Efficacy of pharmacopuncture using root bark of Ulmus davidiana Planch in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.
The aim of this study was to determine whether pharmacopuncture is a clinically effective and safe method for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Patients were recruited between August 2008 and December 2008 at the Ilsan Hospital associated with Dongguk University. Patients were randomly assigned to one of the two groups. The experimental group (n = 30) received pharmacopuncture using root bark of Ulmus davidiana Planch (UDP) twice a week for 6 weeks; the control group (n = 30) received normal saline injections. Fifty-three patients completed the trial. After the seventh treatment, we found that UDP pharmacopuncture was more effective in pain improvement using a Visual Analog Scale than was normal saline injection. However, the two interventions were not significantly different as measured by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities pain score and total pain scores, 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, and Korean Health Assessment Questionnaire. No subject showed any serious adverse effects. The effects of pharmacopuncture treatment were a combination of placebo, needle stimulation, mechanical effect of the solution, and a chemical effect of UDP. However, normal saline used as the control intervention displayed the first three effects, and thus its effect was not inert. This may have influenced the results of the trial, which was statistically insignificant between the two groups, except following the seventh treatment session.
Kim
Eun-Jung
EJ
Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Graduate School of Oriental Medicine, Dongguk University in Seoul, Goyang, Korea.
Jang
Min-Ki
MK
Yoon
Eun-Hye
EH
Jung
Chan-Yung
CY
Nam
Dong-Woo
DW
Lee
Seung-Deok
SD
Kim
Kap-Sung
KS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000188:drug therapy*; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D034403:Ulmus / Q000737:chemistry*
D010936:Plant Extracts