Chinese Herb May Ease Rheumatoid Arthritis

‘Thunder God Vine’ May Work as Natural Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

A Chinese herbal remedy may help ease symptoms in people with rheumatoid arthritis.

A new study shows that the Chinese herbal remedy Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF), also known as “lei gong teng” or "thunder god vine," helped decrease joint tenderness and pain in a small group of people treated with the medicinal plant.

Those who took an extract of the herb's roots experienced greater improvement in rheumatoid arthritis symptoms than those who took the anti-inflammatory drug sulfasalazine.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes pain and swelling of the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis also leads to joint damage and destruction. There is no cure for the condition, and currently available treatments are designed to ease the symptoms and disability caused by the disease.

Although recent advancements in rheumatoid arthritis treatment have led to a greater number of available therapies, many of those therapies come with side effects that prompt some users to discontinue treatment or seek complementary and alternative treatments.
Thunder God Vine for RA

Researchers say thunder god vine has been used in China for centuries to treat a variety of inflammatory diseases, and some small clinical trials have suggested that the Chinese herbal remedy may benefit people with rheumatoid arthritis.

This study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, compared the benefits and side effects of treatment with thunder god vine and a conventional anti-inflammatory drug used in rheumatoid arthritis. Researchers randomly assigned 121 people with rheumatoid arthritis to take the 60 milligrams of the Chinese herbal extract three times a day or 1 gram of the anti-inflammatory drug sulfasalazine twice a day for 24 weeks.

Nearly half of the participants dropped out before the study was complete. But after 24 weeks of treatment, researchers found that a greater proportion of people in the Chinese herbal remedy group experienced at least 20% improvement on a standard measure of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms than the other group.

Researcher Raphaela Goldbach-Mansky, MD, MHS, of the National Institutes of Health, and colleagues say the study was too short to show if thunder god vine also helped to slow the progression of joint destruction from rheumatoid arthritis. But if further studies confirm these results in larger numbers of people, thunder god vine may provide an affordable natural treatment option for rheumatoid arthritis.

New Osteoporosis Drug Coming?

2 Positive Studies Published on Experimental Drug Denosumab; FDA Panel Review This Week

The experimental drug denosumab may be on its way to becoming the newest way to treat osteoporosis.

Denosumab, a biological drug given by injection every six months, looks safe and effective, researchers report in today's advance online edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.

An FDA advisory panel will meet Aug. 13 to decide whether to recommend denosumab for FDA approval. The FDA often follows the advice of its advisory committees, but it doesn't have to.
Denosumab Studies

Denosumab works differently than other osteoporosis drugs. It binds to a protein called RANKL, which cells called osteoclasts need to break down bone as part of the bone remodeling process.

The idea behind denosumab is to slow the bone-breakdown process in people whose bones are already dangerously thin.

WebMD first reported on denosumab in September 2008, when news about the drug's potential to treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal women was presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research in Montreal.

Now, that trial's results have been published, along with a separate study in men with prostate cancer taking bone-weakening hormone therapy to treat their cancer.

In both studies, patients got a shot of either denosumab or a placebo every six months for three years. And in both studies, fractures were rarer in patients taking denosumab.

In the postmenopausal osteoporosis study, which included 7,800 women 60-90 years old with osteoporosis, new vertebral fractures occurred in 2.3% of patients taking denosumab, compared with 7.2% of patients taking the placebo.

That's a difference of 68%, notes researcher Steven Cummings, MD, director of the San Francisco Coordinating Center at the California Pacific Medical Center and a professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of California at San Francisco.

"It's more effective for reducing vertebral fractures than I expected ... 68% is a very powerful reduction," Cummings tells WebMD.

In the prostate cancer study, which included more than 1,400 men with prostate cancer on bone-weakening hormone therapy, new vertebral fractures occurred in 1.5% of patients taking denosumab, compared with 3.9% of patients who got the placebo.

"To see this very dramatic 62% decrease in vertebral fractures in three years in this relatively high-risk population of men is very impressive," researcher Matthew Smith, MD, PhD, tells WebMD. Smith is the director of genitourinary medical oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center.
Denosumab's Side Effects

Denosumab didn't show an increased risk of infection or cancer -- risks seen with other types of biologic drugs -- in either trial.

