Re: Thunder God vine for RA

[Guest guest]

My acupuncturist says this herb is toxic and she uses something else. I'm

trying to find out what that is! El

_____

From: rheumatic [mailto:rheumatic ] On Behalf

Of Amy

Sent: Friday, March 25, 2011 11:31 AM

rheumatic

Subject: rheumatic Thunder God vine for RA

Hmmm...just read up on Thunder God vine from this website:

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

It states that this herb may suppress the immune system, which is not

desirable with AP. Also says it is hard to find a safe supplier and that

parts of this plant are poisonous. Not sure it is a good one for us. I've

pasted some of the info below. Amy

" What the Science Says

* Laboratory findings suggest that thunder god vine may fight inflammation,

suppress the immune system, and have anti-cancer effects.

* Although early evidence is promising, there have been few high-quality

studies of thunder god vine in people. Results from a large study funded by

the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

(NIAMS), which compared an extract of thunder god vine root with a

conventional medicineMedicine as practiced by holders of M.D. (medical

doctor) or D.O. (doctor of osteopathy) degrees and by their allied health

professionals such as physical therapists, psychologists, and registered

nurses. (sulfasalazine) for rheumatoid arthritis, found that participants'

symptoms (e.g., joint pain and swelling, inflammation) improved more

significantly with thunder god vine than with sulfasalazine.

* A small study on thunder god vine applied to the skin also found benefits

for rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.

* There is not enough scientific evidence to assess thunder god vine's use

for any other health conditions.

Top

Side Effects and Cautions

* Thunder god vine can cause severe side effects and can be poisonous if it

is not carefully extracted from the skinned root. Other parts of the

plant-including the leaves, flowers, and skin of the root-are highly

poisonous and can cause death.

* A number participants in the NIAMS study experienced gastrointestinal

adverse effects such as diarrhea, indigestion, and nausea, as well as upper

respiratory tract infections. (The rate of adverse effects was similar in

both the thunder god vine and sulfasalazine groups.)

* Thunder god vine can also cause hair loss, headache, menstrual changes,

and skin rash.

* There are no consistent, high-quality thunder god vine products being

manufactured in the United States. Preparations of thunder god vine made

outside the United States (for example, in China) can sometimes be obtained,

but it is not possible to verify whether they are safe and effective. "

[Guest guest]

Yea, I also read warning about being toxic....and careful to find the correct

source. I'm emailing this info to lady in town who is acupuncturist, chinese

herbalist, MD and auerved medicine. Just remembered we have an ancient elder

man in town, from China and Chinese doc. So many people here to go to see him

at his home. Very gracious knowledgeable healer....Dr. Wu. I'll give him a

call. sally

rheumatic Thunder God vine for RA

Hmmm...just read up on Thunder God vine from this website:

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

It states that this herb may suppress the immune system, which is not

desirable with AP. Also says it is hard to find a safe supplier and that

parts of this plant are poisonous. Not sure it is a good one for us. I've

pasted some of the info below. Amy

" What the Science Says

* Laboratory findings suggest that thunder god vine may fight inflammation,

suppress the immune system, and have anti-cancer effects.

* Although early evidence is promising, there have been few high-quality

studies of thunder god vine in people. Results from a large study funded by

the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

(NIAMS), which compared an extract of thunder god vine root with a

conventional medicineMedicine as practiced by holders of M.D. (medical

doctor) or D.O. (doctor of osteopathy) degrees and by their allied health

professionals such as physical therapists, psychologists, and registered

nurses. (sulfasalazine) for rheumatoid arthritis, found that participants'

symptoms (e.g., joint pain and swelling, inflammation) improved more

significantly with thunder god vine than with sulfasalazine.

* A small study on thunder god vine applied to the skin also found benefits

for rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.

* There is not enough scientific evidence to assess thunder god vine's use

for any other health conditions.

Top

Side Effects and Cautions

* Thunder god vine can cause severe side effects and can be poisonous if it

is not carefully extracted from the skinned root. Other parts of the

plant-including the leaves, flowers, and skin of the root-are highly

poisonous and can cause death.

* A number participants in the NIAMS study experienced gastrointestinal

adverse effects such as diarrhea, indigestion, and nausea, as well as upper

respiratory tract infections. (The rate of adverse effects was similar in

both the thunder god vine and sulfasalazine groups.)

* Thunder god vine can also cause hair loss, headache, menstrual changes,

and skin rash.

* There are no consistent, high-quality thunder god vine products being

manufactured in the United States. Preparations of thunder god vine made

outside the United States (for example, in China) can sometimes be obtained,

but it is not possible to verify whether they are safe and effective. "

[Guest guest]

Amy,

I was wondering exactly about whether the herb would suppress the immune

system since they compared it to sulfasalazine. Good to research! The

side effects, too, sound like the ones experienced with immune

suppressing drugs. Thanks so much for pointing this out to us.

Take care,

Ute

On 3/25/2011 8:31 AM, Amy wrote:

>

> Hmmm...just read up on Thunder God vine from this website:

>

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

>

> It states that this herb may suppress the immune system, which is not

> desirable with AP. Also says it is hard to find a safe supplier and

> that parts of this plant are poisonous. Not sure it is a good one for

> us. I've pasted some of the info below. Amy

>

> " What the Science Says

>

> * Laboratory findings suggest that thunder god vine may fight

> inflammation, suppress the immune system, and have anti-cancer effects.

> * Although early evidence is promising, there have been few

> high-quality studies of thunder god vine in people. Results from a

> large study funded by the National Institute of Arthritis and

> Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), which compared an extract

> of thunder god vine root with a conventional medicineMedicine as

> practiced by holders of M.D. (medical doctor) or D.O. (doctor of

> osteopathy) degrees and by their allied health professionals such as

> physical therapists, psychologists, and registered nurses.

> (sulfasalazine) for rheumatoid arthritis, found that participants'

> symptoms (e.g., joint pain and swelling, inflammation) improved more

> significantly with thunder god vine than with sulfasalazine.

> * A small study on thunder god vine applied to the skin also found

> benefits for rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.

> * There is not enough scientific evidence to assess thunder god vine's

> use for any other health conditions.

>

> Top

> Side Effects and Cautions

>

> * Thunder god vine can cause severe side effects and can be poisonous

> if it is not carefully extracted from the skinned root. Other parts of

> the plant---including the leaves, flowers, and skin of the root---are

> highly poisonous and can cause death.

> * A number participants in the NIAMS study experienced

> gastrointestinal adverse effects such as diarrhea, indigestion, and

> nausea, as well as upper respiratory tract infections. (The rate of

> adverse effects was similar in both the thunder god vine and

> sulfasalazine groups.)

> * Thunder god vine can also cause hair loss, headache, menstrual

> changes, and skin rash.

> * There are no consistent, high-quality thunder god vine products

> being manufactured in the United States. Preparations of thunder god

> vine made outside the United States (for example, in China) can

> sometimes be obtained, but it is not possible to verify whether they

> are safe and effective. "

>

>