You Are Here >> Miscellaneous >> Herbs & Dietary Supplements >> Thunder God Vine
Thunder God Vine
The herb thunder god vine is a perennial vine native to China, Japan, and Korea. It has been used in China for health purposes for more than 400 years.
Common Names - thunder god vine, lei gong teng
Latin Names - Tripterygium wilfordii
Some Uses of Thunder God Vine Include:
- In traditional Chinese medicine for conditions involving inflammation or overactivity of the immune system.
- Orally, thunder god vine is taken for excessive menstrual periods or autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and Lupus.
- Thunder god vine preparations are also applied to the skin for rheumatoid arthritis.
How Thunder God Vine Is Used
Extracts are prepared from the skinned root of thunder god vine.
What 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 small study funded by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) suggest that an oral extract of the herb may improve rheumatoid arthritis symptoms in some patients. A larger NIAMS-funded study is comparing thunder god vine with a conventional medicine for rheumatoid arthritis.
- 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.
Side Effects and Cautions of Thunder God Vine
- 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.
- The extract of thunder god vine used in the NIAMS study was well tolerated. However, thunder god vine can cause:
- Diarrhea.
- Upset stomach.
- Hair loss.
- Headache.
- Menstrual changes.
- Skin rash.
- Thunder god vine has been found to decrease bone mineral density in women who take the herb for 5 years or longer. This side effect may be of particular concern to women who have osteoporosis or are at risk for the condition.
- Thunder god vine decreases sperm count and so may be associated with male infertility.
- Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.
General Safety Advisory:
Like drugs, herbal or botanical preparations have chemical and biological activity. They may have side effects. They may interact with certain medications. These interactions can cause problems and can even be dangerous. Before taking an herb or a botanical preparation, consult a doctor or other health care provider, especially if you have a disease or medical condition, take any medications, are pregnant or nursing, or are planning to have an operation. Statements made about dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dietary supplements do not require FDA approval to be sold in the United States.
References:
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) - National Institutes of Health (NIH) - October 2007 - nccam.nih.gov/health
This summary is a general overview about the topic discussed and does not include all the facts, or include everything there is to know about any medicine and/or products mentioned. Do not use any medicine and/or products without first talking to your doctor. Possible side effects of medications, other than those listed, may occur. Full Disclaimer & General Safety Advisory