Natural Remedy Therapies for Scleroderma

By Philip Clements, M.D., M.P.H., UCLA School of Medicine, Dept. of Rheumatology (originally published in "Scleroderma Voice," 2002 #2)

Question: How do you feel about natural remedy therapies?

Answer: Actually I feel the same about them as I do any medicine or treatment for which there is incomplete or little scientific information about whether the treatment works.

A number of natural remedies have already been shown scientifically to be of benefit.

For example, omega-3 fatty acids are found in salmon and halibut (and in capsules in the health food stores). There is scientific evidence they can help Raynaud's phenomenon.

Another example is Saint John's Wort, which may have anti-depressant properties.

The Arthritis Foundation has sponsored a book called The Arthritis Foundation's Guide to Alternative Therapies, edited by Judith Horstman, which discusses the scientific evidence for a number of natural remedies.

The panel that reviewed these remedies was open-minded. Even though several of the reviewers were physicians, many were previously on record as feeling that some natural remedies might be effective.

Based on the evidence, the panel gave its opinion on the effectiveness for each of the remedies reviewed. I highly recommend that interested readers obtain and look over a copy of this reference (written in "layspeak") from the Arthritis Foundation.