(August 17, 2009 - Insidermedicine) The herbal remedy Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF), also known as "lei gong teng" or "thunder god vine", may be a potent remedy for rheumatoid arthritis, according to research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Here is some information about rheumatoid arthritis:

•    It is a form of arthritis that causes inflammation in the lining of the joints, leading to pain and damage.

•    It is 2-3 times more common in women than men.

•    There is no cure, but there are treatments like anti-inflammatory drugs.

Researchers randomized over 100 people with rheumatoid arthritis to treatment with TwHF or the anti-inflammatory drug sulfasalazine for 24 weeks. The investigators used standard measurements of joint pain and inflammation to determine how well the treatments worked.

Among those who completed therapy, the improvement rate was 67% in those taking TwHF, compared with only 36% among those taking sulfasalzine. Adverse event rates were similar for both groups.

Today’s research suggests that TwHF may be a potential alternative to standard anti-inflammatory treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.