Study on Ayurveda for rheumatoid arthritis

Daniel E. Furst et al.

June 2011

Ayurveda medicine / treatment

Rheumatism / Joints / Arthritis / Arthrosis

In a double-blind study, a group of medical doctors and Ayurvedic physicians investigated the effectiveness of Ayurvedic treatments compared to the usual drug methotrexate in 43 patients who had been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis for up to 7 years.

One group received Methotrexate + Ayurveda, the second group Methotrexate + Ayurveda-Placebos, the third group Ayurveda + Methotrexate-Placebos. The study ran for 36 weeks and the values were measured every 12 weeks.

As a result, almost the same values were measured in all three groups - however, there were significantly more adverse side effects in the methotrexate group.

The most important information on the study at a glance

Indications: Rheumatoid arthritis
Institution: Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, CA, USA
Title: Study on Ayurveda for rheumatoid arthritis
Brief description: The study shows that Ayurveda treatments for rheumatoid arthritis are as effective as methotrexate, but with fewer side effects.
Original title: Double-blind, randomized, controlled, pilot study comparing classic ayurvedic medicine, methotrexate, and their combination in rheumatoid arthritis
Link to the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21617554/