Reiter's syndrome has many possible symptoms, with arthritis (joint inflammation) being an important one. There is no cure for Reiter's syndrome, but you can control the symptoms.

• Arthritis—includes pain, swelling, stiffness, and redness of joints. Usually occurs on one side of the body and usually involves joints of the spine, pelvis, legs, fingers, toes, wrists, feet, or ankles
• Conjuctivitis (inflammation under eyelids)—usually brief and mild
• Iritis (inflammation of the iris)—affects 5 percent of people with Reiter's and needs immediate medical treatment to avoid eye damage
• Urinary tract infection—burning during urination may or may not occur; may have pus drainage from penis
• Painless, shallow ulcers on the penis
• Pus-filled sores on soles, palms, and penis; mouth sores
• Weight loss, malaise, morning stiffness, fever
• Heart problems (rarely)

Reiter's is a reactive arthritis, which means that another illness triggers it. Scientists do not know what actually causes Reiter's. But they know that the following factors often precede Reiter's.

• HLA-B27 gene—20 percent of people who have this gene get Reiter's; about 80 percent of people with Reiter's have the HLA-B27 gene.
• Bacterial triggers, such as salmonella, shigella, campylobacter
• Sexually transmitted disease triggers, such as chlamydia
• White males ages 20 to 40 are at higher risk.

Tell your health care provider about any intestinal conditions or sexually transmitted diseases you have had recently. You may have a blood test to exclude other diseases and to see if you have the HLA-B27 gene.

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Corticosteroids
• Sulfasalazine—a promising experimental drug for arthritis
• Methotrexate—an experimental drug taken orally or by injection for chronic arthritis; frequent blood and liver tests are needed

Your provider may also prescribe drugs to treat specific symptoms.

Alternative therapies may be effective with fewer side effects than drugs.

• Glucosamine sulfate (500 mg three times a day): stimulates cartilage growth and may be as effective for pain relief as NSAIDs without the side effects.
• Avoid nightshade family (tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, peppers, tobacco); decrease saturated fats and alcohol (which can cause inflammation); increase oily fish, nuts, and flaxseed (which can decrease inflammation); increase fruits and vegetables (flavonoids).
• Vitamin C (1,000 to 3,000 mg a day), vitamin E (400 to 800 IU a day), beta-carotene (25,000 IU per day), selenium (200 mcg a day)
• Essential fatty acids (2 tbsps. oil a day or 1,000 to 1,500 mg twice a day): mix of omega-6 (evening primrose) and omega-3 (flaxseed)
• Minerals: zinc (45 mg a day), copper (1 mg a day), bromelain (500 mg three times a day) to reduce inflammation

Herbs may be used as dried extracts (capsules, powders, teas), glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Unless otherwise indicated, teas should be made with 1 tsp. herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5 to 10 minutes for leaf or flowers, and 10 to 20 minutes for roots. Drink 2 to 4 cups per day.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa), 400 mg three times a day: helps with morning stiffness and joint instability, works well when taken with bromelain

For urethritis: Mix three to four of these herbs in equal amounts and use 1 tsp. of mixture. Drink 1 cup tea three times a day or 30 drops tincture three times a day. Take daily during an acute flare-up and two weeks of the month as a preventative.

• Juniper (Juniperus communis): a diuretic, for inflammatory conditions of the urinary tract; avoid if you have kidney disease.
• Uva ursi (Arctostaphylos uva ursi): used as an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory for lower urinary tract; for acute cases of Reiter's only
• Horsetail (Equisetum arvense): soothing diuretic
• Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra): soothing, anti-inflammatory; do not take if you have high blood pressure.
• Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria): anti-inflammatory

For iritis:

• Horsetail, licorice, meadowsweet (see dosage directions above)
• Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis) and bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) have been historically used for inflammation of the eyes. Drink 30 to 60 drops tincture three times a day, or 1 cup tea three times per day, or use tea to make compresses for acute relief: soak a cotton ball or cloth in a cooled tea and place over the eyes.

As with other forms of arthritis, acupuncture may be effective at stimulating the immune system and reducing inflammation.

The initial attack usually lasts three to six months. Most people maintain near-normal lifestyles with physical and occupational adjustments.

Bartram T. Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine. Dorset, England: Grace Publishers; 1995:368-369.

Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C, et al., eds. PDR for Herbal Medicines. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company; 1998.

Koopman WJ, ed. Arthritis and Allied Conditions. 13th ed. Baltimore, Md: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins; 1996.

Murray MT, Pizzorno JE. Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. 2nd ed. Rocklin, Calif: Prima Publishing; 1998.

Weiss RF. Herbal Medicines. Beaconsfield, England: Beaconsfield Publishers; 1998:339.