rheumatic herb, have been used safely over millennia. To begin to study the
efficacy of Fun-boi on the disease activity and the peripheral lymphocyte
subsets,we performed a 12-week, open-label trial of Fun-boi extract (a deco
ction of Fun-boi 10 g/day) in 29 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). M
ost clinical and immunological variables: swollen joint count, physician's
and patient's assessment, pain score and IgM rheumatoid factor, showed stat
istically significant improvement. Seven(24%) of the enrolled patients met
the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for a 20 percent improv
ement in measures of disease activity (ACR20) and 3 (10%) met those for ACR
50. The CD3+CD8+ lymphocytes were increased significantly. Accordingly, the
CD4/CD8 ratio was decreased; however, these changes did not show any clear
correlation with clinical. response. Two patients (7%) experienced some mi
nor transient adverse events.
In conclusion, Fun-boi is safe and showed beneficial effect in some patient
s for the treatment of the relatively mild RA seen in, the patients studied
. Further controlled studies are indicated. Clinicians should keep an open
mind about possible benefits of these still incompletely studied herbal age
nts.