Comparing turmeric and Indian frankincense extract with pain-relieving drugs for the treatment of osteoarthritis pain

INTERVENTION: This was a randomized controlled trial study for 4 weeks. Subjects were divided into 3 groups randomly: 1. Group I: combination of CB extract (Biocurpain; 350 mg of Curcuma longa and 150 mg Boswellia serrata) and NSAID (400 mg of ibuprofen or 50 mg of diclofenac sodium) 2. Group II: CB extract alone 3. Group III: NSAID alone. Each medication was taken two times per day for 4 weeks.Twenty tablets of 500 mg paracetamol, as a rescue medication, was given to each subject and the remaining was counted at the last week. The degree of pain measured using visual analogue scale (VAS). Physician Global Assessment (PGA) was an instrument to measure the physicians’ satisfaction with medication. Any adverse event was monitored. The analysis is intention to treat based. CONDITION: Osteoarthritis ; Musculoskeletal Diseases PRIMARY OUTCOME: Pain measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS) at baseline, 2 weeks and 4 weeks SECONDARY OUTCOME: Physicians’ satisfaction with medication measured using the Physician Global Assessment (PGA) at 2 and 4 weeks INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Aged 18 years or over 2. Diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the knee (Kellgren‐Lawrence grade II or III) for at least 4 weeks