Boron?
Has anyone tried using Boron?
It's basically free (250 tablets for £15 from E-Bay). I have been on methotrexate several times and although I claim my PSA has been mild I have been unable to walk and certainly unable to play the guitar.
I then started taking Boron supplement (6mg a day). Two years since my last flare - no methotrexate. I don't even have joint stiffness and this is my worst time of the year.
It's not been a silver bullet - more like a slow PSA poison that after about three months seems to have worked and while you keep taking it, it keeps working.
So again, anyone else tried it? If not and you don't have any reason to not try it, I would.
Hey
, welcome to the community! It's really great to read that you haven't had a flare for 2 years now. I have not tried boron myself - which is surprising given the number of supplements I've tried over the years ! Has your doctor had any thoughts on your results? Do you have psoriasis too, and if so how is that at the moment? It's awesome that you're doing so much better than you were previously at this time of the year.
For anyone interested in learning more about boron, I was able to find this overview from WebMD: https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-894/boron As always, we would encourage anyone looking to start a new supplement (or any treatment) to check in with their doctor prior to doing so.
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences here, beltaininchy! It's always good to hear positive stories. Please do keep us updated on your progress if you can! Wishing you continued relief 😀 -Catherine, Community Moderator
Hi, I've had two different consultants. The first - well we got on very well and had a lengthy argument over placebo effects that she eventually conceded that I didn't believe anything so it was unlikely to be that. The latest was looking up as much as he could on the internet after my last check-up
Yes I started with psoriasis in my late teens, it's varied over the years. Strangely methotrexate had no effect on it at all. Currently I only get it on a very sensitive place that I would prefer if it was anywhere else, and between my ears and scalp. Neither is a very major infestation.Doubt he'll do anything tbh. They are just too busy, and there is no profit making a pill from washing powder!
As for psoriasis. Meh. I've had it nearly forty years now so pretty used to it. It's a lot better than it was when I was younger and I was never anywhere near as bad as others I have met with it. They have my sympathy. Perhaps it does work for it though? As I said, I haven't really had many outbreaks for a few years, certainly my elbows and knees are clear, no body patches, or the annoying one on the bridge of my nose between my eyebrows.
Yes there was a comprehensive study of countries with the levels of naturally appearing boron in foods against incident of RA. Basically, the more boron in the soil, the lower incidence in the population. The problem is that mass agriculture depletes soils of these trace elements, meaning the food has less in it.
http://www.positivehealth.com/article/nutrition/boron-major-cause-and-cure-for-arthritis.
I don't use Borax, I used Boron supplements. I assume they are safe (well 2 years and I haven't showed any ill effects) and it is a naturally occurring chemical.
Now, while I accept that for me it has worked and could purely be luck (I doubt that). If I have a choice between a food supplement that costs pence and has no side effects when in the trace quantities a supplement contains, and taking methotrexate which is so dangerous you have to have monthly blood tests to ensure your liver still works, and has a listed side effect of "sudden death", I think I know which one I prefer to take while it works.
Ah. I hope your consultant does look into it,
. Although I know some are not keen on anything non-pharmaceutical. My old GP was great and always took on board any experiences I'd had with alternative remedies (and he recommended a few too). I haven't tried any since seeing my current rheumatologist though... I thought I had tried them all, until now ! I think I'll ask him about this next time I see him. I was curious about whether the supplement had any impact on your psoriasis because I often struggle to find things that work for both my PsA and psoriasis symptoms. Like you, I have had psoriasis for quite a long time now so I am used to it, but I do like to keep it under control if I can.
I so appreciate you taking the time to share all of this information, and your thoughts and experiences. Until you brought this up I had only heard of the word boron from the periodic table and that was the extent of my knowledge. The food/soil study is particularly interesting! If anyone else mentions it I will definitely direct them towards this thread. Hope you continue to see good results! -Catherine, Community Moderator
Have you had any side effects from it?
No, None at all; not sure that on one pill of a health supplement per day could actually give you side effects. Still 100% PA free another 6 months on.
Inchy
Yes, I have used a boron supplement, and I do think that it helps. At the time I was using Boron, and I used a liquid form, I also tried a vegan diet, and supplemented with some of the mushrooms that are used to treat inflammatory arthritis in China. The combination worked well for me and got me out of a flare up. At that point, I had not been diagnosed, so I just knew the steps I was taking were helpful. Thanks for the reminder, I am dealing with a flare up now, and using methotrexate. I am not tolerating the methotrexate well, and have decided to try a biologic. I had no side effects that were negative from the boron, I will certainly try it again.
What mg of Boron are you taking?
Hi, It has been a while since I took Boron, and I am not at all sure of the dose that I did take. Good luck1
