--- title: Does a Japanese herbal medicine help reduce anxiety before a period? description: An ethanol extract of a Japanese herbal medicine called Inochinohaha White reduced anxiety-like behavior in rats when hormone levels dropped sharply, suggesti url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/a-japanese-herbal-medicine-attenuates-anxiety-like-behavior-through-gaba-a-2021/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does a Japanese herbal medicine help reduce anxiety before a period? Lab study, 2021 # Does a Japanese herbal medicine help reduce anxiety before a period? An ethanol extract of a Japanese herbal medicine called Inochinohaha White reduced anxiety-like behavior in rats when hormone levels dropped sharply, suggesting it might help premenstrual anxiety. This was an animal study. Early or limited evidence Female rats undergoing progesterone withdrawal ## What they did Female rats were injected with progesterone for 21 days. Starting on day 15, they received either water or ethanol extract of the herbal medicine by mouth. Researchers tested anxiety-like behavior 48 hours after the final progesterone injection. ## What they found When rats stopped progesterone, they showed anxiety-like behavior. The ethanol extract at the tested dose significantly reduced this anxiety. The water extract did not help. The ethanol extract increased a brain receptor called GABA A receptor beta2-subunit in the amygdala (a brain area involved in emotion) and increased BDNF (a brain protein with anxiety-reducing effects) in a dose-dependent way. ## What it means for you An ethanol version of this herbal medicine may help with anxiety when hormone levels drop sharply before a period. The benefit was seen only in rats, and only the ethanol extract worked, not the water version. 21 days Progesterone injection period 300 mg/kg Ethanol extract dose 48 hours Time of anxiety testing after final progesterone ## About the study Original title A Japanese herbal medicine attenuates anxiety-like behavior through GABA A receptor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in a rat model of premenstrual syndrome Authors Iba H, Watanabe T, Motomura S et al. Journal Journal of pharmacological sciences Year 2021 Study design Lab study What was tested Inochinohaha White (ethanol extract) Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.jphs.2020.11.003](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphs.2020.11.003) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Neurosteroids (allopregnanolone)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-neurosteroids/)[Other herbal medicine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-herbal-other/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Guideline, 2024 How should Xiangshao Granules be prescribed for premenstrual tension syndrome? Randomised trial, 2022 Do herbal medicines and nutritional supplements help relieve PMS symptoms? Systematic review, 2021 Does damask rose help reduce menstrual pain, headache, fatigue, anxiety, and bloating? Systematic review, 2008 What treatments work best for PMS and PMDD? Review, 2003 How do menstrual cycle hormones affect the brain and cause mood disorders like PMDD? Randomised trial, 2025 Does Nigella sativa reduce PMS symptoms in women? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