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 Thunder God Vine May Relieve Arthritis

By Kathleen Hall

<http://www.qualityhealth.com/medical-advisory-board>

With a name like Thunder God Vine, you'd expect this perennial plant to 
deliver extraordinary healing results. Chinese medicine practitioners 
have used Thunder God Vine for hundreds of years to treat inflammation 
and conditions caused by an overactive immune system. Since Rheumatoid 
Arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease, some patients are 
optimistic about the therapeutic potential of this plant.

Thunder God Vine, also known as lei gong teng, is a perennial vine 
native to China, Japan and Korea. Its official botanical name is 
triptergyuim wilfordii. The Thunder God Vine supplement is produced from 
an extract from the skinned root of the plant and alternative health 
practitioners often use it topically to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis. The 
supplement works by inhibiting the production of cytokines--a type of 
protein involved in inflammation--and other intermediaries by blocking 
increased activity of some pro-inflammatory genes.

While there are few clinical studies of the Thunder God Vine, 
researchers have found the supplement beneficial, but noted it was 
associated with severe adverse effects. Results from a small study 
funded by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and 
Skin Diseases (NIAMS) suggest that an oral extract of the herb may 
improve rheumatoid arthritis symptoms in some patients.

The leaves, flowers and skin of the root of the Thunder God Vine are 
poisonous and can be life threatening. Even proper use of the skinned 
root produces severe side effects in some patients, such as diarrhea, 
upset stomach, hair loss, headache, menstrual changes and skin rashes. 
Women who take Thunder God Vine supplements for more than five years 
risk decreased bone mineral density, putting them at risk for fractures 
and osteoporosis. It also reduces men's sperm count. Experts advise 
against using Thunder God Vine while taking immunosuppressive drugs such 
as prednisone.

In August 2009, NIAMS published study results comparing Thunder God Vine 
supplements to sulfasalazine in treating Rheumatoid Arthritis. 
Sulfasalazine is an anti-inflammatory drug. Doctors may prescribe it for 
Rheumatoid Arthritis patients who don't respond to other medications. 
Patients who continued treatment with Thunder God Vine for 24 weeks, and 
who could use stable oral prednisone and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory 
drugs, enjoyed greater benefits than patients who took sulfasalazine.

Given the side effects, many healthcare practitioners hesitate 
recommending or supporting the use of Thunder God Vine supplements to 
relieve the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Most supplements such as 
Thunder God Vine are not regulated and quality may be suspect so use 
caution when purchasing these products. Be sure to tell your physician 
about Thunder God Vine and all supplements you take. They may interact 
with other medications or supplements.

Sources

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/tgvine/

http://www.arthritistoday.org/treatments/supplement-guide/supplements/thunder-god-vine.php

http://sciweb.nybg.org/science2/pdfs/mb/herb%20garden.pdf

http://www.annals.org/cgi/content/full/151/4/229

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=PubMed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=16487688&ordinalpos=3&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum 
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=PubMed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=16487688&ordinalpos=3&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum>http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19687490?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus 
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19687490?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus>

--
EarthNSky Farm  34.498N 85.076W
SISU! (Finnish--There is no single word in English that encompasses
all that sisu means, but it combines the following ideas: guts, pep,
determination, stubbornness, perseverance, hardiness, stamina, go, do,
nerve, spunk, pluck, and grit.  It's like "Just Do It!"&  "Go for It!")