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What is the evidence for topical herbal therapies (including Capsaicin) in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee?

Meta-Analysis

Cameron, M. and S. Chrubasik (2013) Topical herbal therapies for treating osteoarthritis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD010538
What's this
AMSTAR Rating
8

Summary

Patient Population:

No information on the patient population was provided.

Intervention:

  1. Capsaicin – use of a capsicum gel 3 times daily for 4 weeks.
  2. Comfrey – use of an ointment containing comfrey 3 times daily for 3 weeks.

Comparison:

  1. Capsaicin – 1 study (n=99) compared capsicum and a placebo.
  2. Comfrey – 1 study (n=220) compared comfrey and a placebo.

Outcome:

  1. Pain: capsaicin vs. placebo – small, non-significant difference in favour of capsaicin (MD=-1.0 mm; 95% CI -6.76 to 4.76)
  2. Function: capsaicin vs. placebo – small, non-significant difference in favour of capsaicin (MD= -2.64 mm; 95% CI, -9.51 to 4.23).
  3. Pain: comfrey vs. placebo – absolute pain reduction = 42%, relative reduction = 48% (NNT=1.84; 95% CI 1.7 to 2.1; Grade = moderate).

Guideline Recommendations

Source Recommendation
ACR (2019) Conditionally recommended

Outcomes Assessed

  • Benefit
  • Harm
  • Inconclusive

Capsaicin

Pain

Function

Comfrey

Pain

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