Pain Relieving Properties of Ginger (Z. officinale) and Echinacea (E. angustifolia) Extracts Supplementation among Female Patients with Osteoarthritis. A Randomized Study

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the Echinacea and ginger species extracts supplementation among patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: Three hundred female patients with knee OA participated in this randomized study. They had OA of the knee and moderate-to-severe pain and they were divided into two groups. Study group (n=150) and control group (n=150). The study which lasted for 6-week. The study group received Ginger and Echinacea extract supplementations twice daily, with/ without acetaminophen. The study examined the reduction in "knee pain on standing for the study group (Ginger and Echinacea group)" defined by a reduction in pain of > or = 15 mm on a visual analog scale. The study measured other biological values such as BP, ESR, Creatinine and liver enzymes. Results: The supplementation of ginger and Echinacea extracts resulted in improvements in many values. Systolic blood pressure dropped from 120.5 ± 10.4 to 119.7 ± 8.9 mmHg, pain intensity VAS decreased from 6.9 ± 2.1 to 6.6 ± 1.5, ESR17.3 ± 11.9 and 21.0 ± 9.8mm/h, creatinine 0.87 ± 0.19mg/dl and 0.85 ± 0.16 mg/ dl and liver enzymes 21.6 ± 8.5 IU/L and 20.9 ± 4.5 IU/L for ALT and 20.9 ± 4.5 IU/L and 20.3 ± 7.4 IU/L for AST. Conclusion: The use of ginger extract in knee osteoarthritis patients had a moderately statistically significant effect on reducing pain with safe profile and mild GI adverse events.