BMC Complement Med Ther
Tibetan natural medicine evaluated for treatment of gouty arthritis
Tibetan Qingpeng ointment (QPO) exhibited positive effects on acute gouty arthritis by alleviating pain, reducing swelling, and enhancing joint mobility, without causing significant adverse effects compared with placebo.
- This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involved individuals with acute gouty arthritis (AGA) whose joint pain, as measured on a visual analog scale (VAS) from 0 to 10, was ≥3.
- Participants were randomly assigned to either the QPO or the placebo group and received their respective treatments twice daily for 7 consecutive days. In case of intolerable pain, participants were allowed to use diclofenac sodium SR tablets as a rescue medicine.
- Primary outcomes were joint pain and swelling. Secondary outcomes included joint mobility, redness, serum uric acid levels, C-reactive protein levels, and the amount of remaining rescue medicine.
- A total of 203 cases were divided into two groups, with balanced baselines: 102 in the QPO group and 101 in the placebo group.
- Joint pain. Differences between the groups were notable in the VAS scores [1.75 vs. 2.00; P=0.038], changes in VAS [5.00 vs. 4.00; P=0.036], and disappearance rate [26.47% vs. 15.84%; P=0.046] after treatment.
- Joint swelling. Significant between-group differences were observed in the VAS scores [1.00 vs. 2.00; P=0.032] and disappearance rate [33.33% vs. 21.78%; P=0.046] at treatment completion.
- Mobility. The QPO group exhibited a statistically significant mobility improvement compared with the placebo group (P=0.004).
- No significant differences were found in other secondary outcomes.
- Five patients, four from the QPO group and one from the placebo group, experienced mild adverse events, primarily skin irritation. All cases resolved after dosage reduction or discontinuation of the medication.
Source:
Shang Ya-Xi, et al. (2024, January 4). BMC Complement Med Ther. Efficacy of Qingpeng ointment (a Tibetan medicine) for acute gouty arthritis: a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38178115/