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Published on: March 24, 2023
Efficacy of topical herbal oils for knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized
Qian Gao1, Xingqi Mei2, Jianxiu Wang3
1Department of Hand-foot and microreconstructive surgery, Orthopedic Center, Qilu Hospital (Qingdao), Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266035 China.
Background:
Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a chronic joint disease commonly observed in middle-aged and older individuals, significantly impacting their quality of life. Topical herbal oils (THOs) have emerged as a potential alternative therapy for pain management due to their natural origin and accessibility. This systemtic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the efficacy of THOs for alleviating pain in KOA patients.
Methods:
PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science were searched from inception to May 1, 2025. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Primary outcomes were the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores. Study quality was assessed using version 2 of the Cochrane tool for risk-of-bias assessment for randomized trials (ROB2), and the certainty of the evidence was graded using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach (GRADE). STATA 15.0 was used to perform analyses with a random-effects model.
Results:
Twenty studies involving 1546 patients were included. THOs significantly relieved WOMAC pain (MD = -2.42, P < 0.001) and stiffness (MD = -0.69, P < 0.001), and improved function (MD = -6.73, P < 0.001) and total scores (MD = -9.50, P < 0.001). THOs markedly reduced VAS scores (MD = -1.49, P < 0.001). Seed oils were the most effective, with optimal effects at 12 weeks for WOMAC and 5 weeks for VAS.
Conclusion:
THOs not only significantly alleviate pain, reduce stiffness, and improve function in patients with KOA, but also demonstrate a favorable safety profile and ease of use, thereby holding considerable promise for clinical application.
