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Thankfully, there are a number of prescription drugs that do a good job of managing the symptoms of psoriasis arthritis. But even with these medications, you may sometimes find yourself dealing with flare-ups of pain and inflammation. That's where supplemental remedies can come in handy. These remedies are not substitutes for a prescription, but they can help with those lingering symptoms that seem to pop up.

1. Yoga

Going to a yoga class may be the last thing you feel like doing when your joints are stiff, but it's actually really good for healing. It will stretch your joints out so you do not feel so stiff. Yoga will also gently get your blood flowing, which will help ease any inflammation in your joints. Just remember that you do not have to push yourself any harder than is comfortable. Many instructors offer modified versions of the harder moves, and you should take them if you're not feeling your best.

2. Heat Therapy

If you can't muster up the strength to get to yoga class, this one is a little easier. Hold a heat pack against your aching joints for about 20 minutes at a time. Periodically throughout the treatment, take a moment to remove the hot pack and move around a little. The heat will help open up your blood vessels, and the movement will encourage lymph to move back into the blood vessels. All in all, this should help relieve inflammation.

3. Aromatherapy

Psoriatic arthritis is often aggravated by stress. If you are having a flare-up, it could be because you are feeling overly stressed-out, and taking steps to reduce your stress levels could help out an end to the flare-up. Aromatherapy is a simple, non-taxing way to reduce stress levels. Consider diffusing some lavender, chamomile, or vanilla-scented oil. These are all very relaxing scents. You could also take a bath, adding a few drops of any of these oils to the water.

4. Turmeric

Turmeric is a spice that is often used in Indian cooking, but it is also known to have anti-inflammatory properties. In most cases, it should be okay to take alongside your prescription medications — but do check with your doctor to be sure. You can find turmeric capsules at most health food stores. Taking a couple per day can help ease your joint pain during a flare-up and possibly even cut the flare-up short.

For more information about psoriatic arthritis treatments, contact a clinic like Sarasota Arthritis Center.