ドイツからの報告で、キャベツの葉を巻く治療を変形性膝関節症に試した研究があります。しかし、何でキャベツを膝に巻こうと考えたのでしょうか？全文を読んでいないので、その理由はわかりませんが、キャベツの葉を変形性膝関節症の膝に巻くと、ジクロフェナック（商品名はボルタレン）のジェルの薬を塗ったのと同じ程度の改善が得られるようです。キャベツから何かしみ出してくるのでしょうか？白菜ではダメなのでしょうか？食べても効果がないのでしょうか？非常に不思議な研究です。
４週間キャベツを巻くとしていますが、１日中巻いたままにしておくのでしょうか？そのまま、お買い物なんかは行けませんね。変な目で見られてしまいます。
そのうち、病院でもキャベツを処方する日が来るかも知れません。
Efficacy of Cabbage Leaf Wraps in the Treatment of Symptomatic Osteoarthritis of the Knee: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Clin J Pain. 2016 Nov;32(11):961-971.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is one of the most common chronic diseases among older adults. This study aimed to test the effects of cabbage leaf wraps (CLWs) in the treatment of symptomatic OA.
METHODS:
Patients with OA of the knee at stages II to III (Kellgren-Lawrence) were randomly assigned to 4 weeks of treatment with CLWs (daily for at least 2h), topical pain gel (TPG) (10 mg diclofenac/g, at least once daily), or usual care (UC). The primary outcome measure was pain intensity (VAS) after 4 weeks. Secondary outcomes included functional disability Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), quality of life (SF-36), self-efficacy (Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale-D), physical function (30 s Chair Stand Test), pressure pain sensitivity (PPT), satisfaction, and safety after 4 and 12 weeks.
RESULTS:
In total, 81 patients were included in this study (42 women, 65.9±10.3 y). After 4 weeks patients in the CLW group reported significantly less pain compared with those in the UC group (difference, -12.1; 95% [confidence interval] CI, -23.1, -1.0; P=0.033) but not when compared with the TPG group (difference, -8.6; 95% CI, -21.5, 4.4; P=0.190). Significant effects were also found in WOMAC, SF-36, 30-second Chair Stand Test, and PPT scores in the CLW group compared with the UC group. Compared with TPG, effects from CLW were found for WOMAC after 4 weeks and for quality of life after 12 weeks. Patients were satisfied with both active interventions, and except for 2 adverse events in both groups the applications were well tolerated.
CONCLUSIONS:
CLWs are more effective for knee OA than UC, but not compared with diclofenac gel. Therefore, they might be recommended for patients with OA of the knee. Further research is warranted.