Page 38 - วารสารกรมการแพทย์แผนไทยฯ ปีที่ 20 ฉบับที่ 1

18 วารสารการแพทย์แผนไทยและการแพทย์ ทางเลือก ปีที่ 20 ฉบับที่ 1 มกราคม-เมษายน 2565

Effectiveness of Herbal Steam Bath for Pain Relief in Patients with Lom Jab
Pong Haeng Khao (Osteoarthritis of the Knee)

Preecha Nootim , Maneerat Chuenjai, Pornchai Sawangwong, Pimlada Pongchaichanon,
*
Amornrat Rachderm

Thai Traditional and Integrated Medicine Hospital, Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Ministry
of Public Health, Talad-Kwan Sub-District, Mueang District, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand
Corresponding author: preecha.nootim@gmail.com
*

Abstract

Knee osteoarthritis is the most common cause of joint dysfunction, the world’s public health issue that is
affecting people’s quality of life. Knee osteoarthritis is referred to as Lom Jab Pong Haeng Khao in Thai traditional
medicine, which has been found to be effective for pain relief when using herbal drugs or therapeutic massage com-
bined with herbal compression. However, in a group of patients with Lom Chap Pong Haeng Khao, there had never
been any herbal remedies with the formula of a compress ball combined with herbal steam bath. This experimental
research aimed to investigate the efficacy of herbal steam bath in relieving knee pain in patients with Lom Chap
Pong Haeng Khao. The study involved two groups of 31 participants each. The experimental group was given herbal
steam bath, while the control group was given steam bath. Both groups received the steam treatment three times per
week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) with 15 minutes of steaming, 5 minutes of rest outside, and 15 minutes
of steaming, for a total of 12 sessions over a four-week period. A general information questionnaire, pain visual
analog scale (VAS), range of motion (ROM), and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis
Index (WOMAC) were used to collect data, which were analyzed to determine percentages, means, and standard
deviations, and hypothesis testing was carried out using repeated measures ANOVA. The results showed that the
experimental group had lower pain (VAS) levels than the control group, and significantly lower than the control
group (p < 0.001) in weeks 3 and 4. The ROM of extension and flexion on the left side and extension on the right
side increased from week 1 through week 4 in both groups, but not significantly, while the ROM of flexion on the
right side of the experimental group significantly increased more than the control group (p < 0.001) since weeks
1–3 and (p < 0.005) in week 4. Based on the WOMAC data, the experimental group’s pain level, joint stiffness,
and physical function were better than before the trial. The comparative analysis of the mean scores between the
groups after the experimentation showed that the experimental group had significantly lower pain level than the
control group (p < 0.01) and (p < 0.001) in weeks 3 and 4, the joint stiffness was significantly less than the control
group (p < 0.05) and (p < 0.001) in weeks 3 and 4, and the physical function was significantly better than the control
group (p < 0.01) and (p < 0.001) in weeks 3 and 4. In sum, since the third week, herbal steam bath had been found
to reduce pain and disease severity, and improve physical function; and heat is thought to change the viscoelastic
properties of collagenous tissues, resulting in rising pain relief as well as ROM and WOMAC levels

Key words: herbal steam, pain relief, Lom Jab Pong Haeng Khao, osteoarthritis of the knee