Evaluation of the Therapeutic Efficiency of Currently Available Topical Herbal Preparations in the Management of Temporomandibular Disorders – A Systematic Review

Background: Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) refers to a group of conditions involving masticatory muscles, temporomandibular joint, and associated musculoskeletal structure. Traditional treatment includes pharmacological and surgical options. Recently, topical herbal preparations have gained attention for their potential anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Objective: This review aimed to gather evidence on the effectiveness of topical herbal preparations in managing TMDs. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted until August 2024. Studies focused on topical herbal preparations in managing TMDs were included. Search engines used were PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane. Results: A total of five studies are included in this review. Three studies with a low risk of bias and two with a moderate risk were found by quality assessment of the included research. Findings from the low-risk studies suggest that, despite variations in formulations and protocols, topical herbal preparations show promising adjunctive efficacy. Conclusion: Topical herbal preparations hold potential as supportive therapies for symptomatic TMD, complementing nonpharmacological treatments.