Thunder God vine for RA

[Guest guest]

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. "