Rheumatoid arthritis patients who want to manage their pain  could try complementary methods for natural back pain relief.

According to Kate Llewelyn, head of information at Arthritis Care, people are interested in alternative ways to reduce their pain.

"Many people with arthritis find complementary and alternative therapies helpful - although they do not cure arthritis, they may help to ease the symptoms," she noted.

"Complementary therapies are often used alongside conventional treatment; acupuncture, Alexander technique, aromatherapy, chiropractic, homeopathy and hydrotherapy are some of the therapies most popular with people with arthritis."

Ms Llewelyn stressed that while there is little in the way of medical evidence to prove the effectiveness of alternative therapies, those with arthritis need hope that they can relieve the "debilitating pain" of rheumatoid arthritis.

"Some complementary therapies are reputable and required to be regulated, while others make claims without the robust scientific evidence to support them. People should treat any practitioners who advise them to stop conventional treatment with extreme caution," she added.

Her comments followed remarks made by healthcare professionals in the US who claimed acupuncture treatment could help boost fertility in couples who are struggling to fall pregnant.

In an article for HealthDay, Dr Lisa Lilienfield in Virginia's Kaplan Center for Integrative Medicine noted that acupuncture has been practised for 3,000 years.

"It's safe and there are no bad side effects from it. It may not be the only thing that is done in isolation to treat infertility, but it helps get the body primed and maximises the potential effects of fertility treatments," she suggested.

Dr Lilienfield said the improved chances of conception are due to the way acupuncture boosts blood flow to the ovaries and uterus, helping to thicken the lining of the womb in preparation for a fertilised egg.