Efficacy and tolerability of ginger (Zingiber officinale) in patients of osteoarthritis of knee.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative disorder of synovial joints and a common cause of locomotor disability. NSAIDs are routinely used for symptomatic treatment and are associated with side effects which have led to the increased interest towards alternative treatment options. This study was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ginger in management of OA. Sixty patients of OA of knee were enrolled in randomized open label study and divided into three groups of 20 each. Group I received tab. Diclofenac 50 mg and cap. placebo, group II received cap. ginger 750 mg and cap. placebo and group III received cap. ginger 750 mg and tab. diclofenac 50 mg. The assessment of efficacy was done at every 2 weeks till 12 weeks, by using Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis (WOMAC) index, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the safety assessment was done by noting adverse events during the study. The analysis of WOMAC score and VAS score in all the three groups showed statistically significant improvement with time in all groups. On comparison among three groups, group III patients who received both ginger and diclofenac showed numerically superior improvement than the individual treatments. There was no statistically significant difference among three groups in case of adverse events. Ginger powder has add-on effect on reducing the symptoms of OA of knee with acceptable safety profile.