Tsai Ru-Yin, Chen Chin-Chang, Lin Sheng-Yi, Hu Jhen-You, Hsiao Yao
Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Department of Medical Education, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40201, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Exp Ther Med. 2025 Mar 31;29(6):107. doi: 10.3892/etm.2025.12857. eCollection 2025 Jun.
Chronic lower back pain (CLBP) severely affects an individual's quality of life and increases reliance on healthcare services. Previous meta-analyses have primarily examined the effects of essential oils and herbal remedies separately, without considering their combined therapeutic potential. The present meta-analysis integrated both treatment modalities to evaluate the efficacy of botanical extract-based therapies for CLBP management. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, with data extracted from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted up to July 2024. A comprehensive search of several databases identified 13 RCTs that met the inclusion criteria, focusing on interventions using plant extracts, including various herbal formulations and essential oils. The meta-analysis demonstrated that botanical extract-based treatments, whether applied topically, combined with massage or administered orally, were more effective compared with a placebo in reducing pain, enhancing lumbar flexibility and extending walking duration in patients with CLBP. These findings support the role of botanical extracts as viable therapeutic options for CLBP management, emphasizing their potential integration into comprehensive pain management strategies. However, further research is necessary to explore their long-term efficacy and underlying mechanisms. The present study is registered in PROSPERO (registration no. CRD42024554015).
慢性下腰痛（CLBP）严重影响个人生活质量，并增加对医疗服务的依赖。以往的荟萃分析主要分别研究了精油和草药疗法的效果，而没有考虑它们的联合治疗潜力。本荟萃分析整合了这两种治疗方式，以评估基于植物提取物的疗法对CLBP管理的疗效。按照系统评价和荟萃分析的首选报告项目指南进行了一项系统评价和荟萃分析，数据取自截至2024年7月进行的随机对照试验（RCT）。对多个数据库进行全面检索后，确定了13项符合纳入标准的RCT，重点是使用植物提取物的干预措施，包括各种草药配方和精油。荟萃分析表明，基于植物提取物的治疗，无论是局部应用、与按摩结合还是口服，在减轻CLBP患者的疼痛、增强腰部灵活性和延长步行时间方面都比安慰剂更有效。这些发现支持植物提取物作为CLBP管理的可行治疗选择的作用，强调了它们融入综合疼痛管理策略的潜力。然而，有必要进一步研究以探索它们的长期疗效和潜在机制。本研究已在PROSPERO注册（注册号CRD42024554015）。
