Celastraceae
Thunder God Vine
Tripterygium wilfordii
✗ High Risk
Avoid in Pregnancy
Native to: China, Japan, Korea
Also known as: Lei Gong Teng, God of Thunder, Thunderball
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA
Parts Used
Root
Therapeutic Uses
Rheumatoid arthritis (multiple RCTs — significant symptom reduction), lupus, multiple sclerosis (adjunct), Crohn's disease, nephritis. Potent but toxic herb requiring precise dosing.
Herbal Actions
Immunosuppressant, anti-inflammatory, antifertility (male — triptolide), anticancer
Active Constituents
Diterpenes (triptolide — primary active, triptonide), alkaloids (wilforine, wilfordine), celastrol, triterpenes
Preparation Methods
💊 Capsule🏺 Tincture
Traditional Preparation Notes
| Herbal Tea | NOT RECOMMENDED — extract only with precise standardization |
| Tincture | Use ONLY standardized extract under medical supervision |
| Notes | MEDICAL SUPERVISION REQUIRED — narrow therapeutic window. Root extract only (leaf, stem, flower all more toxic). Standardized extract: 60mg 3x daily (clinical trial dose). Side effect profile limits use. |
Safety Information
Safety Rating
✗ High Risk
Pregnancy
Avoid in Pregnancy
Drug Interactions
⚠ Known interactions
Contraindications: Avoid in pregnancy (teratogenic). Avoid with immunosuppressants. Contraindicated in fertility concerns (male contraceptive effect). Medical supervision mandatory.
Side Effects: GI toxicity (severe nausea, diarrhea). Hepatotoxicity. Nephrotoxicity. Cardiotoxicity. Infertility (reversible in males). Skin reactions. Deaths reported from improper use.