Table 1.
This table lists the plants considered for possible interactions, with both their English and botanical names. It indicates if they were reported in general surveys or by patients with rheumatoid arthritis/inflammatory bowel disease, if they could be considered useful for treatment of these conditions, and the references.
| Plant | General Surveys | RA | IBD | HPMC * | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common | Mentioned | ||||
| Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) |
[7,9,27] | ||||
| Evening primrose oil (Oenothera biennis) |
[7,8,27] | [9] | [36] | ||
| Artichoke (Cynara scolymus) |
[7] | ||||
| Ginseng (Panax ginseng) ** |
[7,8,9,27] | ||||
| Aloe vera gel (Aloe barbadensis) |
[5,7,27] | [9] | [36,37] | ||
| Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) |
[7] | [9] | |||
| Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) |
[7,9] | ||||
| Soybean (Glycine max) |
[7] | [9] | |||
| Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) |
[7,28] | [9] | |||
| Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea, E. angustifolia) |
[5,7,9,27] | [36] | |||
| Garlic (Allium sativum) |
[5,8,9,27] | [7] | [36] | ||
| St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) |
[27] | [7,9,28] | |||
| Devil’s claw (Harpagophytum procumbens, H. zeyheri) |
[27] | [7,9] | + | ||
| Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) |
[5,9,27] | ||||
| Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) |
[27] | [7,9] | |||
| Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) |
[5] | [7,9] | |||
| Green tea (Camellia sinensis) |
[5] | [7,9] | |||
| Ginger (Zingiber officinale) |
[5] | [7,9] | [30] | ||
| Grape seeds (Vitis vinifera) |
[9] | [7] | |||
| Rose hip (Rosa canina) |
[9] | [7,28] | |||
| Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) |
[28] | [7,9] | |||
| English plantain (Plantago lanceolata) |
[28] | [7,9] | |||
| Lime flowers/linden flowers (Tilia cordata) |
[28] | [7] | |||
| Chamomile (Matricaria recutita; M. chamomilla) |
[28] | [7,9] | |||
| Turmeric (Curcuma longa) |
[7,9] | [30,32] | [39] | ||
| Flaxseed (Linum ussitatissimum) |
[7,9] | [30] | |||
| Indian frankincense Boswellia serrata |
[7] | [30] | |||
| Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) |
[7,9] | [30] | |||
| Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) |
[7] | + | |||
| Ash leaf (Fraxinus excelsior) |
[7] | + | |||
| Bogbean leaf (Menyanthes trifoliate) |
+ | ||||
| Blackcurrant leaf (Ribes nigrum) |
[7,9] | + | |||
| Willow bark (Salix purpurea, S. daphnoides, S. fragilis) |
[7] | + | |||
| Nettle herb (Urtica dioica, U. urens) |
[7,9,28] | + | |||
| Psyllium (Plantago ovata) |
[7,9] | [38] | |||
| Myrrh, chamomile, coffee charcoal | [40] | ||||
| Wormwood (Artemisia absithium) |
[7] | [41] | |||
| Cannabis sativa | [30,43] | [45] | |||
* HMPC monograph stating “Traditional herbal medicinal product for the relief of minor articular pain”; ** most often Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng), but may be confused with American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) or Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus).