Complementary therapies

Complementary therapy includes treatments and products that are not traditionally used in conventional medicine and treatments. They range from ancient systems of medicine, for example, traditional chinese medicine (TCM) and ayurveda, to treatments such as massage, chiropractic, osteopathy, herbal medicine and aromatherapy.

Complementary therapy emphasises ‘wellness’ that comes from a balance between the body, the mind and the environment. Complementary therapy practitioners aim to restore this balance by treating each person as a unique individual, often recommending lifestyle changes and encouraging a person to take a more active approach to their own health.

Today, the gap between conventional treatment and complementary therapy is blurring. Many complementary treatments are based on anatomy and physiology, while modern treatments use a more holistic approach and have adopted some therapies that originated in complementary therapy.

When you have arthritis, it’s natural to explore different ways to feel better. In addition to your usual treatment plan, you might consider trying complementary therapies or products, such as herbal supplements, massage, acupuncture, or dietary changes.

Before you start anything new, it’s important to check what evidence there is that it might actually help you. Some complementary therapies are beginning to show positive results in scientific studies. Others may sound promising, but we still don’t know whether they’re effective, safe, or just a waste of your time and money.

In some cases, any benefit might be short-term, or come from what’s known as the placebo effect - when you feel better simply because you believe a therapy is helping. That doesn’t mean the experience isn’t real, but it’s worth knowing that longer-term results aren’t always guaranteed. More research is still needed to fully understand how these treatments work over time.

If you're curious about a new therapy, supplement or product, have a kōrero with your GP or healthcare provider. They can help you weigh up the risks, benefits, and costs so you can make informed choices that support your wellbeing.

Good nutrition can be an important factor in maintaining overall health and managing arthritis. A diet low in inflammatory foods and high in omega-3 fats, fruit, and vegetables is recommended. There is some evidence that Mediterranean-style diets can be beneficial for people with inflammatory types of arthritis.

Herbal remedies have been used in many cultures since ancient times. Today about one-quarter of pharmaceutical preparations contain at least one active ingredient extracted from plant sources. Medical herbalists and naturopaths work with herbal remedies using the whole plant.

There is a wide variety of manual therapies, including acupressure, chiropractic, massage and osteopathy. The latest research reviews show that some people with lower back pain can benefit from osteopathy, and massage therapy can be helpful for some people with Fibromyalgia.

Mindfulness meditation is becoming popular with mainstream health practitioners. It involves non-judgmental attention to experiences in the present moment. 

Mindfulness meditation helps to regulate emotions and improves your ability to cope with pain. If you have a history of depression, you may respond better than others to mindfulness meditation.

Relaxation techniques include muscle relaxation, refocusing, breathing control or visual imagery. Relaxation techniques are an important part of yoga and tai chi. 

Progressive muscle relaxation is used to help with muscle tension and cope with pain. While there’s little evidence that it is effective in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, there’s promising evidence to suggest that it may be useful for fibromyalgia and low back pain.

If you decide to try a complementary treatment, the following checklist will help ensure your treatment is reliable and safe:

• Contact the professional association for your chosen therapy and ask for a list of members in your area
• Be very cautious about any practitioner who advises you to abandon your conventional medical treatment
• During the first visit, ask your practitioner about their training, experience and qualifications
• Ask your complementary therapist how this treatment or product works and whether they are safe
• Ask how much the treatment will cost and how long it will take
• Find out if they have indemnity insurance if something goes wrong
• Ask the practitioner about any possible interactions of the product or therapy with your current medical treatment

Remember 

• Take responsibility for your health by being an informed consumer
• Find out and consider what scientific studies have been done on the safety and effectiveness of the complementary therapy that interests you
• Keep in mind that “natural” does not necessarily mean “safe”
• Be aware that some products may interact with medications (prescription or over-the-counter dietary supplements), and some may have side effects on their own
• Always tell your doctor and your complementary medicine practitioner about all the drugs, treatments, and remedies you take

Never stop taking prescribed medication without talking to your GP or specialist.

Complementary therapies 

Complementary therapies information is meant for education – Arthritis NZ Mateponapona Aotearoa does not endorse any products or therapies mentioned in this guide. While we endeavour to keep the information up to date, we make no representations or warranties about the completeness of the information provided.