A clinical trial has discovered that a Chinese herbal medicine plant extract is as effective as a prescribed medication for the short-term treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Extract from the ‘thunder god vine’ (or Tripterygium wilfordi Hook F, TwHF for short) has been used in Chinese herbal medicine to treat inflammatory conditions for many years while conventional western medicine typically uses prescription drugs for treating conditions such as arthritis and bowel disease.

In this trial, the plant extract from TwHF was compared against Sulphasalazine as they both require a multiple daily dosage and both have similar adverse effects (namely gastro-intestinal upset).

Participants in the trial were adults presenting rheumatoid arthritis for at least six months. Treatment was randomised with some patients given a 2mg dose of Sulphasalazine while others were given a 180mg dose of TwHF extract.

The study lasted for four months and patients were allowed to continue using low-dose corticosteroids and Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

At the 24 week period, those patients taking the TwHF plant extract responded significantly better that the Sulphasalazine group and the difference in symptomatic improvement became apparent after just two weeks. Adverse effect rates were similar in both groups with gastro-intestinal symptoms being the most common.

Researchers concluded that TwHF extract can be as effective in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, has a rapid rate of improvement in symptoms and produces statistically better outcomes than Sulphasalazine. However, larger and more long-term studies are warranted and recommended.

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