Study
Spearmint Tea May Ease Knee Pain in Older Adults with Osteoarthritis
Drinking high-rosmarinic acid spearmint tea twice daily for 16 weeks reduced knee pain in seniors with osteoarthritis.
Summary
In plain language
For seniors dealing with knee osteoarthritis, a recent study suggests that drinking spearmint tea rich in rosmarinic acid may help reduce pain. In a study conducted at the University of Guelph, participants who drank this special spearmint tea twice a day for 16 weeks reported less knee pain over time. Although improvements in stiffness and physical disability were noted in both the high-rosmarinic acid and regular spearmint tea groups, only those consuming the high-rosmarinic acid tea experienced significant pain relief. This finding points to spearmint tea as a potential complementary approach to managing knee osteoarthritis pain, particularly for those looking to reduce reliance on traditional pain medications.
Details
Use the full description to understand the study design, methods, and the limits of the findings.
The study enrolled adults with knee osteoarthritis in a randomized, double-blind trial. Participants consumed either high-rosmarinic acid spearmint tea or regular spearmint tea twice daily for 16 weeks.
The high-rosmarinic acid group showed significant pain reduction, while both groups experienced less stiffness and physical disability.
Despite these positive findings, the study did not find significant differences between the two groups in other measures like walking distance or stair climbing.
Participants were encouraged to maintain their usual medications and activities, ensuring the tea's effects were isolated.
Seniors interested in trying spearmint tea for osteoarthritis should discuss it with their healthcare providers, especially if they are on other treatments.
Full Study
Open the original publication for the complete methods, outcomes, and source material.
Spearmint Tea May Ease Knee Pain in Older Adults with Osteoarthritis
Published September 2026
Opens at the publisher · external site · may require institutional access
Research Quality Score
Scored September 29, 2026 using rubric mq-1.8_2026-07-06.
Assessment
The study scored highly due to its rigorous randomized controlled trial design, comprehensive bias control measures, and complete transparency with pre-registration and detailed reporting. However, the presence of a patent held by one author affected the conflicts score, and no replication evidence was provided. The study is relevant to the target population of older adults.
Category Breakdown
| Category | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Study design | 10.0/10 | |
| Bias control | 10.0/10 | |
| Statistical methods | 10.0/10 | |
| Reporting completeness | 10.0/10 | |
| Conflicts & funding | 5.0/10 | |
| Replication | 0.0/10 | |
| Relevance to chosen population | 10.0/10 | |
| Journal Reliability | 5.0/10 |
Additional Notes
This randomized, double-blind trial investigated the effects of high-rosmarinic acid spearmint tea on knee osteoarthritis symptoms in adults. The study found significant improvements in pain and physical function for the high-rosA group compared to controls.
Assessed on the study's full text across 8 quality dimensions; conflict-of-interest disclosures were reviewed.
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