10 Natural Psoriatic Arthritis Treatments to Ask Your Doctor About

If you have psoriasis, there’s a 30% chance you might also have psoriatic arthritis (PsA). This is a type of autoimmune condition that can cause painful joints — especially in the hands and feet. 

There are medications that help treat PsA. But, some people also like to try natural remedies. So, which natural solutions may be most helpful?

Why try alternative treatments for psoriatic arthritis?

Some people choose to incorporate natural and alternative therapies to their treatment regimen so they can get enhanced relief from their pain. 

The therapies are meant to work alongside — rather than replace — conventional PsA treatments. While medications and traditional therapies can be effective, the alternative treatments may add another layer of pain relief and comfort.

It’s important to check with your healthcare provider before trying any alternative therapies to make sure they do not interfere with your other treatments.

Can you cure psoriatic arthritis naturally?

There is no cure for this autoimmune disease.

In general, most natural treatments do not have a lot of evidence to support their effectiveness against PsA in particular. That said, as long as they do not cause harm, it’s possible that you may respond well to natural treatments.

Natural remedies for psoriatic arthritis

If you are considering natural treatments for PsA, talk with a healthcare provider. They can help you decide which one(s) may be worth trying. Here are 10 possible treatments to consider adding to your regimen.

1. Physical therapy and exercise

Physical therapy and exercise are recommended for people with PsA. This may include stretching, weightlifting, or aerobic exercise. These treatments can help:

• Lessen pain

• Improve function

• Lower disease activity

• Improve quality of life

People with PsA have a higher risk of developing heart disease due to chronic inflammation. Exercise can also help protect heart health. If you have PsA, learn more about the exercises that can help you feel better. 

2. Occupational therapy

An occupational therapist can help you learn to manage your condition in daily life. If pain makes you unable to do certain tasks, a therapist can teach you different ways to perform them.

You can learn:

• How to protect your joints

• What tools you can use to make tasks easier

• How to do tasks differently to lessen pain

• How to use splints or other devices

• How to improve your grip

• How to move and lift to avoid injury

3. CBD products

CBD is a natural extract from cannabis plants. Although CBD comes from the same plant as marijuana, it will not make you feel high. Unlike, THC — the active ingredient in marijuana that does cause the feeling of being high — CBD affects different receptors in the brain and doesn’t have the same effect.

CBD is thought to help lower pain, so researchers were curious if it worked for PsA pain. Overall, the Arthritis Foundation says that there are not enough studies on CBD to know if it is safe or effective for PsA.

In clinical studies, researchers have found that CBD is effective for some people, but doesn’t work for others. Scientists surveyed people with PsA who use CBD and found that over 50% use it for pain relief. However, when they measured pain scores, there was no difference between CBD users and non-users, so it’s difficult to measure effectiveness.

4. Warm bath

There are some studies that show that warm water is helpful for people with arthritis. Specifically, it may help ease stiffness and joint pain.

Aim for bath water between 92 and 100℉ and soak for no more than 20 minutes. Keep in mind, it is best to avoid heat if you are having a PsA flare-up. In that case, cold remedies are better.

5. Energy healing therapy

Energy healing is a natural therapy based on the idea that energy flows in the body and can come out of balance. The purpose for the therapy is to re-balance energy flow. This therapy may include:

• Therapeutic touch

• Magnetic healing

• Reiki

• Crystals

So far, studies show energy healing may help in managing certain conditions. More research is needed to see if this treatment can help PsA.

6. Acupuncture

Acupuncture is the practice of using small needles on the skin to help relieve pain. Some studies do support the use of acupuncture for other types of joint pain, inflammation, and arthritis, so it is a hopeful area of research for PsA.

To date, there are only a few case studies on the use of acupuncture for PsA. While some participants did experience positive benefits, the studies overall are small and not robust enough to make any recommendations.

7. Massage

Massage therapy can help with physical and mental relaxation and may provide short-term relief for certain types of pain and health conditions. But the evidence around its benefits for PsA is lacking. As a result, your provider may recommend massage on a case-by-case basis.

8. Behavioral therapies

Working with a therapist on the mental health aspects of PsA can be helpful. Studies show that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may help provide effective strategies to cope with pain. More specifically, CBT helps you learn better ways of coping with pain from PsA by helping you shift your thinking patterns.

9. Biofeedback

Some CBT therapists may also use biofeedback as a relaxation technique. This method aims to lower muscle tension and pain by retraining your thought process.

It starts with electrodes on your skin that monitor body temperature, muscle tension, and heart rate. As the therapist takes you through certain mental exercises, you can see how your body changes and responds. You can then use the successful mental exercises as part of your treatment plan without needing electrodes.

There are studies that show that biofeedback may be useful for other types of arthritis. More research is needed to see how effective it is for PsA.

10. Quitting smoking

People who smoke are more likely to develop PsAcompared to the general population.With countless studies showing the link between smoking and many health problems, like cancer, it’s best to avoid it altogether.

Other ways to make the most of your psoriatic arthritis treatment

Instead of trying just one treatment, studies show a combination often works best. For example, CBT combined with exercise has better results than either method on its own.

Although there is no diet specifically for PsA, following a healthy diet can help lower inflammation. This means eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, along with whole grains, lean protein, and some healthy fat.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Cara Rosenbloom, RD

Cara Rosenbloom, RD, has been a registered dietitian for 22 years. She began her career working as a dietitian at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).

Edited by:

Samvida Patel, MNSP, INHC

Samvida Patel, MNSP, INHC, is a health editor at GoodRx. She is a nutritionist and integrative nutrition health coach with over 8 years of experience in health communications.

Reviewed by:

Karla Robinson, MD

Karla Robinson, MD, is a medical editor for GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified family physician with almost 20 years of experience in health through varied clinical, administrative, and educational roles.

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