EFFECT OF ARCTIUM LAPPA L. (BURDOCK) ROOT TEA ON CLINICAL SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS IN PATIENTS WITH KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS

This study was designed to examine the effect of Burdock root tea on clinical signs and symptoms in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Thirty-six patients (10 men and 26 women) aged 50-70 year-old with knee osteoarthritis referred to the physical medicine and rehabilitation department of the Tabriz University of Medical sciences Hospitals in 2013, were selected for the study and divided into two groups randomly. For all individuals along the 42 days of study period, the same drug treatments were considered. The intervention group received daily 3 cups of Burdock root tea (each cups contain 2gr/150 cc boiled water) half-hour after the meal. Control group received 3 cups contain 150 cc boiled water daily. The Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) Questionnaire, Timed Up and Go (TUG) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) tests were used for clinical assessments. There was significant difference in pain intensity (P<0.001), scores of the KOOS Questionnaire (P=0.020) and TUG (P = 0.027) between the two groups after treatment. Significant reduction in pain intensity (p<0.001), significant decrease in the mean score of TUG (P< 0.001) and significant increase in the mean score of KOOS Questionnaire (P< 0.001) was noted in Burdock root tea group.