Historischer Hintergrund
Historical background
Brassica oleracea var. capitata is the botanical name for cabbage, also known as white cabbage or red cabbage. It is a biennial vegetable plant with round, firm heads formed from leaves. Cabbage has been a staple of our diet throughout the year for many centuries and is one of the most widely cultivated vegetables worldwide. It is considered beneficial to health, particularly in the traditional cuisines of Southern and Eastern Europe. As early as 2,000 years ago, the Roman statesman Cato the Elder described the vegetable as a “panacea.”
Cabbage belongs to the cruciferous family (Cruciferae), which also includes cauliflower, broccoli, and kale. It is eaten either raw or prepared in various ways, mainly by cooking or fermenting. Traditionally, it is recommended for the relief of respiratory, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular conditions and is used in various diets for diabetics or overweight patients to improve blood sugar control or to reduce weight.
Uses of Cabbage
The shape of the cabbage leaf also facilitates topical application, i.e., applying it to the skin in the form of compresses (so-called cabbage wraps); descriptions of cabbage wraps for pain relief date back as far as Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179).
The wrap remains on the affected joint or area for 1 to 12 hours. Topical application is said to be effective due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-itching, and antibacterial properties, as well as its cooling and decongestant effects.
Cabbage wraps (made from savoy and white cabbage) are used in naturopathic medicine for joint pain, osteoarthritis, gout attacks, tendonitis, bruises/sprains, as well as general swelling, particularly in cases of mastitis and "milk congestion" during lactation (1,2).
Chemical and pharmacological composition:
Cabbage is rich in vitamins. For example, it contains a lot of vitamin C. One hundred grams of white cabbage contains the same amount of vitamin C as a glass of orange juice. Broccoli and Brussels sprouts provide even more vitamin C than white cabbage. Vitamins A, B, E, and K are also found in cabbage, as are the minerals calcium, iron, and magnesium. In addition, cabbage is rich in dietary fiber.
The pharmacological properties of cabbage are explained by its composition of bioactive compounds such as glucosinolates (mustard oils), which protect the plant from predators, fungi, and bacteria and are believed to have anticarcinogenic effects, as well as flavonoids, phenols, and anthocyanins. The exact composition of the phytochemicals depends on the type of cabbage, the growing region, climatic conditions, and the method of preparation. Among the many phytochemicals, flavonoids and phenolic compounds are associated with anti-inflammatory effects and accelerated skin healing when applied topically (3,4).
In particular, the sulfur-containing compounds found in cabbage leaves are thought to facilitate the subcutaneous penetration of anti-inflammatory flavonoids, phenols, and anthocyanins.
Effects in vitro and in animal models
In in vitro studies in which an ethanolic extract of Brassica oleracea var. capitata (cabbage) was investigated, numerous bioactive components of cabbage were detected using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-ESI MS). Cabbage thus contains significant amounts of phenolic compounds with strong antioxidant activity. Topical and systemic administration demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects in a rat model that were comparable to those of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (5).
Results of a PubMed search:
A PubMed search for scientific articles on the keyword "cabbage wraps" yielded 27 results; one reference was found for "cabbage wraps and rheumatic diseases" (as of June 30, 2025).
There are no studies on RA; two RCTs have been published on knee osteoarthritis. No systematic reviews were identified; a narrative review was recently published (6).
Use of cabbage wraps for rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
There are no studies investigating the efficacy of cabbage wraps in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Use of cabbage wraps for osteoarthritis
Two studies on the topical application of cabbage were published in patients with knee osteoarthritis. In the study by Lauche et al. from Essen (Germany), 81 patients with knee osteoarthritis (42 women, mean age 65.9 years) in stages II to III (Kellgren-Lawrence) were randomly assigned to a four-week treatment with cabbage wraps (daily for at least 2 hours), topical pain gel (diclofenac/TSG) (10 mg diclofenac/g, at least once daily), or “usual care” (UC) (physical therapy and medication). The primary outcome measure was pain intensity (VAS) after 4 weeks. Secondary endpoints included functional limitation (WOMAC), quality of life (SF-36), self-efficacy (Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale-D), physical function (30-second Chair Stand Test), pressure pain sensitivity (PPT), satisfaction with treatment, and treatment safety at 4 and 12 weeks.
