An official website of the United States governmentThunder God Vine
Common Names: thunder god vine, lei gong teng
Latin Names: Tripterygium wilfordii
Background
- Thunder god vine is a perennial commonly grown in southeast China. It has reportedly been used for hundreds of years in traditional Chinese medicine.
- Currently, thunder god vine is promoted for use orally (by mouth) for rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, lupus, psoriasis, fever, and other conditions. It is also promoted for use topically (applied to the skin) for rheumatoid arthritis.
- The leaves and roots of thunder god vine are used.
How Much Do We Know?
- Studies have looked at the effectiveness and safety of oral thunder god vine for rheumatoid arthritis, some kidney disorders, psoriasis, and Crohn’s disease. A small number of studies have looked at the topical use of thunder god vine for rheumatoid arthritis. Little reliable research has been done on oral or topical use of thunder god vine for other health conditions.
What Have We Learned?
- Preliminary research suggests that oral or topical thunder god vine might be beneficial for rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. Some studies have suggested that thunder god vine plus standard medical treatment may be more effective than standard treatment alone for symptoms such as joint swelling and tenderness. Other studies have suggested that thunder god vine on its own may be at least as effective as standard medical treatments in reducing joint swelling and tenderness.
- A small amount of preliminary research suggests that thunder god vine might be helpful for Crohn’s disease, some kidney disorders, and psoriasis, but there are no definite conclusions.
- There is not enough evidence to show whether thunder god vine is helpful for other health conditions.
What Do We Know About Safety?
- Thunder god vine may have side effects, including digestive problems, abnormal heart rates, high blood pressure, less blood cell production, kidney problems, decreased bone mineral content (with long-term use), infertility, menstrual cycle changes, rashes, diarrhea, headache, and hair loss. Because some of these side effects are serious, the risks of using thunder god vine may be greater than its benefits.
- Thunder god vine can be extremely poisonous if the extract is not prepared properly.
- Thunder god vine should not be used during pregnancy because it may cause birth defects. Little is known about whether it’s safe to use thunder god vine while breastfeeding.
Keep in Mind
- Thunder god vine should not be used to replace conventional medical care. Conventional medical treatment for rheumatoid arthritis can delay or prevent joint damage—it doesn’t just treat symptoms. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, follow your health care provider’s instructions on how to treat your condition.
- Take charge of your health—talk with your health care providers about any complementary health approaches you use. Together, you can make shared, well-informed decisions.
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Key References
- Brown AC. Heart toxicity related to herbs and dietary supplements: online table of case reports. Part 4 of 5. Journal of Dietary Supplements. 2018;15(4):516-555.
- Brown AC. Kidney toxicity related to herbs and dietary supplements: online table of case reports. Part 3 of 5 series. Food and Chemical Toxicology. 2017;107(Pt A):502-519.
- Lv M, Deng J, Tang N, et al. Efficacy and safety of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F on psoriasis vulgaris: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2018;2018:2623085.
- Macfarlane GJ, El-Metwally A, De Silva V, et al. Evidence for the efficacy of complementary and alternative medicines in the management of rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review. Rheumatology. 2011;50(9):1672-1683.
- Thunder god vine. Natural Medicines website. Accessed at naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com on May 1, 2020. [Database subscription].
- Wang D, Zhao X-H, Cui Y, et al. Efficacy and safety of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F for CKD in mainland China: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Phytotherapy Research. 2018;32(3):436-451.
- Wang H-L, Jiang Q, Feng X-H, et al. Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F versus conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs as monotherapy for rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2016;16:215.
- Zhu W, Li Y, Gong J, et al. Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. F. versus azathioprine for prevention of postoperative recurrence in patients with Crohn’s disease: a randomized clinical trial. Digestive and Liver Disease. 2015;47(1):14-19.
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