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TwHF

Posted , 4 users are following.

lyy13133
lyy13133

Has anyone tried the Chinese herbal remedy for RA that the BMJ has suggested is no less effective than methotrexate? Just wondered if anyone was thinking of this route for their RA? When I went to my clinic they actually said I shouldn't even look at Chinese remedies. But this one seems to be offering an alternative or add on to methotrexate. Any thoughts? 

0 likes, 28 replies

28 Replies

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  • Xxxxxtttttttttt
    Xxxxxtttttttttt lyy13133

    Posted

    Results published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases revealed the proportion of patients achieving the target of a 50 per cent improvement in the number of tender or swollen joints and other criteria including pain, disability and disease severity was just under 46.5 per cent among those treated with methotrexate alone, compared to 55 per cent of those receiving TwHF.

    Moreover just under 77 per cent of those treated with both reached the treatment goal, suggesting a combination of treatments could yield the best results. However, it was also noted that 24 weeks is too short a time to evaluate disease progression, and that the dose of methotrexate used in the trial was lower than the typical dosage.

    A spokeswoman for Arthritis Research UK commented: "Previous trials of TwHF, also known as thunder god vine, have shown it has some anti-inflammatory properties and immunosuppressive actions, making the compound a potentially useful substance for treating rheumatoid arthritis.

     

    "However, it has well-documented side effects such as stomach pain, diarrhoea, nausea, headaches, skin rash, hair loss, infertility in men and failure to menstruate in women. There are serious safety concerns about this substance and its risks appear to outweigh its benefits."

    i would give it a go personally

    • connie49452
      connie49452 Xxxxxtttttttttt

      Posted

      That's up to you shazzy, but after reading the report you quoted from I'm even more sure that personally I wouldn't. 
    • poemsgalore55
      poemsgalore55 Xxxxxtttttttttt

      Posted

      That confirms it in my mind then, if it can cause women to menstruate, it obviously messes with their hormones. So I for one wouldn't use that because of the risk of a return of my breast cancer as I mentioned above.
    • babycham
      babycham Xxxxxtttttttttt

      Posted

      What are you having a joke, with the last sentence? Thats short term Who knows the long term risks
    • Xxxxxtttttttttt
      Xxxxxtttttttttt babycham

      Posted

      I thought this was supposed to be a support group, not "lets shout everyone down and call people stupid and make them feel unworyy of an opinion"
    • babycham
      babycham

      Posted

      "Risks appear to outweigh the benefits" says it all! that's why I would stick with trained DR's who have our interests at heart. My opinion that's all, no offence to anyone else.
  • CA-Lynn
    CA-Lynn lyy13133

    Posted

    Although not yet available, this appears to be a MUCH better option for everyone:

    "Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have developed antibodies that enable targeted drug delivery to arthritic cartilage, offering relief from rheumatoid arthritis.

    "We believe that our targeted approach may become one of the new ways to treat arthritis patients," said university professor and researcher Dr. Ahuva Nissim in a release. "Targeting of biologic drugs to the inflamed joint will result in high local concentrations and low systemic concentrations, increasing efficacy while minimizing side effects. Additionally, a lower total dose may be effective, thereby reducing the cost of treatment."

    The antibodies can fuse to drugs that suppress or block inflammation so that the therapies do not cause systematic immunosuppression, Queen Mary says. "

    I am posting the link separately. The forum moderator has a tendency to kill any links.

     

    • lyy13133
      lyy13133 CA-Lynn

      Posted

      Brilliant and thanks CA. This sounds a better option than my TwHF. Thing for everyone to do is contact the. Armed person and look for the person on the university website. I certainly will do this tomorrow. On another note, does The Mderator have RA????? This alternative informTion is so important and asking questions is something we MUST do at all times. Can you put the link in separate sections and see whT happens????  It is importNt because we with RA are not just experimental eunuchs. My dad got RA at the age of 31 and ignored a lot of what they said because every time there was a new drug, he was the subject. Gold salt, chloroquine, prednisolone, cortisone etc etc and every time we were told this was going to be the best thing out. So you can see why we should question what is happening. Recently, I had X-rays and asked to se them. I was told no one had ever done that???? What not?? Get all your results and look at them and take them home. If you have to request I writing then do it. We are here to find out the best way forward so if we want to get involved in what is happening research wise, then check it out and request and question. I don't mean to go on, but we have to be pro active.
    • CA-Lynn
      CA-Lynn lyy13133

      Posted

      Absolutely right about being proactive. It's YOUR body and YOU pay the medical field for services, so it's YOUR right to get the best possible treatment. You should ALWAYS get copies of bloodwork results, radiology results, etc. YOU paid for them. And learn how to interpret them. YOU [I mean "you" in general] have a responsibility to understand your disease and how well or poorly you're doing, in addition to all available treatment options. Don't expect a doctor to do this for you. You need a collaborative relationship. Gone are the days when the doctor was God and you did as you were told. Your responsibility as a patient is to be informed.

      As far as links....typically I just instruct the reader to google specific terms and the website URL will pop up. Annoying that the moderators have a thing about links. I notice this applies to any kind of link.

       

    • babycham
      babycham lyy13133

      Posted

      I totally agree about asking & questioning why, after all its our (only)own bodies they are talking about. I also heard that research at Queen Mary University of London it sounds really good to me
  • CA-Lynn
    CA-Lynn lyy13133

    Posted

    Sheeeeeesh, here we go again. Big Brother trying to kill a decent link!
    • Emis_Moderator
      Emis_Moderator CA-Lynn

      Posted

      Hi Lynn,

      Please stop saying we kill links or do not show them or "have a thing about links/any kind of links". This is misinforming other users who may be put off posting useful links. I have said multiple times they are fine as long as they are relevant and go to reputable sites.

      See http://patient.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/398316-adding-links-to-posts

      If you post links out of hours (UK time) then there will be a delay until I can approve them. If we didn't send links for moderation the site would just become full of spam/advertising. I have approved the one above and deleted the other post where you try to explain where it is. Feel free to post the direct links to ARD/BMJ and they will also get approved rather than users trying to find the articles with your google suggestions.

      Regards,

      Alan. 

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