The Autumn Crocus (Colchicum autumnale) is the source of the alkaloid colchicine, which has a well-established history of medicinal use. Colchicine has been used since ancient times, with references dating back to the Ebers Papyrus in ancient Egypt for rheumatic conditions and later in Greco-Roman medicine. However, its use in modern medicine for treating Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is based on scientific investigation rather than tradition alone.

Colchicine acts by inhibiting microtubule polymerization, thereby suppressing neutrophil activity and inflammation. While it is best known for its role in the management of acute gout flares and familial Mediterranean fever, colchicine has also been studied for use in other inflammatory conditions, including RA. Early clinical studies and case reports from the mid-20th century suggested potential benefit in RA, primarily due to colchicine’s anti-inflammatory effects. However, more recent and larger studies have shown that colchicine is less effective for RA than for gout, and it is generally not considered a first-line or standard therapy for RA today. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are preferred.

In summary, there is scientific evidence supporting the anti-inflammatory effects of colchicine, and it has been studied for RA, but evidence of significant efficacy is moderate at best (hence a rating of 4), and it is not a primary treatment for RA. Its use in RA is now rare, but its historical and scientific relevance is well documented.