![\"Cheap](\"http:\/\/blueheronhealthnews.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Thunder-God-Vine.jpg\")
Arthritis is considered incurable from the Western traditional pharmaceutical point of view. At best, medications can reduce inflammation and pain for a while. And most often it comes at the cost of serious side effects.<\/p>\nArthritis is considered incurable from the Western traditional pharmaceutical point of view. At best, medications can reduce inflammation and pain for a while. And most often it comes at the cost of serious side effects.<\/p>\n
But now, a team of researchers from Peking Union Medical College Hospital have proven that an old, Chinese herb (widely available in health food stores) is more effective than modern medicine.<\/p>\n
In fact, majority of those who took the herb experienced at least 50 percent reduction in inflammation.<\/p>\n
A research conducted by a team from Peking Union Medical College Hospital in China have found promising results with a traditional Chinese herb called Tripterygium wilfordii. The herb is more commonly referred to as \u2018thunder god vine\u2019 and has been used for different medicinal uses for many centuries.<\/p>\n
In a trial, 207 patients were assigned to one of three groups; the first group received 12.5 mg of prescription drug, methotrexate once a week, the second group received 20 mg of the herb extract and the third group received a combination of both. The patients were tracked for a period of 24 weeks. They were then assessed to check if at least 50 percent reduction in pain and swelling of joints was achieved.<\/p>\n
55.1 percent of the patients who took the herb extract and 76.8 percent of those who took a combination of drug and the herb extract showed more than 50% improvement in inflammation. Compare this to only 46.4 percent who got relief from taking only the drug.<\/strong><\/p>\n The side effects related to the herb extract was also found to be minimal. This inexpensive Chinese herb seems like a potential candidate for treating rheumatoid arthritis safely. Many doctors in China actually recommend this herb extract, available as capsules, for patients older than 50 years.<\/p>\n Apart from its effect on arthritis, the herb is also known to cure pancreatic cancer and other autoimmune diseases. It is, however, believed to lower fertility in men.<\/p>\n