Denosumab also wasn't linked to osteonecrosis of the jaw (sometimes called "jawbone death"), which has been reported with other osteoporosis drugs called bisphosphonates.

But eczema and severe cases of a skin infection called cellulitis were more common in women taking denosumab in Cummings' study. The reason for that isn't clear.

Denosumab's safety profile "appeared excellent" in the prostate cancer study, Smith says, adding that the study was the first large study of fracture prevention in men.

"Previously, there had been no large studies to address that problem in men with prostate cancer, and frankly, not in men in any setting," Smith says.

Both denosumab studies were sponsored by the drug's maker, Amgen. Smith and Cummings disclose working as consultants for Amgen, and several researchers on both studies are Amgen employees.
Other Opinions

Denosumab "seems at least as efficacious as the currently approved alternatives," states an editorial published with the studies.

But editorialist Sundeep Khosla, MD, of the Mayo Clinic's medical school in Rochester, Minn., notes that there haven't been any head-to-head trials comparing denosumab to other osteoporosis drugs for fracture prevention, that the drug's longer-term safety isn't known yet, and that cost could be an issue if denosumab is pricey. Khosla notes no conflicts of interest.

Cummings says there are plans to follow the patients in his study for at least 10 years. He also hopes that patients will be more compliant about taking denosumab than other osteoporosis drugs.

"It's as effective as any other treatment and can be given twice a year as a simple injection, like a flu shot" and can be given by a nurse or primary care doctor, Cummings says.

Susan Bukata, MD, an osteoporosis specialist and associate professor of orthopaedics at New York's University of Rochester Medical Center, says denosumab would be "another option" for people who can't or won't take other osteoporosis drugs, such as people with kidney failure or gastrointestinal issues.

"There's definitely a place for this drug," Bukata says. "I think still, the gold standard is we start on the pills, we start on the generics. But this is certainly a good second-line choice and for some patients ... this may be my first-line choice."

Bukata wasn't involved in the denosumab trials. She discloses that she expects to soon work on a clinical trial of another Amgen drug.

The Worst Place to Encounter a Cranky Baby - Baby Orajel Survey and Giveaway

****This contest is closed. Thanks to you all for entering.****

Baby Orajel study finds that 56 percent of Americans least like to encounter a cranky baby in a movie theater.

As the summer blockbuster season continues, parents of infants should be aware that they’re likely to face a frustrated audience if their child fusses during the movie.

The maker of Baby Orajel® teething pain medicine recently conducted a survey* to find out where Americans least like to encounter a cranky, crying baby. The results include the following:

• More than 56 percent of Americans claim that the worst place to encounter a cranky baby is at a movie theater. Other places where people hate to encounter a cranky baby are (in order): on an airplane (22 percent), at a church or religious function (12 percent) and at a restaurant (10 percent).

• Surprisingly, parents are more likely than non-parents (61 percent vs. 52 percent) to place movie theaters at the top of their list of bad places to encounter a cranky baby.

• While you may not think it when sitting next to one, crying babies aren’t nearly as annoying as other loud noises you may encounter during the day. The survey showed that the most frustrating sounds to hear (in order) are: a car alarm (39 percent), jackhammer (28 percent), baby crying (21 percent) and a barking dog (13 percent).

• Parents, who are more accustomed to the sound of cranky infants, are less likely than those without children to get annoyed by the sound of a crying baby. Specifically, 25 percent of non-parents named a baby crying as the most frustrating sound to hear, while only 15 percent of parents stated that in the survey.

* The survey was conducted by Kelton Research between May 20 and 27, 2009 and included 1004 participants.

The Giveaway:

One reader will win an assortment of Baby Orajel items – Cooling Cucumber Teething Gel and Tooth & Gum Cleanser. We all know what a life saver the teething gel can be. We also know how important it is to get started with good, healthy teeth and gums and brushing habits at an early age.




To be eligible for the giveaway, you must make sure that I can contact you when you when. Either by being a blogger or by leaving your e-mail address in your comment.

Contest will end Tuesday, August 11th at 11:59 CST.

Main Entries: Must be completed to be eligible for other entries.

Visit the Baby Orajel website and leave a comment telling me one of their 10 ways to make brushing fun.

Extra Entries:

(1) Enter the "Smile Package" giveaway, also brought to you by Danielle, and leave a comment saying you did so.

