What Works

Willow bark

The University of Maryland’s Complementary Medicine Center states that willow bark is just as effective as aspirin for reducing both pain and inflammation. This could be an effective treatment for Tietze’s syndrome.

Ginger root

According to the University of Maryland, ginger root has been shown to decrease pain in people with arthritis, and is at least as effective as ibuprofen. Considering the lack of side effects of ginger, it seems that ginger root could be a good alternative to treat Tietze’s syndrome. Apparently, drinking the tea is just as good as the supplements, and it can also be rubbed into the affected joint.

Bromelain, rutosid, and trypsin

Bromelain by itself has been shown to reduce inflammation (inflammation being one of the primary problems in Tietze’s syndrome!). Studies have shown that these three supplements–when taken together for arthritis pain–were as effective as NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pills). See this website for more information on the studies, as well as a fairly long list of drug interactions (including antibiotics).

Vitamin E

Some sites recommend vitamin E supplements, but the real answer is you don’t need a supplement: eat a balanced diet with nuts, seeds, vegetable oils, and leafy green vegetables. A couple of trials indicated that vitamin e supplements might increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke, so the best answer if you have Tietze’s syndrome is simply to eat good food and make sure you get enough vitamin E!

What doesn’t work

Glucosamine & chondroitin

Two studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine and Arthritis & Rheumatism revealed that glucosamine alone and chondroitin alone don’t fare any better for pain relief on osteoarthritis of the knee (a condition also affecting the body’s cartilage) than a placebo (a sugar pill). In combination they might work for chronic Tietze’s syndrome pain, but researchers aren’t sure. It didn’t work for me! On the other hand, it hasn’t been shown to cause any harm so it could be worth a try.

Omega-3 fatty acid supplements

Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown in studies to help relieve some symptoms of arthritis, decreasing inflammation in cartilage-containing cells and reducing the activity of enzymes that destroy cells. If it works for arthritis, it will probably work for Tietze’s syndrome. However, the problem with an omega-3 supplement is that omega-3 fatty acids need to far exceed omega-6 fatty acids. This kind of ratio is often seen in Mediterranean diets which are rich in nuts, fruits, vegetables, and red wine.

From The University of Maryland website: “A healthy diet should consist of roughly 2 – 4 times more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids. The typical American diet tends to contain 14 – 25 times more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids, and many researchers believe this imbalance is a significant factor in the rising rate of inflammatory disorders in the United States.” Tietze’s syndrome can certainly be classified as an inflammatory disorder.

In other words, if you eat a typical American diet of meat, processed and fried food, an omega-3 supplement will not help you. The key for a Tietze’s syndrome diet is to eat a balanced healthy diet with better omega-3 to omega-6 ratios. Omega-3 oils can be found in high concentrations in English walnuts, canola oil, soybean oil, flaxseed/linseed oil, and olive oil.

Evening primrose oil

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine states that evening primrose oil might work. However, the studies that have been done have been small, with design flaws, providing varying results. It’s unclear what the future holds for this supplement and Tietze’s syndrome, but for now, I wouldn’t waste my money.

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