7 Proven Natural Therapies To Treat Osteoarthritis in Ottawa
I imagine you would agree with me when I say:
Choosing natural therapy to treat osteoarthritis can be confusing.
So, today, I am going to show you 7 natural therapies to treat osteoarthritis.
Moreover, all these treatments have been shown through scientific research to help reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis.
Even better!
All approaches are available in Ottawa.
1. Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a form of alternative medicine that stems from Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).
TCM practitioners use needles to stimulate specific points on the body.
Scientific research offers limited but promising evidence that Acupuncture can help arthritis symptoms.
In a small 2017 pilot study published in the Journal of Pain Medicine, researchers concluded that Acupuncture offered in the group setting was effective in reducing pain severity, pain interference, and depression in patients with chronic neck, back, or shoulder pain or osteoarthritis.
In a 2009 randomised study, published in the Journal of Alternative Medicine, researchers found that Acupuncture improves symptoms of chronic shoulder pain diagnosed as osteoarthritis or rotator cuff tendonitis.
Acupuncture is widely available in Ottawa. In general, the best acupuncturists tend to be TCM practitioners.
2. Balneotherapy
Balneotherapy or spa‐therapy is an old and popular therapy.
Balneotherapy entails spending time in an indoor pool filled with mineral water at a temperature of between 31 to 34 degrees Celsius.
Research is limited but offers encouraging evidence that Balneotherapy can help osteoarthritis.
In a study published in 2007, researchers found that Balneotherapy was effective in treating people with knee osteoarthritis.
Balneotherapy is available at Spa Nordik in Chelsea, Quebec which is about 20 minutes north of Ottawa.
3. Chiropractic treatment
Chiropractic treatment is a system of complementary medicine based on the diagnosis and manipulative treatment of misalignments of the joints, especially those of the spinal column, which are held to cause other disorders by affecting the nerves, muscles, and organs.
A small study of 10 people concluded that Chiropractic management of atlantoaxial or upper neck osteoarthritis yielded favourable outcomes.
Chiropractic treatment is widely available in Ottawa. All chiropractors in Ottawa should be a member of the Ontario Chiropractic Association.
4. Homeopathic Treatment
Homeopathic medicine views symptoms of illness as normal responses of the body as it attempts to regain health.
Homeopathy is based on the idea that “like cures like.”
That is, if a substance causes a symptom in a healthy person, giving the person, a tiny amount of the same material, may cure the illness.
A relatively small but high-level scientific study found that homeopathic gel was at least as effective and as well tolerated as the NSAID gel for treating osteoarthritis of the knee.
Homeopathy is widely available in Ottawa. You can find a registered Homeopath by searching on the College of Homeopaths of Ontario website.
5. Massage
Registered Massage Therapy is the rubbing and kneading of muscles and joints of the body with the hands, especially to relieve tension or pain.
A high-level scientific study involving 68 subjects concluded that massage therapy seems to be efficacious in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee.
Registered Massage Therapy is widely available in Ottawa. You can find a registered massage therapist by searching on the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario website.
6. Mud Therapy or Bath
A mud bath is a bath of mud, commonly from areas where hot spring water can combine with volcanic ash.
Mud baths have existed for thousands of years and can be found now in high-end spas in many countries of the world.
A small study from Serbia found that Sulphur baths and mud packs lead to a significant decrease in pain intensity in patients with osteoarthritis.
Several spas in Ottawa offer mud bathing.
7. Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy, also called proliferation therapy, is an injection-based treatment used in chronic musculoskeletal conditions.
It has been categorised as an alternative medicine practice.
A high-level scientific review paper concluded that prolotherapy for knee osteoarthritis might be appropriate for the treatment of symptoms associated with knee osteoarthritis.
Prolotherapy is available at the Ottawa Naturopathic Clinic in downtown Ottawa.
Have I missed anything?
Now I would like to hear from you:
Which therapy from today’s post are you going to try first?
Or maybe I did not mention one of your favourite natural to treat osteoarthritis.
Either way, let me know by leaving a comment below right now.
Disclaimer
This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.