After 4 weeks, patients in the cabbage wrap group reported significantly less pain than those in the UC group (difference, -12.1; P=0.033); no significant difference was found compared to the diclofenac group (difference, -8.6; P=0.190). Significant effects were also observed in the WOMAC, SF-36, 30-second chair stand test, and PPT scores in the cabbage wrap group compared to the UC group. Patients were satisfied with both active interventions, and with the exception of 2 adverse events (itching/burning) in both groups, the treatments were well tolerated. In this study, cabbage wraps were thus similarly effective to a topical NSAID (diclofenac) and more effective than “usual care” (7).
In another open-label study, 60 patients with moderate to severe (Grade 3–4) knee osteoarthritis according to the Kellgren and Lawrence grading system and a poor to good Oxford Knee Score were enrolled. The participants were divided into three intervention groups: the cooling gel pad group (20 minutes once daily) (n=20), the diclofenac gel group (4 times daily) (n=20) as the control group (total n=40), and the cabbage wrap group (1 hour duration once daily) (n=20) as the intervention group (total n=20). The cabbage wrap group and the cooling gel pad group showed a significant difference in the Oxford Knee Score (p < 0.001 in both groups) and in the NRS score (p < 0.001 in both groups) before and after the intervention. The three methods differed significantly in terms of the Oxford Knee Score (p=0.012) and the NRS pain score (p < 0.001). This study clinically demonstrated that the use of cabbage wraps and cooling gel pads showed similar improvements in the reduction of OA symptoms in terms of the NRS total score (pain) and the Oxford Knee Score (function and pain). The therapeutic efficacy was better than that of diclofenac gel (8).
There are no known restrictions on the use of cabbage wraps. However, wraps should not be applied to broken skin or in cases of known allergic reactions to cabbage.
The scientific evidence is insufficient to recommend the use of cabbage wraps for patients with RA. If patients with knee osteoarthritis expressly request an alternative to drug therapy, cabbage wraps may be mentioned as a possibility. In doing so, attention should be drawn to the lack of standardization of the treatment and the weak evidence.
1. B. Boi, S. Koh, and D. Gail, “The effectiveness of cabbage leaf application (treatment) on pain and hardness in breast engorgement and its effect on the duration of breastfeeding,” JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, vol. 10, no. 20, pp. 1185–1213, 2012
2. Zakarija-Grkovic I, Stewart F (2020) Treatments for breast engorgement during lactation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 9(9)-CD006946
3. Statilko O, Tsiaka T, Vassilia J et al. (2024) Overview of Phytochemical Composition of Brasserica Oleraceae var: Capitata Cultivars. Foods 13, 3395
4. Šamec D., Pavlović I., Salopek-Sondi B (2017) White cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. alba): Botanical, phytochemical and pharmacological overview. Phytochem. Rev. 16:117–135. doi: 10.1007/s11101-016-9454-4
5. Sabin O, Pop RM, Bocan IC et al. (2024) The Anti-Inflammatory, Analgesic, Antioxidant Effects of Polyphenols from Brassica oleracea var. capitata Extract on Induced Inflammation in Rodents. Molecules 2024, 29, 3448. doi.org/10.3390/molecules29153448
6. Smith AC, Smith MS, Roach RP et al. Making Sense of Topical Pain Reliefs: Comparing Topical Analgesics in Efficacy and Safety. Sports Health 17(4) 843-852
7. Lauche R, Gräf N, Cramer H et al. (2016) Efficacy of Cabbage Wraps in the Treatment of Symptomatic Osteoarthritis of the Knee: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Clin J Pain 32(11): 961-971
8. Chobpenthai T, Arunwatthanangkul P, Mahikul W (2022) Efficacy of Cabbage Leaf versus Cooling Gel Pad or Diclofenac Gel for Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomize Open-Labeled Controlled Clinical Trial. Pain Research and Management https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/3122153
Last updated: March 10, 2026