Effects of herbal wet compresses on pain intensity, inflammatory factor levels, and quality of life in patients with pain

Objective: To investigate the pharmacological mechanisms and clinical effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) wet compresses on pain, inflammation, and quality of life in patients with soft tissue injuries.

Methods: First, the network pharmacology of the active ingredients from TCM wet compresses were identified using the TCMSP (Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform) database (Common monkshood mother root, Two-toothed achyranthes root, Sour orange, Garden balsam stem, Safflower, Ground beetle, Zingiber, Haichow elsholtzia herb). Relevant targets for soft tissue injuries were obtained from GeneCards, revealing 20 key therapeutic targets. Pathway clustering highlighted inflammation-related pathways. Then we conducted clinical investigation by retrospectively analyzing the data of 80 patients with soft tissue injury treated in our hospital from January 2023 to December 2023. The data from healthy subjects who had physical examination in our hospital during the same period served as the control group (n=40). According to the treatment plan, the patients were divided into study group A (n=40, external treatment with Voltaalin ointment), and study group B (n=40, treatment with TCM wet compress). Pain intensity, inflammatory factor levels, and quality of life of the patients between the two groups were compared.

Results: Analysis of TCM wet compresses revealed 86 active ingredients and 259 intersecting targets, with key ingredients including sitogluside, beta-sitosterol, and quercetin. Key targets included IL-6, IL-1B, TNF, CXCL8, and IL10. Clinically, both patient groups showed significant reductions in pain and inflammatory markers, with greater improvements in study group B. In addition, quality of life improved notably post-treatment in study group B.

Conclusion: TCM wet compress patches are effective in reducing pain, modulating inflammation, and improving the quality of life in patients with soft tissue injury. These findings support TCM wet compresses as a promising alternative treatment.