title: Efficacy and safety of topical Matricaria chamomilla L. (chamomile) oil for knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy and safety of topical Matricaria chamomilla (Chamomile) oil in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were randomized and treated with topical chamomile oil, diclofenac or placebo, 3 times/day for 3 weeks. They were allowed to use acetaminophen as analgesic. The patients were asked about their total acetaminophen use. Moreover, they were assessed in the terms of pain, physical function and stiffness by using Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaire at the enrolling and weekly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Chamomile oil significantly reduced the patients' need for acetaminophen (P = 0.001) compared with diclofenac and placebo. However, there were no significant differences in WOMAC questionnaire domains. The patients did not report any adverse events by using chamomile oil.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chamomile oil decreased the analgesic demand of patients with knee osteoarthritis. In addition, it may show some beneficial effects on physical function, and stiffness of the patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Essence of Parsiyan Wisdom Institute, Traditional Medicine and Medicinal Plant Incubator, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Ruhollah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shoara
authors.affiliation: Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran; Essence of Parsiyan Wisdom Institute, Traditional Medicine and Medicinal Plant Incubator, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Hashem
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hashempur
authors.affiliation: Shiraz Geriatric Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Electronic address: sbahar7@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ashraf
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Traditional Medicine and History of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salehi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Shadab
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dehshahri
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Habibagahi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D031168:Matricaria / Q000737:chemistry*; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D010938:Plant Oils
keywords: Chamomile oil; Herbal medicine; Matricaria chamomilla; Osteoarthritis; Phytotherapy; Traditional Persian Medicine