Treatments for arthritis must show that they work and are safe. The benefits of a treatment in controlling arthritis should be greater than the risk of unwanted or harmful effects on your health. Even an unproven remedy that is harmless can be unsafe if it causes you to stop or slow down treatments that control arthritis. Harmless remedies include treatments that do not help arthritis but are probably safe.
Copper bracelets are one example.
Some unproven remedies may be unsafe or harmful in themselves. Harmful remedies have a direct negative effect on your health. For instance, DMSO can cause skin irritation and diarrhea. Harmless remedies include acupuncture, copper bracelets, mineral springs, spas, many topical creams, gentle vibrators, vinegar and honey. Possibly harmful remedies include DMSO, lasers, large doses of vitamins, snake venom, drugs with hidden or unknown ingredients.