Analysis of herbal poultices for knee pain relief in hospitals in the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand

This qualitative research aimed to collect and analyze herbal poultices used for relieving knee pain in hospitals in the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, Thailand. The study was conducted through interviews with Thai traditional medicine doctors at 33 hospitals, using purposive sampling from the prototype areas designated by the Department of Thai Traditional Medicine Development. The gathered information was then analyzed and compiled to provide insights into traditional Thai medicine and the science of herbs used in these recipes. The results revealed 39 medicinal formulas consisting of 61 species from 34 families, with Zingiber montanum being the most common (24 formulas, 61.54%). The plant part most commonly used was the leaf (22 species), and the predominant flavor was bitter (36.67%). Two groups of formulas were identified: hot formulas, with the main component being carminative, the secondary component being muscle relaxant, and assembled component being anti-inflammatory; and cold formulas, with the main component being anti-inflammatory, the secondary component being muscle relaxant, and assembled component being carminative. These findings highlight that the components of the herbal remedies used in most knee poultice formulas in hospitals are largely consistent with previous studies, which have demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties and pain relief effects. Further in-depth studies should be conducted to investigate their effectiveness in relieving knee pain.