Study Study type Participants characteristics Sample size Male, % Age, † years Herbal compress ingredients Characteristics of herbal compress intervention Control Detail of intervention Number of sessions (duration) Practitioner Pain reduction Artkarn, 2006 [10 ] QE Have recently been developed symptoms of back pain and knee pain with no prior history of using NSAIDs in the past 7 days 40 30.0 NR, range 25–55 The Institute of Thai Traditional Medicines Recipe Steamed for 10 minutes then compressed after a 40-minute massage for 30 minutes on days 1, 3, and 5 with concomitant use of oral diclofenac 25 mg tid every day 5 (5 days) A Thai traditional massage practitioner who has 5-year experience in using herbal compress Oral diclofenac 25 mg tid every day
Chiranthanut et al., 11 ] RCT Have been diagnosed with knee OA according to the American College of Rheumatology for >3 months and had the VAS of pain in the range of 175–375 out of 500 60 27.0 NR, Int. 63.7 ± 6.1; Ctrl1 65.4 ± 9.8; Ctrl2 62.2 ± 9.5 The 225 g herbal balls contained dried herbs of Zingiber montanum rhizomes (40%), Curcumalonga L. rhizomes (10%), Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf leaves and leaf sheaths (10%), Croton roxburghii N. P. Balakr. leaves (10%), Tamarindus indica L. leaves (10%), Citrus hystrix DC. peels (5%), Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC. leaves (5%), Vitex trifolia L. leaves (5%), and camphor (5%) Steamed for 20 minutes and compressed for 1 hour (changed the steamed herbal ball when the current one was slightly lukewarm) three times a week 9 (3 weeks) A health professional practitioner who is trained in Suandok-style Thai massage Ctrl1: massage for 1 hour three times a week; Ctrl2: oral ibuprofen 400 mg tid every day
Iampornchai et al., 12 ] QE Postpartum mothers who had back pain for both after labor and 24 hr after labor 100 0 NR, Int. 26.5 (23.0–33.0)‡ ; Ctrl 26.0 (21.7–30.0)‡ NR Compressed after the court type Thai traditional massage for the total of 60 minutes Once Five trained Thai traditional medicine practitioners Usual labor care including medication and exercise
Intarasukum and Kerdcharoen, 13 ] QE Primigravida mothers with singleton term who had labor pain 100 0 NR, Int. 22.6 ± 4.1; Ctrl 21.7 ± 4.8 Zingiber montanum 500 g, Citrus hystrix DC. peels 100 g, Cymbopogon citratus Stafp 200 g, Tamarindus indica leaves 100 g, Curcuma longa L. 100 g, Acacia concinna (Willd.) DC. leaves 50 g, Salt 60 g, Camphor 30 g, and Borneo camphor 30 gStart compressed on pelvis, coccyx, and waist when the cervix dilated for 4-5 cm, compress for 30 minutes and pause for 10–15 minutes then recompress for 30 minutes. Perform this cycle (compress and pause) until the cervix dilated for 8-9 cm, and then perform the final compress for 30 minutes One course The investigator (nurse) Usual labor care
Lekutai et al., 14 ] QE Had been diagnosed with subacute knee OA with no plan for surgical treatment 89 NR NR, range 51–55 Damnoen Saduak Hospital Recipe (Zingiber montanum 500 g, Curcuma longa L.200 g, Citrus hystrix DC. peels 150 g, Cymbopogon citratus Stapf 100 g, Tamarindus indica leaves 100 g, Salt 50 g, Camphor 30 g, Borneo camphor 30 g) Compressed for 30 minutes (changed the steamed herbal ball every 5 minutes) once a day 5 (5 days) NR Ctrl1: compressed with hot compress for 30 minutes once a day; Ctrl2: isometric exercise for 30 minutes once a day Phromjuang, 15 ] QE Elderly (age 60–80 years) who had knee OA pain ≥6 months 40 NR NR, range 60–80 Zingiber montanum 500 g, Curcuma longa L. 200 g, Salt 1 tbsp, and Camphor 2 tbspSteamed for 10 minutes and then compressed for 30 minutes (changed the steamed herbal ball every 5 minutes) twice a week 8 (4 weeks) NR Usual care including oil massage and OA modern medicines
Puengsuwan et al., 16 ] CT Had been diagnosed with nonspecific low back pain 24 37.5 41 ± 8 Fresh herbs contain Zingiber montanum , Curcuma longa L., Curcuma zedoaria Roscoe, Cryptolepis buchanani Roem. & Schult, Croton oblongifolius Roxb. leaves, Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC. leaves, Citrus hystrix DC. peels, Cymbopogon citratus Stapf, Tamarindus indica leaves Salt, Camphor, and Borneo camphor Steamed for 30 minutes then compressed for 20 minutes Once A Thai traditional massage practitioner Compressed with hot compress for 20 minutes
Sathianrat et al., 17 ] QE Had myofascial pain syndrome with pain around neck, shoulder, and upper back for 2 days to 2 weeks 90 27.8 NR, range 20–69 The Institute of Thai Traditional Medicines Recipe Compressed for 30 minutes on days 1, 3, and 5 3 (5 days) A health professional practitioner who has 2-year experience in using herbal compress Ctrl1: compressed with hot compress for 30 minutes on days 1, 3, and 5; Ctrl2: applied diclofenac gel at 7 am, 1 pm, and 9 pm everyday Sukonthasarn,18 ] QE Elderly (age >60 years) who had knee pain >1 year with no sign of inflammation at knee 75 NR NR NR Compressed everyday 14 (2 weeks) Village health volunteers who were trained in the use of herbal ball Ctrl1: knee exercise 3 times a day; Ctrl2: knee exercise 3 times a day plus herbal compress once a day Suwan, 2000 [19 ] QE Had been diagnosed with knee OA with no plan for surgical treatment 30 20.0 NR, range 40–79 Zingiber montanum 500 g, Curcuma longa L. 500 g, Salt 5 tbsp, and Camphor 2 tbspCompressed everyday 7 (7 days) The investigator (nurse) Compressed with hot compress once a day Induce lactation
Listisit and Pakdeechot, 20 ] QE Postcesarean mothers who had no milk production within 2 hours postpartum 100 0 NR, Int. 32.0 ± 4.1; Ctrl 27.5 ± 5.6 NR Compressed within 24 hours postcesarean Once The investigator (nurse) Routine increasing milk production program (baby holding and breast feeding promotion every 2-3 hours)
Pakdeechot et al., 21 ] QE Postpartum mothers who had no milk production within 2 hours postpartum 100 0 NR, Int. 27.1 ± 5.6; Ctrl 26.8 ± 5.1 NR Compressed within 24 hours postpartum Once NR Routine increasing milk production program (baby holding and breast feeding promotion every 2-3 hours)
Trainapakul et al., 22 ] QE Mothers who had no milk production within 48 hours postpartum 46 0 NR, Int. 29.1 ± 6.4; Ctrl 27.7 ± 5.5 Zingiber montanum 500 g, Curcuma longa L. 25 g, Curcuma zedoaria Roscoe 25 g, Citrus hystrix DC peels. 200 g, Cymbopogon citratus Stapf 100 g, Tamarindus indica leaves 50 g, Borneo camphor 5 g, Camphor 5 gSteamed for 10 minutes and then compressed after a 10-minute breast massage for 20 minutes each breast Once A Thai traditional massage practitioner Compressed after a 5-minute breast massage with mini hot bag for 5 minutes each breast
