Alternative Therapies - Natural Treatments - Home Remedies

How is a nutraceutical different from a dietary supplement? While various products are marketed to treat arthritis -- their classifications can be confusing. "Nutraceutical" became a commonly used marketing term in 1989.

Alternative medicine has gained popularity while others claim it isn't backed by enough scientific research. Our expert Scott J. Zashin, M.D. offers a 5-step plan for counseling a patient about alternative medicine.

Alternative and natural treatments have gained popularity and serve as a complement to traditional therapies. Some treatments get little respect regarding their efficacy, compounded by warnings for potential drug interactions and side effects. How much do you know about alternative and natural treatments?

Why should arthritis patients consider natural therapies and alternative treatments? When is it the right time for an arthritis patient to consider using natural therapies and alternative treatments?

People suffering from the chronic pain, discomfort, and limitations of arthritis can become so distressed they are willing to try any treatment even unproven remedies.

Education and awareness are imperative when considering alternative treatments for arthritis.

A list of claims and marketing ploys which make quack cures easily recognizable.

Canadian study suggests the popular osteoarthritis supplement glucosamine has no long-term benefits.

Natural supplements can strengthen cartilage and joints resulting in improved flexibility, bone strength, and pain relief. Natural dietary supplements have become popular alternative treatments for arthritis and osteoporosis.

Positive attributes are necessary to manage life with chronic arthritis.

Can gin-soaked raisins really help arthritis? It may sound silly the first time you hear it. Eating gin-soaked raisins for arthritis is often touted by its faithful as a natural "cure" or an effective folk remedy for arthritis pain.

Many legitimate Web sites offer customers health products with the benefits of convenience, privacy, and, sometimes, cheaper prices. The Internet has also created a marketplace for unapproved medical products, illegal prescribing, and products marketed with fraudulent health claims. Here's a guide to help protect both your health and your wallet.

Believe it or not, using the lubricant WD-40 for arthritis has become both an unproven and potentially harmful folk remedy for pain relief. Some people swear that the lubricant WD-40 can ease painful joints. But, can the lubricant WD-40 really help arthritis?

Research has confirmed that a fake treatment, made from an inactive substance, can have a "placebo effect". It's not unusual for one-third of patients to feel better in response to treatment with placebo.

A brief explanation and fast facts about the placebo effect.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) is 1 of the 27 institutes and centers that make up the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NCCAM is dedicated to exploring complementary and alternative healing practices in the context of rigorous science.

An independent analysis of 13 brands of the dietary supplement SAM-e yielded surprising results with regard to quality.

Touching gives a person the sense of being cared about and cared for. People with arthritis want to be touched but their pain may make them fear it.

You can help your treatment work. Arthritis can strike at any age. It hurts the joints, where two bones meet. It damages the joints and makes them stiff and painful. Correct treatment can ease the pain and help prevent more damage.

A recently released Evidence Report Summary evaluates the efficacy of the over-the-counter dietary supplement SAM-e compared to traditional prescription drugs for the treatment of depression, osteoarthritis, and some liver conditions.

Nutritional supplements are getting more and more attention. People are searching for information on both MSM (the supplement touted by actor James Coburn) and SAM-e.

During his backstage interview at the Oscars, actor James Coburn reportedly claimed MSM "cured" his rheumatoid arthritis.

A consumer protection group has brought suit against Florsheim, a shoe manufacturer with a 108 year history and excellent reputation, over unsupported health claims made regarding its MagneForce shoe line.

What legally "is and isn't" tax deductible can often be confusing. What is the proper tax treatment of items such as, over-the-counter drugs, dietary supplements, herbal remedies, nicotine patches, contact lens solution, bandages, toothpaste and other medical supplies?

Static magnet therapy is believed to relieve pain by increasing circulation. The effectiveness of arthritis magnet therapy for relieving pain is still in question.

Dietary supplements can include vitamins, minerals, herbals, botanicals, amino acids, and enzymes. With the abundance of conflicting information available about dietary supplements, it is more important than ever to talk with your doctor to help you sort the reliable information from the questionable.

A botanical is a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal or therapeutic properties, flavor, and/or scent. Herbs are a subset of botanicals.

Although dietary supplements are regulated by the FDA as foods, they are regulated differently from other foods and from drugs. Whether a product is classified as a dietary supplement, conventional food, or drug is based on its intended use.

A three-part guide to chiropractors and chiropractic care. Chiropractic is a form of health care that focuses on the relationship between the body's structure, primarily of the spine, and function. Doctors of chiropractic, who are also called chiropractors or chiropractic physicians, use a type of hands-on therapy called manipulation (or...