RECENT RESEARCH improvement was reported in 89 % of cases . In multivariate analysis , CAM use by patient was associated with these 3 variables : coming from a Western culture , being professionally active , and having a poor quality of life and anxiety scores .
Conclusion and Outlook : This is the first study to focus on CAM use in patients followed for three AID in a French rural region . The current challenge is to enrich conventional medicine with CAM that is effective and safe through supervised programs to move toward an integrative medicine .
Herbal medicine
Bax CE , Chakka S , Concha JSS , Zeidi M , Werth VP . The effects of immunostimulatory herbal supplements on autoimmune skin diseases . Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology . 2021 ; 84 ( 4 ): 1051-1058 . https :// doi . org / 10.1016 / j . jaad . 2020.06.037 .
The use of herbal supplements that promise to improve immune health has gained popularity among dermatology patients . However , there is little to no evidence that herbal supplements improve dermatologic conditions . Several in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that Spirulina platensis , Aphanizomenon flos-aqua , Chlorella , Echinacea , and alfalfa activate immune cells via certain cytokines and chemokines . Case reports suggest the association of ingesting immunostimulatory herbs and the clinical onset or flares of diseases characterized by an exaggerated immune response such as lupus erythematosus , dermatomyositis , and autoimmune blistering disorders . Therefore , it is imperative to investigate the prevalence of herbal supplement use in this patient population . In addition , in vitro studies should examine the underlying mechanisms by which herbs stimulate immune pathways that are already overactive in autoimmune patients .
Wang Y , Chen S , Du K , Liang C , Wang S , Boadi EO , Li J , Pang X , He J , Chang Y-X . Traditional herbal medicine : Therapeutic potential in rheumatoid arthritis . Journal of Ethnopharmacology . 2021 : 279 , 114368 . https :// doi . org / 10.1016 / j . jep . 2021.114368 .
Ethnopharmacological relevance : Rheumatoid arthritis ( RA ) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease influenced by diverse endogenous and exogenous factors . It is characterized by cartilage and bone destruction . The current conventional allopathic therapy is expensive and carries adverse side effects . Recently , there were some ethnopharmacological studies on RA including anti-RA effects and therapeutic targets of distinct dosage forms of traditional herbal medicines ( THMs ).
Aim of the review : This review provides a brief overview of the current understanding of the potential pharmacological mechanisms of THMs ( active constituents , extracts and prescriptions ) in RA . This study is intended to provide comprehensive information and reference for exploring new therapeutic strategies of THMs in the RA treatment .
Materials and methods : This review captured scientific literatures in vivo and vitro experiments on effects of anti- RA THMs published between 2016 and 2021 from journals and electronic databases ( e . g . PubMed , Elsevier , Science Direct , Web of Science and Google Scholar ). Relevant literatures were searched and analyzed by using keywords such as ‘ rheumatoid arthritis AND traditional herbal medicines ’, ‘ rheumatoid arthritis AND immune cells ’, ‘ rheumatoid arthritis AND inflammation ’, ‘ rheumatoid arthritis AND miRNA ’, ‘ rheumatoid arthritis AND Angiogenesis ’, ‘ rheumatoid arthritis AND oxidative stress ’, ‘ rheumatoid arthritis AND osteoclasts ’, ‘ rheumatoid arthritis AND CIA model ’, ‘ rheumatoid arthritis AND AA model ’ AND ‘ rheumatoid arthritis herbal prescription ’.
Results : Experiments in vitro and in vivo jointly demonstrated the potential of THMs in the RA treatment . There are plentiful therapeutic targets in RA . THMs and active ingredients could alleviate RA symptoms through different therapeutic targets , such as immunoregulation , inflammation , fibroblast-like synoviocytes ( FLSs ), microRNAs ( miRNAs ), angiogenesis , oxidative stress , osteoclasts and multiple targets interaction . Anti-RA THMs , active ingredients and prescriptions through corresponding therapeutic targets were summarized and classified .
Conclusions : Flavonoids , phenolic acids , alkaloids and triterpenes of THMs are identified as the main components to ameliorate RA . Regulation of different and multiple related therapeutic targets by THMs and their active ingredients were associated with greater therapeutic benefits , among which inflammation is the main therapeutic target . Nonetheless , further studies are required to unravel the complexities and in-depth mechanisms of THMs in alleviating RA .
Homeopathy
Freire de Carvalho J , Lerner A , Benzvi C . Homeopathy for Rheumatological Diseases : A Systematic Review . Eur J Rheumatol . 2024 ; 11 ( 3 ): 378-384 . doi : 10.5152 / eurjrheum . 2024.23123 .
Homeopathy has mainly been used to treat several diseases . On the other hand , it has been used in a few rheumatic disorders . The aim of this article is to review the use of homeopathy in rheumatic diseases ( RDs ). PubMed and Embase databases were examined for literature on homeopathy and RDs between 1966 and April 2023 . There are 15 articles found with 811 patients . The diseases treated were osteoarthritis ( n = 3 ), followed by rheumatoid arthritis ( n = 3 ), ankylosing spondylitis ( n = 1 ), hyperuricemia ( n = 1 ), and tendinopathy ( n = 1 ). Age varied from 31 to 87 years old , and male gender ranged from 56.7 % to 100 %. Homeopathy changed from a fixed medicine to an individualized homeopathy . Most studies ( 9 / 15 ) demonstrated improvements after homeopathy . Side effects were not seen or minimal and were comparable to placebo
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