HEALING FROM THE UNDERGROUND IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: THERMAL SPRING TREATMENT

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic, inflammatory, chronic progressive autoimmune disease that causes pain, swelling, heat increase, and stiffness in the joints due to inflammation in the synovium within the joint. It is one of the most common chronic inflammatory diseases globally. It is reported to affect 0.1–2.0% of the world’s population. The primary goal in treating rheumatoid arthritis is to minimize pain, prevent possible complications, and improve the quality of life for patients. Treatment options include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), glucocorticoids containing steroid hormones, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, biological agents, nanotechnology, oral tolerance, gene therapy, bone marrow transplantation, liposomes, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, and iron nanoparticles. However, pharmacological treatments alone are often insufficient. For this reason, many patients seek non-pharmacological therapies alongside conventional pharmacological treatments. One of these therapies is thermal spring therapy. Treating with thermal waters is considered an ancient medical practice and is regarded as one of the oldest medical interventions. Thermal spring therapy has been used since antiquity, primarily for rheumatic and musculoskeletal system disorders, as well as for the treatment of many diseases. This review provides information about the use of thermal spring therapy, a non-pharmacological method used as an adjunct to pharmacological treatment in the management of rheumatoid arthritis.