Effects of Galbanum Oil on Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Knee osteoarthritis is considered as a major public health issue causing chronic disability worldwide with the increasing number of aging people. Many sufferers with knee osteoarthritis are using complementary and alternative medicine including herbal drug, herbal patch, etc. This research aimed to compare the efficacy of galbanum oil in the management of knee osteoarthritis with diclofenac gel using parallel randomized controlled design. In this randomized controlled trial (RCT), 32 patients with chronic knee pain due to osteoarthritis were randomly allocated into two equal groups. The intervention group received topical galbanum oil and control group received topical diclofenac gel. The drugs were given for 1 month, 3 times per day. Outcomes were assessed using Persian version of Western Ontario McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and visual analog scale (VAS). No statistically significant difference was observed between the topical galbanum oil and topical diclofenac gel regarding knee pain, morning stiffness and physical function over the 1- and 2-months follow-up period. It seems that using topical galbanum oil is clinically effective for patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis in order to decrease their pain, morning stiffness and limited function; its effect is comparable with topical diclofenac gel. Considering lesser side effects of galbanum and its herbal base, it may be a better choice compared to topical diclofenac in management of the pain of knee osteoarthritis at least in short term.