Evidence supporting the use of: Chinese Smilax
For the health condition: Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Chinese Smilax (Smilax glabra, also known as Tu Fu Ling) has a long history of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), where it is commonly prescribed to “dispel dampness and remove toxicity.” It has traditionally been used to treat joint pain, swelling, and conditions thought to involve “wind-dampness,” which are sometimes interpreted as rheumatic or arthritic disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Classical TCM texts and modern herbals frequently list it as an ingredient in formulas for joint pain and inflammation.

Modern scientific studies have explored Smilax glabra for its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Laboratory and animal studies have shown that extracts of the root can inhibit inflammatory mediators and modulate immune responses, which are relevant mechanisms in RA. Some rodent studies have shown reduced joint swelling and lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines after administration of Smilax extracts. However, there are very few, if any, published human clinical trials specifically evaluating its efficacy in RA patients. Most available evidence comes from preclinical work or is inferred from broader studies on inflammation.

In summary, the use of Chinese Smilax for rheumatoid arthritis is primarily justified by traditional use, with some preliminary scientific support from animal and in vitro studies. Robust clinical trials in humans are lacking, so its effectiveness for RA remains unproven by modern scientific standards.

More about Chinese Smilax
More about Rheumatoid Arthritis

Other ingredients used for Rheumatoid Arthritis

adrenal cortex
Alfalfa
algal oil
alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
alpha-pinene
anthocyanins
ashwagandha
astaxanthin
borage oil
celery
coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
turmeric
curcumin
d-alpha tocopherol
DHA (docosahexaeonic acid)
diallyl disulfide (DADS)
dong quai root
DPA (docosapentaenoic acid)
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
evening primrose oil
fisetin
fish protein
gamma linolenic acid (GLA)
gamma tocopherol
genistein
ginger
green lipped mussel
krill oil
luteolin
methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)
myristoleate
omega-3 fatty acids
phospholipids
resveratrol
rose hips
sardines
slippery elm bark
sulforaphane glucosinolate
Urolithin A
vitamin B6
vitamin C
vitamin D
vitamin D3
watercress
white willow
alpinia galangal
smilax
fumaria parviflora
Szechuan lovage
amber
teasel
guelder rose
gentiana macrophylla
Abies spectabilis
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)
clematis
15,16-Dihydrotanshinone I
Aralia
Akebia
Antler
Apigenin
Abrus
Andrographolide
Amentoflavone
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
anthocyanidins
Ampelopsin
Actaea spicata
Arjunic Acid
Apocynin
Arctiin
Astragalin
Boswellic Acid
Baicalein
Bogbean
Boswellia
Black willow
Barbasco
bovine cartilage / glycosaminoglycan
Baicalin
Black Hellebore
Bee venom
Bergenia
Cod Liver Oil
Cortisol
Clerodendrum phlomidis
Cyanidin
Chinese Fleeceflower
Chinese Pond Turtle
Chuchuhuasi
Cetylated Fatty Acids
C-Phycocyanin
Cannabidiol
Carnosic acid
Docosahexaenoic Acid
Dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid
Eicosatetraenoic acid
Eicosapentaenoic Acid
Evening Primrose Oil
Fat liver oil
Fructoborate
Flemingia philippinensis
Frankincense
Flavanols
Flavones
Ginkgetin
Gypenoside
Horse Gram
Hyperoside
Hellebore
Hydroxytyrosol
Harpagoside
Jatropha macrantha
Kaempferol
Mangiferin
Myricetin
Madder
Marine fat
Nobiletin
Osthole
Puerarin
Piper chaba
Phaeophyceae
Proteoglycans
Polydatin
Polyunsaturated Fat
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)
Qin Jiao
Silkmoth
Schizochytrium Oil
Schizochytrium
Salicin
Salmon Oil
Salvianolic acid
Sinomenium acutum
Semecarpus anacardium
saponins
Shilajit
Stearidonic acid
Sulforaphane
Taxillus chinensis
Tanshinone
Uncaria
Ursolic Acid
Withanolides

Products containing Chinese Smilax

We currently have no products on Vitabase that contain this ingredient.