(2) Follow this blog.

(3) Follow me on twitter and tweet about the giveaway, include @SereneMoments so I can find you.

(3) Give me a suggestion for a topic to use here on my health blog.

Good luck to you all!

How to Detox Your Body

Every day we put potential toxins into our mouths, breathe them into our lungs, and track them into our homes without ever really knowing where they’ll end up—or how much damage they’ll do when they get there. In fact, if you could peek inside your body you’d find fire-retardant chemicals, heavy metals, pesticides, plastic particles, and dozens of other residues of modern life.

The time has come to fight back! Our 12 simple steps will help you detoxify everything from your food to your feet, from your bedroom to your breasts. Purifying your life won’t happen overnight, despite what those detox foot-pad makers promise on late-night television. (PS: They don’t work!) But if you begin today you’ll definitely be a little healthier by the time you get into bed. Here’s how to get started:

1. Protect against pesticides
Washing fruit and veggies is a must-do every time you bring them home. Why? An overload of pesticides in air, food, or water may set the stage for Parkinson’s disease, breast cancer, and possibly Alzheimer’s disease decades down the road, according to research. Apparently the chemicals in pesticides—which find a home on the surface of produce—can damage the energy-producing parts of brain cells. There’s also a pesticide-and-arthritis link. Protect your brain and body by washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly, especially if you aren’t eating organic. (You don’t need to use fancy detergent; plain water should do the trick.)

Also watch out for pesticides in your own yard and garden, because anything you spray outside will likely end up in your home. Defend your greenery, instead, with insects (such as ladybugs) or a natural, safe repellent like neem oil (1 quart, $22.50).

2. It’s curtains for plastic
You know that strong odor emanating from some new plastic shower curtains and mattress covers? Blame the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) used to manufacture them—which releases toxic chemicals that can make you dizzy and drowsy with just a few deep whiffs. Retailers like Target sell curtains made with materials like cotton, polyester, or hemp, which are safer to use and easier to clean.

3. Look out for lead
Thanks to the widespread use of leaded gasoline in past decades, women 40 and up have high amounts of lead in their bones, says Ellen Silbergeld, PhD, a toxicology expert at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Why that’s bad: As your bones greedily soak up calcium, they can easily be fooled by lead, a dangerous metalliclook-alike. Lead-laden bones may be weak and prone to breaks. And as bones start to thin after menopause, the toxic metal could be released into the bloodstream, where it can increase blood pressure and possibly lead to neurological and kidney trouble.

How to fight back? Calcium, vitamin D, and regular exercise all can slow bone loss and reduce the amount of lead that moves from the bones into the blood, Silbergeld says. To keep more lead from climbing aboard, reduce dust in your home with either frequent wet-mopping or good vacuuming with a HEPA-filtered cleaner. (HEPA vacuums trap even those tiny dust particles you can’t see.)

The lead-paint issue is a toughie. If you live in an old home or apartment with chipping paint, talk to a knowledgeable inspector about testing before you do any renovating. Call the National Lead Information Center at 800-424-5323. Keep in mind: The Environmental Protection Agency says home test kits aren’t very reliable. Ask your doctor whether you need a blood-lead test, which usually isn’t necessary unless you’ve gotten acute exposure, say, during a home renovation. (And while we’re on the topic of paint, be sure to renovate with these healthy paint brands that don’t contain irritating volatile organic compounds.)

4. Be smart down there
Do tampons have dangerous levels of dioxins or asbestos? Nah, it’s a myth. But don’t ignore the small-but-real risk of toxic shock syndrome (several dozen women get it each year), a potentially fatal condition caused by poison-producing staph or strep bacteria. Lower your odds by changing your tampon every four to eight hours and avoiding highly absorbent types (often labeled “ultra”).

Protect your ovaries while you’re at it, by limiting exposure to perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs)—often in the coatings of nonstick pans and many other items like clothing, furniture, and packaged-food containers—which may double the risk of infertility, according to a study in Human Reproduction.

