Thunder God Vine 

This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb thunder god vine— 

common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more 

information. Thunder god vine is a perennial vine native to China, Japan, and 

Korea. It has been used in China for health purposes for more than 400 years. 

Common Names—thunder god vine, lei gong teng 

Latin Name—Tripterygium wilfordii 

What It Is Used For 

•	 Thunder god vine has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for 

conditions involving inflammation or overactivity of the immune system. 

•	 Orally, thunder god vine is taken for excessive menstrual periods or 

autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, 

and lupus. 

•	 Thunder god vine preparations are also applied to the skin for 

rheumatoid arthritis. 

How It Is Used 

Extracts are prepared from the skinned root of thunder god vine. 

What the Science Says 

•	 Laboratory findings suggest that thunder god vine may fight inflammation, 

suppress the immune system, and have anti-cancer effects. 

•	 Although early evidence is promising, there have been few high-quality 

studies of thunder god vine in people. Results from a small study funded 

by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin 

Diseases (NIAMS) suggest that an oral extract of the herb may improve 

rheumatoid arthritis symptoms in some patients. A larger NIAMS-funded 

study is comparing thunder god vine with a conventional medicine for 

rheumatoid arthritis. 

•	 A small study on thunder god vine applied to the skin also found benefits for 

rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. 

•	 There is not enough scientific evidence to assess thunder god vine’s use for 

any other health conditions. 

Side Effects and Cautions 

•	 Thunder god vine can cause severe side effects and can be poisonous if it is 

not carefully extracted from the skinned root. Other parts of the plant— 

including the leaves, flowers, and skin of the root—are highly poisonous and 

can cause death. 
 

 

•	 The extract of thunder god vine used in the NIAMS study was well tolerated. However, thunder god 

vine can cause diarrhea, upset stomach, hair loss, headache, menstrual changes, and skin rash. 

•	 Thunder god vine has been found to decrease bone mineral density in women who take 

the herb for 5 years or longer. This side effect may be of particular concern to women who 

have osteoporosis or are at risk for the condition. 

•	 Thunder god vine decreases sperm count and so may be associated with male infertility. 

•	 Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you 

use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure 

coordinated and safe care. 

Sources 

Canter PH, Hyang SL, Ernst E. A systematic review of randomized clinical trials of Tripterygium wilfordii for rheumatoid 

arthritis. Phytomedicine. 2006;13(5):371-377. 

Tao X, Younger J, Fan FZ, et al. Benefit of an extract of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F in patients with rheumatoid 

arthritis: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Arthritis & Rheumatism. 2002;46(7):1735-1743. 

Setty AR, Sigal LH. Herbal medications commonly used in the practice of rheumatology: mechanisms of action, 

efficacy, and side effects. Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism. 2005;34(6):773-784. 

Carter BZ, Mark DH, Schober WD, et al. Triptolide induces caspase-dependent cell death mediated via the 

mitochondrial pathway in leukemic cells. Blood. 2006;108(2):630-637. 

Thunder god vine. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Web site. Accessed at 

http://www.naturaldatabase.com on June 12, 2007. 

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Rheumatoid Arthritis and Complementary and Alternative 

Medicine. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Web site. Accessed at 

http://www.nccam.nih.gov/health/RA on June 13, 2007. 

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Chinese Thunder God Vine Gives Relief from 

Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Web site. 

Accessed at http://www.niams.nih.gov/ne/highlights/spotlight/2002/thunder.htm on June 13, 2007. 

For More Information 

Visit the NCCAM Web site at nccam.nih.gov and view: 

•	 What’s in the Bottle? An Introduction to Dietary Supplements at nccam.nih.gov/health/bottle/ 

•	 Herbal Supplements: Consider Safety, Too at nccam.nih.gov/health/supplement-safety/ 

NCCAM Clearinghouse 

Toll-free in the U.S.: 1-888-644-6226 

TTY (for deaf and hard-of-hearing callers): 1-866-464-3615 

E-mail: info@nccam.nih.gov 

CAM on PubMed 

Web site: nccam.nih.gov/camonpubmed/ 

NIH Office of Dietary Supplements 

Web site: www.ods.od.nih.gov 

This publication is not copyrighted and is in the public domain. Duplication is encouraged. 

NCCAM has provided this material for your information. It is not intended to substitute for the 

medical expertise and advice of your primary health care provider. We encourage you to discuss 

any decisions about treatment or care with your health care provider. The mention of any product, 

service, or therapy is not an endorsement by NCCAM. 

National Institutes of Health 

♦♦♦

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

D400 

Created October 2007 

Updated June 2008 

*D400*