More than 200 osteoarthritis sufferers are needed for studies into the effectiveness of complementary medicines by the Australian Centre for Complementary Medicine Education and Research (ACCMER).
Two separate clinical trials will examine the benefits of shea butter and a marine lipid extract in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA). The studies represent the largest clinical trials on complementary medicines currently being conducted in Australia.
Principal Investigator for both trials Dr Phil Cheras said the trials will investigate the safety, effectiveness and actions of these natural products.
“Current treatments for OA mainly focus on relieving the pain of the condition," Dr Cheras said.
"The major conventional treatments include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and paracetemol for pain relief. Clinical trials of other complementary medicines have shown they can be useful options, with low level side effects.
"The results of these studies may increase the choice of treatments available to sufferers.“
Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease and is among the most frequent health problems suffered by middle aged and older people, but is known to develop in much younger people. Due to the ageing population, the incidence of OA is rising rapidly. Once patients develop the condition, they generally suffer from the disease for the remainder of their lives and the severity of pain and disability most often increases. OA is characterised by pain and dysfunction which involves the entire joint. The condition is second only to ischemic heart disease as a cause of work disability in men over 50 years of age.
ACCMER is Australasia’s leading centre for evidence-based research and post-graduate education in complementary medicine. The Centre is a joint venture between The University of Queensland and Southern Cross University and was established as a world- first collaboration between conventional and complementary medicine.
Volunteers will need to make five visits to ACCMER’s clinic in the Mater Health Services Building, South Brisbane over the several months of the studies. Interested people can find out more from the Study Co-ordinator, on (07) 3010 3318 or email t.cattley@uq.edu.au .
Media: For more information, please contact Faculty Communications Officer Marlene McKendry, telephone (07) 33464713 OR 0401 996847.
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