5. Don’t party hard
There’s some concern that chemicals found in plastic bottles and food containers have estrogen-like effects and can slightly raise the risks of breast cancer. But so far there is no real proof. What do we know that really does boost breast cancer risk? Alcohol. A new, massive study from England suggests that just one drink a day is linked to 11 additional cases of breast cancer per 1,000 women, and each drink after that increases the dangers. Even then, the risks remain small—your overall lifetime risk is about 12%. But if you think of alcohol as a toxin, maybe you’ll think twice before getting a frequent buzz.

6. Soap yourself silly
It’s tempting to try those gadgets or elixirs (or even foot pads) that claim to help you shed toxins through pores or sweat glands, but they’re a waste, experts say. The one skin product every toxin-conscious person should have? Soap. Sudsing up your skin every day (with extra washes for your hands) will help clear away toxin-producing germs, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), that can cause nasty skin infections. Use alcohol-based hand gels when soap and water aren’t convenient. If you’re worried about soap’s drying effects, try a natural moisturizer like Dr. Hauschka Skin Care Rose Body Moisturizer ($39.95).

7. Use pain pills sparingly
Your liver is a toxin-clearing machine, but it’s not perfect. Many medications, including common drugs such as the pain-reliever acetaminophen, can damage the organ. According to the American Liver Foundation, you shouldn’t take more than 3 grams of acetaminophen a day—the equivalent of six extra-strength pills—for more than a few days in a row. Take as small a dose as you need to feel better.

8. Don’t fool with fire retardants
Flame-retardant chemicals common in foam products and electronics, such as mattresses and televisions, have found their way into virtually every human body. No one is sure if that’s a problem for humans, but animal studies show that these chemicals, known as polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs), may interfere with the functioning of the thyroid gland and immune system. To be safe, seal up any rips in old foam cushions or mattresses (which may have been treated with the retardants) or get new ones, since many companies are phasing out PBDEs.

9. Stay smoke-free
You know regular smoking is a killer but think the occasional smoke can’t hurt? Not true. University of Arizona researchers found that just one cigarette impairs blood flow in the heart. And a Norwegian study showed that women who smoked one to four cigarettes a day tripled their risk of dying from heart disease and saw a fivefold jump in the risk of dying from lung cancer.

The threat of secondhand smoke is no less scary: Exposure kills nearly 50,000 adult nonsmokers every year. There are even new worries that thirdhand smoke (what’s left in your hair or your clothes after being in a smoke-filled room) is harmful, especially to babies. Sadly, you can’t stop other people from smoking. But you can help your body rebound by eating a lot of broccoli and cauliflower. These cruciferous vegetables (which also include Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and watercress) contain sulfouraphane and other compounds linked to lower disease risks. Studies suggest that people who regularly eat these vegetables enjoy protection from lung cancer. Three to five servings a week should do the trick, but don’t boil or microwave them to mush; overcooking may destroy the toxin-fighting compounds.

10. Freshen in friendlier ways
That sweet-smelling air freshener? It may be polluting your home with chemicals that can irritate your eyes and lead to headaches and nausea. Aerosol cleaners are equally guilty. Instead of covering up unpleasant smells, open the windows when weather permits. Get some fresh air in your home office, too, where ultrafine particles from laser printers can escape into the air. And green up with Areca palms, Boston ferns, and English ivy; they help purify your air. When you’re cleaning, try natural solutions like baking soda or vinegar.

11. Eat safer fish
Heavy metals can be hard on the heart. Mercury, for example, may raise your risk of atherosclerosis or a heart attack. Ironically, we get the vast majority of our mercury from fish, a supposedly heart-healthy food because of its high omega-3-fat content. The Food and Drug Administration urges women who are pregnant or nursing to avoid mercury-rich fish including shark, swordfish, and king mackerel. It’s probably wise to go easy on slightly less-tainted types such as tuna, too. Such advice actually makes good sense for every adult, Silbergeld says. To cut down on mercury, stick with cod, flounder, and wild Alaskan or Pacific salmon, as well as shellfish like clams and shrimp. If you love sushi (with its healthy combo of resistant starch and omega-3s), limit yourself to one to two meals a month, and don’t always choose tuna.

12. Wipe your feet
Your shoes can play a vital role in detoxifying your home. Pesticides and lead-contaminated dust—not to mention annoying pollen during allergy season—tend to settle on the ground and can stick to footwear. Wiping your feet on an abrasive, high-quality door mat before walking inside can keep toxins from invading your space. Better yet, make a habit of taking off your shoes at the door.