title: Efficacy of topical chamomile oil for mild and moderate carpal tunnel syndrome: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of topical chamomile oil in patients with mild and moderate carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty six patients with electrodiagnostic criteria of mild and moderate CTS were enrolled in this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial and received wrist splint plus topical chamomile oil or placebo for 4 weeks. They were evaluated at the baseline and end of the study regarding functional and symptomatic scores, dynamometry, and electrodiagnostic indexes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dynamometry, functionality, and symptom severity scores of the patients were significantly improved in the chamomile oil group compared with the placebo group (P = 0.040, P = 0.0001, P = 0.017, respectively). Additionally, compound latency of the median nerve in the chamomile oil group significantly decreased (P = 0.035) compared to the placebo group. Other electerodiagnostic measurements did not change significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Complementary treatment with topical chamomile oil may have some benefits for patients with mild and moderate CTS, both subjectively and objectively.
authors.affiliation: Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran; Essence of Parsiyan Wisdom Institute, Phytopharmaceutical Technology and Traditional Medicine Incubator, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Hashem
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hashempur
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Sadegh
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ghasemi
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Traditional Medicine and History of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Essence of Parsiyan Wisdom Institute, Phytopharmaceutical Technology and Traditional Medicine Incubator, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Daneshfard
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Persian Medicine, School of Traditional Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Research Center for Traditional Medicine and History of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Parissa Sadat
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Ghoreishi
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Persian Medicine, School of Traditional Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Research Center for Traditional Medicine and History of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Zeinab Nasiri
authors.initials: ZN
authors.lastname: Lari
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Traditional Medicine and History of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Electronic address: kayhomayouni@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kaynoosh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Homayouni
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Pharmacy, School of Traditional Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Arman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zargaran
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020843:Chamomile; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Carpal tunnel syndrome; Chamomile oil; Herbal medicine; Matricaria chamomilla; Traditional Persian Medicine