Western medicine usually treats Rheumatoid Arthritis (an autoimmune disease characterised by swelling of the joints, inflammation,pain and sometimes joint destruction) with NSAID's (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).

But NSAID's taken over a prolonged period can cause patients discomfort and have adverse side effects.

Research funded by NCCAM at the University of Maryland and Rutgers University has looked at the effect of green tea polyphenols in animals drinking water.

Researchers found that green tea reduced the severity of arthritis "significantly".

The research suggested that it suppresses inflammatory substances and increases anti-inflammatory substances within animal's bodies and NCCAM has recommend further research into green tea's use as a complementary therapy to conventional rheumatoid arthritis treatment.