Scientists testing the effectiveness of paracetamol vs a placebo in people with arthritic knees found a 52 per cent rate of success with both treatments.
Similarly, an NSAID cream fared no better than a placebo.
In contrast, 40 rheumatoid-arthritis sufferers were helped by a form of meditation called ‘mindfulness’. As they reduced their stress levels, so did their pain decrease (Ann Rheum Dis, 2004; 63: 923-30; BMJ, 2004; 329: 324-6; MSNBC News, 13 September 2004 [online]).