Efficacy of Saussurea costus (Qost) Oil as an Iranian Traditional Medicine Product on Female Urinary Incontinence; Double Blinded Randomized Clinical Trial

Background and objectives: Urinary incontinence is a public complaint that causes discomfort, embarrassment and costs. Also, there are some limitations and insufficiencies of drug therapy and surgical complications. This study has compared the effect ofSaussurea costus (qost) oil as an Iranian traditional medicine product and other contemporary medicine treatment methods on female urinary incontinence. Methods: A parallel double blinded placebo-controlled study was conducted. Thirty to 70 years old women with urinary incontinence were allocated in placebo and intervention groups, 41 patients in each group.Intervention and placebo groups received qost oil and placebo, respectively by local application twice daily below the navel without massage. The results were evaluated with valid questionnaires (ICIQ-SF and I-QOL). For evaluation, Chi-square test, independent-sample t-test and repeated measure analysis of variance were used. Significant p value was Results: A significant decrease in mean scores of the questionnaires during the study was noted in the qost group compared to the placebo group (p<0.001). Before the intervention, thirty one patients in the placebo group and 33 patients in the qost group had mixed urinary incontinence (p=0.794). Urge symptom s(nocturia, urine frequency and urgency to urination)  were completely discontinued in 25 patients in the qost group (78.1%) and 7 patients in the placebo group (22.6%) (p<0.001). Conclusion: The results suggested the oil to be effective in treatment of urinary inconsistence.