How would you counsel a patient who is interested in using supplements (such as fish oil or turmeric) as an adjunct to treatment of inflammatory arthritis?

Drs. @Dr. First Last and @Dr. First Last expertly raise the key difficulty rheumatologists face with herbal medications: imparting a healthy respect for the potential risk:benefit (and limited data) about these agents against allowing patients to erroneously characterize their physician as close-min...

First, remember that many patients, especially those interested in “natural approaches" will do this regardless of our disapprobation. I would encourage them to bring in the bottles so that you can review them together. If there is nothing amiss, I see no reason not to take these IN ADDITION TO stan...

What is commonly forgotten in the use of supplements is that they are drugs. For example, turmeric can interact with methotrexate to increase levels and alter intestinal transport. This underscores what Dr. @Dr. First Last noted in his write up. Equally important, we have very little data on the eff...