152208
Effectiveness of Justica gengarussa Burm. f. [Kraduk Kai Dam] Spray in Reducing Pain in the Neck-Shoulder Muscles
Abstract
Quasi-experimental research used a double-blind randomized controlled trial approach. Its objective was to compare the effectiveness of Justica gengarussa Burm. f. (kraduk kai dam) spray in reducing scapular, neck, and shoulder pain between the experimental group receiving J. gengarussa spray and the control group receiving placebo spray, each with 30 patients. In particular, the patients who received treatment for musculoskeletal, neck, and shoulder pain were at the Thai Traditional Medicine and Spa Service Center, Satun Hospital. The pain was classified into four levels or more. The patients were 20 to 60 years old whose pain was not due to an accident or brain disorder.
To reduce the impact on the study, a similar number of participants taking NSAIDs were randomly stratified to distribute to both groups. Participants were given the spray once a day and their effects were assessed 30 minutes after the dose using a pain assessment scale and a cervical range of motion scale. Everyone was evaluated three times within 10 days. The results showed that both groups had a significant reduction in pain intensity and a significant improvement in the degree of neck declination and head tilt to both left and right (p < 0.05).
However, when comparing the treatment outcomes between the two groups of participants, the experimental group had lower pain levels and had the ability to move or the angle of the neck tilting the head left and right more significantly than the control group (p < 0.05). J. gengarussa spray was effective in reducing pain and muscle stiffness as well as made it possible to increase the degree of scapular, neck, and shoulder movements. J. gengarussa has vitexin and apigenin as important substances, which exert the same effects as NSAIDs; and it is a common local plant that grows easily with no pests. Therefore, it should be promoted as an economic crop. Nevertheless, more studies are required in a larger population
