Paederia foetida, commonly known as skunkvine, has a long history of use in traditional medicine systems across South and Southeast Asia, including Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine. In these systems, the plant is often employed to address joint-related complaints such as rheumatism, arthritis, and general joint pain. Traditional practitioners typically use its leaves, stems, or roots in the form of decoctions, pastes, or poultices applied to affected areas or consumed orally.

The ethnobotanical literature documents its application as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent, which indirectly supports its use for joint health. However, while a few preclinical studies have hinted at anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in Paederia foetida extracts, there is a lack of robust clinical trials directly evaluating its efficacy for joint conditions in humans. The available evidence is primarily anecdotal or based on animal models, with very limited mechanistic understanding.

In summary, the use of Paederia foetida for joint support is predominantly justified by traditional medical practices rather than strong scientific validation. While some pharmacological activities relevant to joint health have been preliminarily identified, current evidence does not robustly confirm its effectiveness for this purpose.