Thunder God Vine: Can this Botanical Ease the Pain of Arthritis?

Arthritis is a common condition that afflicts people from all backgrounds. Although it is often thought of as an older person's affliction, arthritis can strike even the very young. Most treatment options consist of drug therapies aimed at reducing the symptoms of joint stiffness, pain and swelling. However, many of these drugs can often have undesired side effects. Many arthritis patients often turn to natural herbal supplements and botanical drugs to gain relief from their symptoms. But do these natural alternatives do what they promise? Can you find relief from herbal supplements? Here is a brief overview of what federal studies have discovered about botanicals and herbs and their role in arthritis treatment therapies.

The bad news is that there is not enough sufficient research to conclusively prove the efficacy of many of these herbal supplements and botanical-based drugs. Before you try any herbal supplement, it is important that you discuss its use with your doctor. Many people think that because they are taking an herbal supplement or botanical-based drug therapy, there will be no side effects. The truth is that herbal supplements can be quite powerful and can have strong side effects. Many if not most of all conventional drug therapies are derived from plants and herbs. It is very important that you are familiar with any herbal supplement that you plan to take or already taking. One herb that has shown some promise in helping treat the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis is thunder god vine.

Thunder god vine supplements are derived from a perennial vine that is native to Asia, including areas of China, Korea, and Japan. The root is skinned to make this herbal supplement and has traditionally been used to treat autoimmune illnesses and inflammatory conditions. Research has determined that thunder god vine does indeed contain anti-inflammatory activity, and some immune-boosting activity has also been detected. One clinical trial conducted at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center found that roughly 80 per cent of those patients who were given a high dose of the plant supplement found that their rheumatoid arthritis symptoms improved significantly. However, health researchers warn that this and other studies are too small to prove the true efficacy of this plant-derived supplement.

Moreover, currently there are no quality thunder god vine supplements produced in the United States. Those who aggressively seek out the herb in the United States may be able to find several preparations, most of which have been prepared in China. However, these cannot be guaranteed for their safety or effectiveness. Most experts agree that thunder god vine supplements should be avoided until safer, more reliable formulas are available to consumers in the United States.

Herbal specialists also warn that part of this plant is poisonous, so great care must be taken before ingesting any thunder god vine supplement. Also, the supplement has been linked to the development of another form of arthritis. According to at least one study, thunder god vine has been linked to loss of bone mineral, which may anticipate the development of osteoporosis in some patients.