Traditional Chinese Medicine Formula in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis of Knees or Hips.

This trial was a 12 weeks' randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Chung Shan Medical University hospital, and signed informed consent was obtained from each patient. Sixty patients of osteoarthritis of knees or hips were enrolled in this study. Inclusion criteria were: age 20 to 80 years; primary osteoarthritis in at least 1 knee or hip, verified; at least moderate pain during 2 weeks before random assignment to treatment, as identified by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) LK3.0 Osteoarthritis Index pain subscale for more than 4.

Primary outcome measures were WOMAC at week 12.

Secondary outcome measures were WOMAC at week 4 and 8; Visual analogue scale (VAS) , Quality of life by SF-36, patient global assessment (PGA), at week 4, 8 and 12; serum levels of osteocalcin, C-terminal telopeptide(CTX), Hs-CRP, and ESR.

Inclusion criteria

• 1. Age ≥20 years old 2. Written informed consent obtained 3. Been diagnosed with knee or hip osteoarthritis 4. The physician interpretation of X-ray identification and joint space narrowing or bone spurs confirmed 5. In randomized trials before entering if used steroids or non-steroid medications osteoarthritis stable doses required at least one week 6. The WOMAC osteoarthritis index of the degree of pain assessment in the past two weeks at least> 4ppm pain

Exclusion criteria

• 1. Pregnant or breast-feeding women. 2. Chemotherapy or radiation therapy in cancer patients