Randomized controlled trial of nettle sting for treatment of base-of-thumbpain

There are numerous published references to use of nettle sting for arthriti s pain but no randomized controlled trials have been reported. We conducted a randomized controlled double-blind crossover study in 27 patients with o steoarthritic pain at the base of the thumb or index finger. Patients appli ed stinging nettle leaf (Urtica dioica) daily for one week to the painful a rea. The effect of this treatment was compared with that of placebo, white deadnettle leaf (Lamium album), for one week after a five-week washout peri od. Observations of pain and disability were recorded for the twelve weeks of the study. After one week's treatment with nettle sting, score reductions on both visu al analogue scale (pain) and health assessment questionnaire (disability) w ere significantly greater than with placebo (P=0.026 and P=0.0027).