Roles of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Natural Products in Rheumatoid Arthritis

What is this study about?

This study explores how problems with mitochondria (tiny energy-producing parts of your cells) contribute to rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic autoimmune disease that causes joint pain, swelling, and damage. It also looks at how Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and natural products (like herbs) can help treat RA by fixing these mitochondrial issues.

What’s the problem with mitochondria in RA?
In RA, mitochondria in your joint cells and immune cells don’t work properly. This leads to:

• Too much oxidative stress: Harmful molecules (reactive oxygen species, or ROS) build up, causing inflammation and joint damage.
• Energy problems: Mitochondria can’t produce energy efficiently, which affects cell function.
• Immune system overactivity: Faulty mitochondria make immune cells attack your joints, worsening RA.
• Cell death issues: Damaged mitochondria prevent cells from dying when they should, leading to more inflammation and joint destruction.

How can TCM and natural products help?
TCM and natural products, like herbs and their active ingredients (e.g., baicalin or paeoniflorin), can improve RA by targeting mitochondria in several ways:

• Reducing oxidative stress: They help clear harmful ROS to calm inflammation.
• Boosting energy production: They improve how mitochondria make energy for cells.
• Balancing the immune system: They calm overactive immune cells that attack joints.
• Protecting joints: They help repair joint cells and prevent further damage.
• Restoring cell balance: They support processes like mitophagy (clearing out damaged mitochondria) to keep cells healthy.

Unlike some RA drugs (like methotrexate or biologics), which can have side effects or be expensive, TCM and natural products often work on multiple problems at once and may have fewer side effects.

What did the researchers find?
The researchers reviewed 128 studies (out of 297) from 2005 to 2025. They found strong evidence that TCM and natural products can:

• Lower inflammation by reducing harmful molecules.
• Improve mitochondrial function to support healthier cells.
• Protect joints by balancing immune responses and supporting cartilage and bone health.

What’s next?
While TCM and natural products show promise, more research is needed to:

• Understand how these treatments work in the body (pharmacokinetics).
• Standardize herbal formulas for consistent results.
• Conduct clinical trials to confirm they work well and are safe for RA patients.

Why does this matter to you?
If you have RA, this research suggests that TCM or natural products could be a helpful addition to your treatment plan. They may reduce joint pain and inflammation by fixing problems in your cells’ mitochondria, potentially with fewer side effects than some standard treatments. Talk to your doctor about whether these options might be right for you, and keep an eye out for future studies that test these treatments further.

Where can you learn more?
For details on TCM or natural products, you can ask your healthcare provider or look into reputable sources on integrative medicine. If you’re interested in the original study, it’s available online at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2025.157106.