The RA mixture is composed of Tripterygium wilfordii (TW) and other Chinese medicinal herbs with effect of expelling Wind

activating blood circulation

invigorating the Kidney and Qi. The authors treated rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with RA mixture and compared it with D-Penicillamine as ocntrol. The two group’s therapeutical effect is similar (P >0.05)

but side effect occuring ratio in treatment group was obviously lower than that of control group (P <0.01). After treatment with RA mixture

the patient’s human lymphocytic antigen-degenerative reaction (HLA-DR+) cell

CD4/CD8 ratio were reduced and automixed lymphocytic reaction (AMLR) level enhanced (P <0.05). The results of animal experiment showed that swelling of rheumatoid arthritis model mouse’s joint could be reduced by both RA mixture and TW. Comparing with TW

RA mixture had stronger effect in controlling the inflammation of synovial cell and fibroid degeneration of fibrocytes. At the same time

RA mixture had stronger effect in protecting immune organ from atrophy and maintaining functions of cellular immunity. All these suggest that RA mixture can reduce the syndroms of RA by improving distribution of T lymphocyte subsets and functions of cellular immunity. The Chinese medicinal herbs for reinforcing Kidney

supplementing Qi

activating blood circulation and expelling evil wind in the RA mixture could enhance TW’s therapeutical effect and reduce it’s side effect.