Complementary Therapies for Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriatic ArthritisMastering Your PsA Care

8 Complementary Therapies to Try for Psoriatic Arthritis

8 Complementary Therapies to Try for Psoriatic Arthritis
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Updated on July 2, 2025
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When you have psoriatic arthritis, following the treatment plan as prescribed is crucial for slowing the progression of the disease and easing symptoms. Adding complementary therapies to the overall psoriatic arthritis treatment plan can bring even further relief.

Complementary therapies go by many names, such as functional medicine, integrative medicine, and naturopathy. They’re meant to support an overall psoriatic management plan, not to replace conventional treatment.

From herbal supplements to meditation, many complementary therapies are touted for easing 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 it’s safe and provides 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 faculty member in medicine at Harvard Medical School and senior faculty editor for Harvard Health Publishing in Boston.

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. A physical therapist can help you improve mobility, range of motion, and strength without pain.

     They can 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. 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 current treatment guidelines.

     Be sure to tell your massage therapist that you have psoriatic arthritis. If you have any spinal fusion, ask them to be extra cautious around your spine to avoid injury or worsening symptoms. If you also have psoriasis-related skin symptoms, ask the massage therapist 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. 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 you can try to help ease psoriatic arthritis symptoms. One case study found that acupuncture may help increase range of motion and reduce joint swelling and stiffness when used with other complementary therapies.

  6. Anti-inflammatory foods can be beneficial for people with different forms of arthritis, including psoriatic arthritis. Following a Mediterranean-style diet focused on fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids is often recommended.

     Research shows that an anti-inflammatory diet can also help reduce the inflammation associated with psoriasis.

  7. Regular exercise can help reduce inflammation and pain, as well as strengthen the muscles around your joints. Try low-impact activities, such as walking, cycling, swimming, tai chi, or yoga.

  8. Meditation has not been shown to help psoriatic arthritis specifically. That said, meditation, mindfulness, and yoga can help you manage stress, a known psoriatic arthritis trigger.

Complementary Therapies to Avoid

Two complementary therapies that do not have enough evidence to recommend them for psoriatic arthritis relief are:

  1. Supplements: Some dietary supplements have been studied for psoriatic arthritis, but more research is needed before they can be recommended.

  2. CBD: While cannabidiol is a popular complementary therapy for pain, there aren’t enough studies in people with arthritis to confirm whether or not CBD truly helps — and at what dosage.

Before You Get Started

Again, check with your doctor before trying any complementary therapies 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.”

The Takeaway

  • Following the treatment plan prescribed to you is the main way to keep psoriatic arthritis symptoms at bay. But adding certain complementary therapies may help you further manage symptoms.
  • Consider trying approaches such as acupuncture, exercise, and meditation for optimal relief from psoriatic arthritis symptoms.
  • Always discuss complementary therapies with your healthcare team beforehand to ensure they fit safely into the overall treatment plan.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Complementary, Alternative, or Integrative Health: What’s in a Name? National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. April 2021.
  2. Watson S. Treatment Options for Psoriatic Arthritis. Arthritis Foundation. June 17, 2022.
  3. Perrotta FM et al. New Insights in Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation in Psoriatic Arthritis: A Review. Rheumatology and Therapy. June 2021.
  4. Vargo BD. The Benefits of Occupational Therapy. Arthritis Foundation.
  5. Singh JA et al. 2018 American College of Rheumatology/National Psoriasis Foundation Guideline for the Treatment of Psoriatic Arthritis. Arthritis Care & Research. January 2019.
  6. Psoriatic Arthritis Self-Care Tips. Arthritis Foundation.
  7. Martin BR. Treatment of Psoriatic Arthritis With Acupuncture, Turmeric (Curcuma longa), Sarsaparilla (Smilax officinalis) and Vitamin D: A Case Report. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine. September 2020.
  8. Paturel A. The Ultimate Arthritis Diet. Arthritis Foundation.
  9. Katsimbri P et al. The Effect of Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Capacity of Diet on Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Phenotype: Nutrition as Therapeutic Tool? Antioxidants. February 2021.
  10. Living With Psoriatic Arthritis. National Psoriasis Foundation.
  11. Roberts JA et al. Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Psoriatic Arthritis Patients: A Review. Current Rheumatology Reports. September 28, 2020.
  12. CBD for Arthritis Pain: What You Should Know. Arthritis Foundation. July 29, 2024.
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Beth Biggee, MD

Medical Reviewer
Member of American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Beth Biggee, MD, is medical director and an integrative rheumatologist at Rheumission, a virtual integrative rheumatology practice for people residing in California and Pennsylvania. This first-of-its-kind company offers whole person autoimmune care by a team of integrative rheumatologists, lifestyle medicine practitioners, autoimmune dietitians, psychologists, and care coordinators.

Dr. Biggee also works as a healthcare wellness consultant for Synergy Wellness Center in Hudson, Massachusetts. Teamed with Synergy, she provides in-person lifestyle medicine and holistic consults, and contributes to employee workplace wellness programs. She has over 20 years of experience in rheumatology and holds board certifications in rheumatology and integrative and lifestyle medicine. Dr. Biggee brings a human-centered approach to wellness rather than focusing solely on diseases.

Dr. Biggee graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree from Canisius College, and graduated magna cum laude and as valedictorian from SUNY Health Science Center at Syracuse Medical School. She completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at Yale New Haven Hospital, completed her fellowship in rheumatology at Tufts–New England Medical Center, and completed training in integrative rheumatology at the University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine. Following her training, she attained board certification in rheumatology and internal medicine through the American Board of Internal Medicine, attained board certification in integrative medicine through the American Board of Physician Specialties, and attained accreditation as a certified lifestyle medicine physician through the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. She is certified in Helms auricular acupuncture and is currently completing coursework for the Aloha Ayurveda integrative medicine course for physicians.

In prior roles, Dr. Biggee taught as an assistant clinical professor of medicine at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital (an affiliate of Columbia University). She was also clinical associate of medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine and instructed "introduction to clinical medicine" for medical students at Tufts. She was preceptor for the Lawrence General Hospital Family Medicine Residency.

Dr. Biggee has published in Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, Arthritis in Rheumatism, Current Opinions in Rheumatology, Journal for Musculoskeletal Medicine, Medicine and Health Rhode Island, and Field Guide to Internal Medicine.

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Erica Patino

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Erica Patino is a freelance writer and editor, content strategist, and usability specialist who has worked for a variety of online health outlets, including Healthline, Sharecare, and Twill Care. She was previously a senior editor at Everyday Health. She is also the founder and editor-in-chief of Hear 2 Tell, a website that covers advances in hearing loss treatment. Patino lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband and twin sons.
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