EFFECT OF A PROPRIETARY HERBAL MEDICINE ON THE RELIEF OF CHRONIC ARTHRITIC PAIN - A DOUBLE-BLIND-STUDY

Eighty-two subjects with chronic arthritic pain were randomly assigned for 2 months without cross-over to either Reumalex, a licenced over-t he-counter (OTC) herbal medicine, or a placebo. Entry characteristics were determined by a previous survey of arthritic customers at pharmac y and healthfood shop outlets. The AIMS2 questionnaire was completed a t monthly intervals throughout and for 2 months prior to the trial, an d a modified Ritchie Index provided clinical scores. Subjects also com pleted diary recordings of their use of self-prescribed analgesics and events they considered significant. There was a small but statistical ly significant improvement in pain symptoms, less so in sufferers from osteoarthritis. There were no other significant changes in any other measures nor in the use of other self-prescribed analgesics. There wer e few side-effects noted. It is concluded that Reumalex has a mild ana lgesic effect in chronic arthritis at a level appropriate to self-medi cation.