Chamomile Oil Vs. Knee Osteoarthritis
Research Titled: Efficacy and safety of topical Matricaria chamomilla L. (chamomile) oil for knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled clinical trial
Read the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26256137/
Some Highlights:
Researchers in this study investigated the effectiveness and safety of chamomile oil in treating knee osteoarthritis, a common joint condition causing pain and stiffness. Participants were divided into three groups and treated with either chamomile oil, diclofenac (a common pain relief medication), or a placebo (a non-therapeutic substance), that they applied three times a day for three weeks. They could also use acetaminophen, a pain reliever, as needed. (acetaminophen is commonly sold under the brand name Tylenol.)
The researchers measured the total amount of acetaminophen the patients used and evaluated their pain, physical function, and stiffness using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaire at the start of the study and weekly throughout.
The results showed that those using chamomile oil needed a lot less acetaminophen compared to the groups using diclofenac or a placebo. This suggests that chamomile oil was effective in reducing pain.
However, there were no significant differences among the groups in terms of pain, physical function, and stiffness as measured by the WOMAC questionnaire. Importantly, the patients using chamomile oil did not report any adverse effects.
By H. Zell - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9482794
