Herbal Remedies for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory disease affecting 0.5 – 1% of the total population worldwide. RA is a useful model for the study of many inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases. As such, the information obtained from these studies has offered novel and unique insights into the mechanisms of normal immunity. Adaptive and innate immune responses in the synovium have been used in the pathogenesis of RA. The correct reasons for rheumatoid arthritis remain unknown. Although RA was considered as a disease of the joints, associated abnormal immune responses could cause variety of extra-articular manifestations. In certain cases, rheumatoid factor (RF) production with immune complexes formation would fixed the complement, contributes to extra-articular findings. The mystery behind RA was that why the synovium was primary target. Use of vaccines, gold salt injections causes malignancies and therefore complementary and alternative medicines came into existence. It includes acupuncture and herbal extracts which are safer and provides lesser side effects.