Insensitive feet(Rheumatic arthritis)

[mulyo13]

My mother has rheumatic arthritis and feels pain on her feet. Sometimes my mother can't walk because it's very hurt. Someone suggested to my mother to eat java ginger. Now the pain is gone, but the feet become insensitive(can't feel).
Is there other alternative remedies for rheumatic arthritis that will remove the pain on the feet without insensitive side effect?
Does Omega 3 is very important for rheumatic arthritis?
*My mother age 60+

[Tobi]

I know a little about Rheumatoid Arthritis, as my mother suffered from it.
She went down the allopathic route, and received immune suppressant drugs in the form of methotrexate, as RA is classified as an auto-immune disease. Those drugs were prescribed by her doctor. In many ways they helped her, though had damaging effects on her natural immune response, resulting in problems later. But who am I to judge? They got her off her knees on the floor, unable to move or get up!

The Java Ginger (what exactly is that as I have never heard of it as a herb?) -has taken your mother's pain away and that is a blessing. Now I don't know if the loss of sensation and numbness is a side effect of the herb working....or if it is a stage of the RA.
I should think she is glad not to be in pain, so that is an achievement. Pain is one of the worst things.

I don't know for certain of any treatment proven to cure that loss of sensation. It may be nerve related?
The only things I can think of which might relieve symptoms to some extent are massage of the feet and lower legs, exercises for the feet even while sitting, warm and cold alternating poultices, and possibly poultices with Prickly Ash bark, or even Marjoram oil used in a base oil as a massage treatment. Perhaps also acupuncture/acupressure treatments.
There is also a foot-exerciser pad which is electronic, and creates oscillations which massage the feet and stimulate muscles.
Such things may be of some help.

What does her RA Specialist say about her change in symptoms? Maybe you could run these changes by him/her?

[mulyo13]

My mother try herbal because the dependency on medicine. If one day not take the medicine, the pain is back. My mother also check the side effect of the medicine for long term use and it can cause kidney problem. My mother haven't check up again, but my mother experiment her self by mixing java ginger with her medicine(methyl.....). So far, her feet is back to normal and the pain is gone.
I just a bit worry my mother mixing traditional remedies with modern medicine, because as far as I know, usually the effect of traditional remedies contrary with the effect of modern medicine.
Any advice?

[Tobi]

Right, I see. I understand better now what your mother is doing. My feeling is wow! she got rid of her pain!

Is "Java Ginger" basic Ginger Root? Or some other herb?

Okay....prescribed medicines taken alongside herbal treatments can be either :
Supportive...or dangerous.

Some herbal treatments are fine to be taken alongside prescription medicine, and can be used (and often are) as "supportive treatments". It depends, crucially on what herb, with what medicine!

Although I do know something about the uses of herbal medicines, I am not an expert or a qualified professional, and even if I was, it would be against our forum rules for me to advise you on medical treatments on the open forum.

The best advice I can give is PLEASE consult a qualified medical herbalist for direct advice. At the same time it might also be wise to speak to your mother's Consultant/Specialist or doctor in charge of her care. But the perspective from a qualified herbalist will be very helpful.

I am very glad to hear your mother has found a way to combat her pain. I hope that her self treatment will not result in any harmful side effects.

[mulyo13]

Thank you Tobi.
As you know, there's no cure for arthritis. For them(expert or qualified professional) this the way to make money, because the dependency on medicine/traditional medicine. Not all of them is money oriented, but I'll try to persuade my mother to consult to an expert or qualified professional herbalist.

Java ginger is a root of plant like turmeric. I don't know it's turmeric or ginger. My mother said it's more like to turmeric than ginger because her hand become yellow.
My mother's friend who advise my mother to take java ginger have no side effect(insensitive feet). Her feet is back to normal and the pain is almost gone.
My mother tried java ginger for a week and the pain is gone but become insensitive. Mix with her modern medicine, her feet is back to normal and no need to take modern medicine everyday.

My mother's friend only drinks the java ginger water, but my mother drinks and 'eat' the whole java ginger.
Grate the java ginger, than squeeze it to get the water. Than the grated java is dried(under sun or refrigerator) until become dry powder. The dry power is put into capsule and save it in refrigerator. Or eat directly if you can hold the taste.