Effect of a topical herbal cream on the pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis: a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial
- PMID: 17041452
- DOI: 10.1097/01.RHU.0000073450.85179.55
Effect of a topical herbal cream on the pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis: a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial
Abstract
This study compared the efficacy of an herbal ointment to a placebo ointment in relieving the pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis. The herbal preparation contained substances believed by alternative practitioners to be helpful in treating osteoarthritis. This study was a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial. Subjects were solicited from patients attending an arthritis clinic in Dallas, Texas. Selection of subjects with osteoarthritis was based on the criteria developed by the American College of Rheumatology. Subjects were randomized to an active (n = 11) or a placebo (n = 8) group. Herbal ointment and control contained small amounts of capsaicin and menthol and were similar when applied. Subjects graded their levels of pain and stiffness for a 1-week no-treatment baseline. Subjects then applied the herbal or sham ointment to the involved joint(s) for 28 consecutive days and recorded their levels of pain and stiffness daily on visual analog scales. Significant differences between the active and placebo groups for pain (P < 0.05) and stiffness (P < 0.05) were found when the baseline phase was compared with the fourth week. An herbal ointment was shown to be effective in relieving the pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis without adverse effects. If future studies confirm effectiveness of this treatment, it may have a role as an adjunct to standard drug therapy.
Comment in
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Evaluating treatment efficacy: potential biases behind randomized controlled trials.J Clin Rheumatol. 2003 Jun;9(3):137-9. doi: 10.1097/01.RHU.0000073380.83306.39. J Clin Rheumatol. 2003. PMID: 17041447 No abstract available.
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Topical treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee with herbal products: promising results but still questions.J Clin Rheumatol. 2003 Jun;9(3):140-1. doi: 10.1097/01.RHU.0000073438.41609.4b. J Clin Rheumatol. 2003. PMID: 17041448 No abstract available.
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