What is arthritis quackery?
Like many people with chronic ailments, sufferers of chronic arthritis are potentially vulnerable to proponents of heavily marketed "cure-all" treatments. These "quick fix" treatments are promoted as having great benefits, but in reality have no right to such claims.
Quackery (the business of promoting unproven remedies) is recognized as a billion dollar industry. We feel the buyer should beware!
Consumers should be especially cautious when products come with marketing claims such as "will cure," "ancient remedy," "has no side effects," "revolutionary new scientific breakthrough."
What are unproven arthritis remedies?
The following remedies and tests have no scientific proof of benefits related to arthritis:
| Alfalfa | Lapachol |
| Aloe vera | Macrobiotic diet |
| Amino Acids | Ma-huang |
| Ant venom | Mandell arthritis diet |
| Arnica | Megavitamin therapy |
| Ascorbic acid | Natural and organic foods |
| Bark teas | Nightshade vegetables |
| Bee pollen | Ozone |
| Biotin | P vitamins |
| Bowel cleansing | PABA |
| Chinese herbs, such as Chuifong toukuwan (potentially dangerous) | Panax |
| Cinnamon | Pau d'arco |
| Clay enemas | Powdered ant |
| Clemantis | Propolis, royal jelly |
| Cloves | Raw milk |
| Cod Liver oil | Rhus toxicodendron |
| Coenzyme Q-10 | Rose hips |
| Coffee enemas | Rutin |
| Coicis semen | Sassafras |
| Colonics | Selenium |
| Copper bracelets | Shark cartilage |
| Cytotoxic testing | Snake venom |
| Devil's Claw | Soapweed |
| Dismutase (superoxide dismutase) | Spanish bayonet |
| Dong diet | Spanish fly |
| Elimination diets | Stephania |
| Feverfew | Tang-kuei |
| Fit for Life diet | Teas (alfalfa, feverfew, ginseng, sassafras) |
| Fo-ti | Thiamine |
| Garlic | Vegetarian diets |
| Germanium | Volcanic ash fast |
| Ginseng | Water enema |
| Green-lipped mussel | Wood spider |
| Hair analysis | Yucca |
| Homeopathy | Zen macrobiotics |
| Hydrogen peroxide | Zinc |
| Kelp |
[Now you've heard it from Alfalfa to Zinc. Beware when you take care!]
References
Barrett, Stephen. Quackwatch.com. Dec. 5, 2011. <http://www.quackwatch.com/>.
Complete List
Top Quackery Arthritis Related Articles
Arthritis (Joint Inflammation)
Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints. When joints are inflamed they can develop stiffness, warmth, swelling, redness and pain. There are over 100 types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and gout.
Arthritis: 16 Bad Habits That Cause Joint Pain
Being overweight, wearing uncomfortable shoes, or carrying a heavy purse can make joint pain and arthritis symptoms worse. Some bad habits increase inflammation and put you at risk of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Protect joints and muscles and prevent swelling and joint disorders by eliminating these joint problem bad habits.
Arthritis: Causes and Treatment for Joint Stiffness and Pain
Arthritis and injuries can leave your joints swollen, tender, and damaged. Discover treatments for morning stiffness, sore joints, hip pain, and other conditions. Learn when it’s time to call a health care professional, as well as joint-friendly exercises that can bring pain relief and ease of movement for arthritis sufferers and others.
Arthritis: Supplements for Joint Pain
Can supplements help relieve joint pain and swelling? Find out how certain compounds may aid your stiff, tender joints.
Osteoarthritis (OA or Degenerative Arthritis)
Osteoarthritis, or degenerative arthritis, is a type of arthritis caused by inflammation, breakdown, and eventual loss of cartilage in the joints. Osteoarthritis can be caused by aging, heredity, and injury from trauma or disease.
Fun With Kids? Don't Let Arthritis Stop You
You can still have lots of fun with children despite arthritis. Our experts uncover ways to spend time with your kids or grandkids while you're moving by enjoying low-impact exercises to keep your joints flexible and your muscles strong.
What Is an Osteochondral Grafting of Articular Cartilage Injuries?
Osteochondral grafting is a method of treating such conditions of cartilage damage where the underlying bone is exposed. The procedure is typically performed for weight-bearing joints such as the knees, but it may be performed for other joints too. Complications include pain, swelling, bruising, bleeding, infection, an injury to the surrounding nerves and blood vessels, and graft failure.
Prostatitis (Inflammation of the Prostate Gland)
Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland. Signs and symptoms of prostatitis include painful or difficulty urinating; fever; chills; body aches; blood in the urine; pain in the rectum, groin, abdomen, or low back; and painful ejaculation or sexual dysfunction. Causes of prostatitis include STDs, bacteria from urinary tract infections, or E. coli. Treatment for prostatitis depends on if it is a bacterial infection or chronic inflammation of the prostate gland.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints, the tissue around the joints, as well as other organs in the body.
What Is a Metatarsophalangeal Arthrocentesis?
Joint aspiration (arthrocentesis) of the metatarsophalangeal joint (in the foot) is a diagnostic procedure involving the extraction and analysis of the synovial fluid in the joints. It is an important component in diagnosing arthritis and differentiating an inflammatory arthritis from a noninflammatory arthritis. Complications include localized bleeding, pain, and swelling; reaction to local anesthesia, and joint infection (septic arthritis).
What Is the Best Treatment for Arthritis?
Arthritis refers to the inflammation of the joints. It presents as pain and swelling of the joints in the body. Painkillers, along with physical therapy, is usually considered the best treatment for arthritis in the early stages. Natural remedies and medications may also be used to treat arthritis, while surgery for arthritis is an option when a patient can't resume normal activities.
What Is Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA)?
Joint replacement surgery is a safe and effective procedure to relieve pain, correct leg deformity, and help the individual resume normal activities. In this procedure, the diseased or injured knee joint is replaced with artificial material. During total knee replacement, the end of the femur bone is removed and replaced with a metal shell. The end of the tibia (lower leg bone) is also removed and replaced with a channeled plastic piece with a metal stem.Which Foods Make Arthritis Worse?
Foods that may worsen arthritis include processed foods, salt, red meat, and alcohol. Check out the center below for more medical references on arthritis, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.
Why Is Wrist Arthrocentesis Performed?
Wrist arthrocentesis is a procedure to remove or aspirate fluid from the wrist joint through a needle for diagnostic and treatment purposes. Wrist arthrocentesis is performed in patients to reduce pain and swelling from the joint, inject medications at that joint, diagnose conditions related to pain, swelling and infection (septic arthritis, gout, arthritis, etc.), and remove the synovial fluid for diagnostic and treatment purposes.