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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2015 Aug;21(3):181-7.
doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2015.06.003. Epub 2015 Jun 9.

Efficacy and safety of topical Matricaria chamomilla L. (chamomile) oil for knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled clinical trial

Ruhollah Shoara  1 , Mohammad Hashem Hashempur  2 , Alireza Ashraf  3 , Alireza Salehi  4 , Shadab Dehshahri  5 , Zahra Habibagahi  6
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Efficacy and safety of topical Matricaria chamomilla L. (chamomile) oil for knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled clinical trial

Ruhollah Shoara et al. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2015 Aug.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of topical Matricaria chamomilla (Chamomile) oil in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Method: Patients were randomized and treated with topical chamomile oil, diclofenac or placebo, 3 times/day for 3 weeks. They were allowed to use acetaminophen as analgesic. The patients were asked about their total acetaminophen use. Moreover, they were assessed in the terms of pain, physical function and stiffness by using Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaire at the enrolling and weekly.

Results: Chamomile oil significantly reduced the patients' need for acetaminophen (P = 0.001) compared with diclofenac and placebo. However, there were no significant differences in WOMAC questionnaire domains. The patients did not report any adverse events by using chamomile oil.

Conclusion: Chamomile oil decreased the analgesic demand of patients with knee osteoarthritis. In addition, it may show some beneficial effects on physical function, and stiffness of the patients.

Keywords: Chamomile oil; Herbal medicine; Matricaria chamomilla; Osteoarthritis; Phytotherapy; Traditional Persian Medicine.

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  • Chronische Schmerzen – ein leidiges Problem.
    [No authors listed] [No authors listed] Forsch Komplementmed. 2016;23(1):6-11. doi: 10.1159/000444552. Epub 2016 Mar 4. Forsch Komplementmed. 2016. PMID: 26977601 German. No abstract available.

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