Table 8.

Sequential VAS – Pain Index

Group	Baseline	Week 1	Week 2	Week 4	Week 6	Week 8
Placebo	72.9 ± 2.1	71.4 ± 2.7	68.4 ± 3.2	63.9 ± 3.3 **	58.6 ± 3.9 **	52.0 ± 4.7 ***
A	72.9 ± 3.0	66.8 ± 3.3	62.5 ± 4.7 **	51.2 ± 5.0 ***	49.7 ± 5.1 ***	42.7 ± 5.2 ***
B	70.1 ± 2.5	65.8 ± 3.2	58.9 ± 3.8 **	52.0 ± 4.7***	51.9 ± 5.0 ***	44.6 ± 4.9 ***
C	70.7 ± 2.4	65.0 ± 2.6	60.7 ± 2.9 **	52.7 ± 2.5 ***	47.2 ± 3.4 ***	43.4 ± 3.8 ***

Data expressed as mean ± sem. Group A = High dose sierrasil (n = 20), Group B = Low dose sierrasil (n = 21), Group C = Low dose sierrasil + cat's claw extract (n = 25), placebo n = 22. All groups displayed a significant change over the 8 weeks of the study (p < 0.001, ANOVA). Using a Wilcoxan matched pairs Signed-Rank test from baseline; * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001.