over the world. More than 100 types of disease have so far been identified and many of these types are manifested by very similar symptoms including joint pain, stiffness, inflammation, and the person’s incapability to perform otherwise simple physical tasks.

Each type of arthritis necessitates a unique combination of treatment methods. So many of these treatment methods have been developed over the years, from the traditional medications and herbal supplements to more modern innovations such as hydrotherapy and Pilates.

In recent years, the general public has shown a lot of interest in the natural options in treating arthritis. This is probably due to the lower risk of side effects and cheaper cost of these natural options. Among the latest trends in natural arthritis treatments is the omega-3 fatty acids found in most fish oils. There are actually two types of omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

These two acids have been the focus of several studies and have been found very effective in bringing down swelling. For this reason, many health experts believe that omega-3 fatty acids have the potential of being one of the best cures for arthritis. However, as with any other new treatment, many people are skeptical as to the efficacy of this new remedy.