8 Complementary Therapies for Psoriatic Arthritis

Several options are available for treating psoriatic arthritis, including:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs
• Biologics
• Janus kinase inhibitors
• Corticosteroids
• Topical treatments

These medications are crucial for slowing the progression of psoriatic arthritis and easing its symptoms. Adding complementary therapies to a standard treatment plan can bring further relief.

Complementary therapies go by many names — functional medicine, naturopathy, integrative medicine. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health defines them as “not typically part of conventional medical care.” As such, it’s important to note that complementary therapies are not a substitute for your prescribed psoriatic arthritis treatment. They’re meant to be used as an add-on.

From meditation to herbal supplements, many complementary therapies are touted to help ease psoriatic arthritis symptoms, but not all come with evidence to back up these claims.

Before starting any new complementary therapy, be sure to check with your doctor. “As long as they are safe and providing a clear benefit in pain, stiffness, or other symptoms, complementary therapies are reasonable to try and to continue,” says Robert H. Schmerling, MD, a corresponding member of the faculty at Harvard Medical School in Boston and senior faculty editor at Harvard Health Publications.

Complementary Therapies to Try for Psoriatic Arthritis Relief

Not sure where to begin? The following therapies come with medical evidence of their effectiveness for psoriatic arthritis:

1. Physical therapy can be helpful for psoriatic arthritis, according to the Arthritis Foundation (AF). A physical therapist can help you improve your range of motion, strength, and mobility without pain and also fit you with a hand or wrist splint to support your joints when symptoms flare up.
2. Occupational therapy can help you find ways to make daily activities less painful, the AF adds. An occupational therapist can help you organize your home and work and suggest tools to make tasks easier without taxing your joints.
3. Massage can help reduce the pain and stiffness associated with psoriatic arthritis and promote relaxation, according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). Be sure to tell your massage therapist that you have psoriatic arthritis. If you also have psoriasis-related skin symptoms, ask your masseuse to avoid scented lotions and oils to prevent skin irritation — or bring your own.
4. Hot and cold therapy can be useful when joint pain flares up, says the AF. Taking a warm bath can help soothe achy joints. Applying an ice pack covered in a towel to the affected joints can help reduce swelling. You can even alternate between hot and cold as needed.
5. Acupuncture is another therapy the ACR recommends. Although researchers haven’t confirmed its effectiveness for psoriatic arthritis specifically, a study published in the Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine found that it can help reduce pain in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), another type of inflammatory arthritis.
6. Anti-inflammatory foods can be beneficial for people with different forms of arthritis, including psoriatic, according to the AF. This means eating lots of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids —a Mediterranean-style diet. Following an anti-inflammatory diet can also help reduce the inflammation associated with psoriasis, according to a study published in February 2021 in the journal Antioxidants.
7. Regular exercise can help reduce inflammation and pain, as well as strengthen joints, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation. Try low-impact activities, such as walking, cycling, swimming, yoga, or tai chi.
8. Meditation has not been shown to help psoriatic arthritis specifically, but meditation, mindfulness, and yoga can improve functioning and mental health in people with RA, according to a study published in November 2022 in the Journal of Personalized Medicine.

Complementary Therapies to Avoid

Two complementary therapies are not currently recommended for psoriatic arthritis relief:

• Supplements Although dietary supplements have been studied for psoriatic arthritis, more research is needed before they can be recommended, according to one review.
• CBD While cannabidiol is a popular complementary therapy for pain, there aren’t enough studies of it in people with arthritis to say if it helps and at what dosage, according to the AF.

Before You Get Started

Again, check with your doctor before trying any complementary therapy for psoriatic arthritis — or any health condition. “In general, physical or cognitive interventions such as yoga or meditation are not going to interfere with other therapies,” says Dr. Schmerling. “But for any systemic treatment, including vitamins or supplements, interactions with medical therapy is an important consideration.”