A Review on Herbal Approach to Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder. The disease mainly affects more than one joint in the
body. Many people are affected by this disease worldwide. RA is a long-term progressive disorder with different
stages. As the disease progresses, the condition of the joints gets worse and joint function terminates at last. It also
affects other organs in the body. Many factors, including environmental, age, weight, genetics, and lifestyle, are
responsible for RA. Several etiological factors, such as autoantibodies, inflammatory mediators, and genes, are
responsible for the generation of RA. The symptoms of the disease include swelling, pain, loss of appetite, joint
inflammation, fatigue, and pericarditis. The treatment objective for RA includes reducing pain and inflammation
and preventing joint dysfunction as well as joint deformity. Various drugs, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs, steroids, and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, are used to alleviate the symptoms of RA. The uses
of synthetic drugs are associated with several life-threatening side effects. These side effects of synthetic drugs
are the main thirst of peoples for searching alternative medicines in RA. The main objective of this study is to
highlight the use of herbal medicines for RA for patient benefits. Herbal medicines and isolated phytoconstituents
from herbal drugs have the advantages of low cost, easy availability, better patient acceptance, and very few side
effects. These drugs also improve the patient’s condition and reduce stress. Many researchers have proven the
efficacy of herbal drugs and phytoconstituents for RA patients. In this study, we are aiming to draw attention to
the need to increase the use of herbal drugs for the treatment of RA.