Fit Or Fat: Nutrition and Exercise

Old Fashioned Treatment Is Good As Gold

Posting Date: 03/28/2005

But the evidence that these medicines can increase the risk of heart attacks or strokes has dampened enthusiasm for them. This has left RA patients looking for alternatives. Some are returning to old-fashioned approaches. One reader shared the following thoughts:

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?I do not understand why you ignore an alternative remedy my rheumatologist uses. I have rheumatoid arthritis, and for nearly twenty years she has been giving me, at five-week intervals, an injection of the gold solution myochrisine. I also take small daily doses of prednisone and methotrexate.

?I have a blood test and urinalysis each time I get a shot. So far, there are no bad effects, and I am quite mobile and pain free. Why do people ignore an old remedy that works so well, apparently just because it?s old??

Gold shots have been available for more than 70 years. Not everyone can tolerate gold because it can cause an itchy rash, mouth ulcers and more seriously, kidney damage. But some patients, like this reader, do surprisingly well. Gold salts are also available in an oral formulation (Ridaura).

Given all the disappointing news about the COX-2 inhibitors, it makes sense for doctors treating RA patients to consider all the options and not just the latest, most heavily advertised products.

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Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist. Teresa Graedon holds a doctorate in medical anthropology and is a nutrition expert. Their syndicated radio show can be heard on public radio. In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of this newspaper or e-mail them via their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.org.