Natural Support for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Are you or a loved one living with rheumatoid arthritis? If so, you’re not alone, because this chronic condition is estimated to affect 1% of the UK population. And it’s on the rise.

A type of autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis is one example of your body telling you all is not well. Read on to discover more about why this disease develops. You’ll then learn some actionable strategies to reduce your risk and help manage your symptoms.

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

There are over one hundred different conditions coming under the umbrella term of arthritis. These diseases cause pain and discomfort primarily in the joints. Rather than being the result of wear and tear, rheumatoid arthritis occurs because the immune system attacks and damages the joints. 

Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of autoimmune disease. This occurs when the immune system fails to distinguish between something with the potential of causing harm - for example, a bacteria or virus - and an innocuous part of your body. In the case of rheumatoid arthritis, it attacks your joint tissue and the fluids and tissues surrounding your joints. Other examples of autoimmune diseases are type 1 diabetes, coeliac disease, and multiple sclerosis. 

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include pain, swelling, heat and inflammation of the joints. It commonly affects the fingers and toes, ankles, and knees. However, it can affect many joints at the same time. Many sufferers experience episodic flare-ups of symptoms, which tend to be worse in the mornings or after periods of inactivity. Over time, the inflammation can result in joints becoming deformed, with hard nodules forming around the joint.  

What Causes Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Your immune system doesn’t go rogue for no underlying reason. Rheumatoid arthritis is often thought to be connected with an overactive immune system. However, in fact, the immune system becomes less able to tell what is harmful and what isn’t. There are many potential causes for this loss of selectivity. 

• Gut Health

Your gut is where most of your immune systems resides. Crucially, your gut is where immune cells are taught by bacteria in your gut microbiome to distinguish between friend and foe (1). Indeed, dysbiosis of the gut microbiome has been linked in research to rheumatoid arthritis (2).

Furthermore, a healthy gut microbiome has an important role to play in managing inflammation. If unhealthy bacteria flourish, they will tend to encourage chronic inflammation in the body. 

Finally, an unhealthy microbiome can lead to damage to the intestinal lining, meaning it becomes more permeable than it should be. Known as leaky gut, substances that ideally should remain in your gut can then pass through into your bloodstream. These include bacteria, toxins, and incompletely digested molecules of food. These trigger an immune response. Over time, constant stimulation of the immune system may disrupt its function, meaning it loses its selectivity. A leaky gut can lead to food sensitivities, which then go on to trigger an autoimmune reaction like rheumatoid arthritis.

The most effective way to encourage a healthy gut microbiome is by adopting a diet rich in plant fibre. This acts as food for healthy bacteria. On the other hand, sugar and processed foods encourage unhealthy types of gut bacteria to thrive. 

It can be incredibly useful to take a look at the types and ratios of bacteria living in your gut. This can help to establish whether imbalances in the bacteria in your microbiome may be contributing towards your symptoms. A GI Map Test gives you a 360-degree insight into your gut bacteria, intestinal inflammation and any leaky gut. 

Microimmunotherapy (MIT) is a clinically proven, natural therapy helping to gently nudge your immune system back towards a healthy response. MIT uses plant proteins delivered in tiny doses to calm down a hypersensitive immune system. 

• Stress

Stress adversely affects immune function, disrupts digestion and amplifies inflammation. Many people with rheumatoid arthritis notice their condition flares up during or following a stressful period. Stress management is therefore key to managing the disease.  

• Latent Infections

Chronic infections can trigger autoimmune issues. These infections often lie dormant in the body to be sparked off by environmental factors like chronic stress, hormonal fluctuations or nutritional deficiencies. 

• Environmental Toxins

Toxins from pollutants, plastics, industry, chemical household products or moulds can all trigger the immune reactivity underlying an autoimmune disease like rheumatoid arthritis.

• Nutrition

Feasting on foods known to reduce inflammation - namely, a wide range of colourful plant foods - can be helpful in any autoimmune inflammatory condition.

Omega 3 oils are well-known for helping to reduce inflammation and can support healthy immune function (3). 

Finally, ensuring a sufficient intake of vitamin D supports immune health. Research discovered insufficient vitamin D is correlated with rheumatoid arthritis (4).  

An Integrative Approach to Supporting Rheumatoid Arthritis

The beauty of Integrative Medicine is we never offer a one-size fits-all approach. You are unique and therefore your journey back to optimal health will be yours and yours alone. By taking the time to comprehensively evaluate the root causes of your health conditions, we can recommend the optimal route for your particular circumstances. 

A great start for any complex health condition such as rheumatoid arthritis is an Integrative Health Assessment. We can then signpost you to other therapies if they would be beneficial to you. Overall, your journey will aim to support, rather than suppress, your immune system, and therefore alleviate your symptoms naturally. 

Physiokey Scenar Therapy is a revolutionary treatment using electromagnetic impulses to mimic natural nerve signals. These signals trigger your body to release natural pain-relieving substances, while supporting both the immune system and the body’s own rest and repair processes. Therefore, Physiokey stimulates your body’s healing processes at a deep level, taking away the source of the pain rather than simply masking it.

Start your journey to better to better joint health today. 

References

1. Effector–host interactome map links type III secretion systems in healthy gut microbiomes to immune modulation | Nature Microbiology
2. Prevotella copri in individuals at risk for rheumatoid arthritis | Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
3. Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Immune Cells - PubMed
4. Vitamin D and Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases | MDPI