title: Effect of a 2% topical chamomile application for treating burning mouth syndrome: a controlled clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The treatments for burning mouth syndrome (BMS) proposed to date have been varied but have only achieved limited efficacy. Chamomile has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of topical applications of 2% chamomile gel in comparison with a placebo for the treatment of BMS.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was designed as a prospective randomized placebo-controlled double-blind monocentric study. A total of 62 patients with idiopathic BMS were divided into two groups: Group A received applications of a 2% chamomile gel, and Group B (placebo) were administered a placebo; both treatments were applied twice daily for 1 month. Three variables were evaluated at base line, 15 and 30 days: pain (assessed using a visual analogue scale [VAS]), xerostomia severity (Xerostomia Inventory), and oral quality of life (assessed by means of the Oral Health Impact Profile-14).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 57 patients completed the study. Pain, xerostomia, and quality of life underwent improvements with statistical significance at 15 and 30 days in both groups (P < 0.001). But when the two groups were compared, differences in VAS pain were not significant (P = 0.847), nor were xerostomia severity (P = 0.536), or oral quality of life (P = 0.076).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The chamomile gel product was well tolerated. As treatment with chamomile and the placebo produced similar outcomes, the efficacy of 2% chamomile gel for treating BMS appears questionable. However, further studies with larger patient samples are needed to confirm this.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Valenzuela
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pons-Fuster
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: López-Jornet
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002054:Burning Mouth Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020843:Chamomile / Q000737:chemistry*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: burning mouth syndrome; chamomile; oral quality of life; pain; topical treatment