The goal of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of ginger syrup (G-rup) in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.
Inclusion criteria include moderate to severe knee pain due to osteoarthritis, and 40 to 85 years of age. Diabetes mellitus, and renal and hepatic diseases are among the exclusion criteria.
In a double-blind randomized clinical trial, 42 patients with knee osteoarthritis presenting to pain clinic of Amir Alam and Shariati hospitals, Tehran, will be assigned into 2 groups. One group will receive 10 ml of G-rup syrup (ginger syrup containing 100 mg/ml ginger extract and 150 mg/ml honey extract) 3 times a day, and the other group (as control) will receive 10 ml of placebo syrup (containing 150 mg/ml honey extract, sorbitol, and ginger essence) 3 times per day for 12 weeks. All the patients will be allowed to continue their previously prescribed medications (calcium, vitamin D and benzodiazepines) as recommended by their physicians. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs shall be discontinued from one week before until the end of the study, but if the patients need analgesic medications they will be able to use acetaminophen (at maximum daily dose of 3 g). The patients’ pain and functional capacity score will be assessed by Numerical Rating Scale (NRS 0-10) and The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) at the beginning of the study and at 4, 8, and 12 weeks thereafter.