--- title: Can the herb St John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) ease PMS symptoms? description: In this small early-stage study, women's PMS symptoms improved a lot while taking St John's Wort, but because there was no placebo group, we cannot be sure th url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/a-pilot-study-of-hypericum-perforatum-for-the-treatment-of-premenstrual-syndrome-2000/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Can the herb St John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) ease PMS symptoms? Randomised trial, 2000 # Can the herb St John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) ease PMS symptoms? In this small early-stage study, women's PMS symptoms improved a lot while taking St John's Wort, but because there was no placebo group, we cannot be sure the herb itself caused the improvement. Early or limited evidence 19 women with PMS, otherwise healthy, from a UK university complementary medicine department. ## What they did Researchers gave 19 women with PMS a daily St John's Wort tablet (300 mg extract, standardised to 900 microg hypericin) for two full menstrual cycles. Everyone knew they were taking the real treatment (no placebo or control group). Symptoms were rated every day, and anxiety, depression and social functioning were measured at the start and after one and two cycles. ## What they found All the symptom measures improved significantly. Overall PMS symptom scores dropped by 51% from the start of the trial to the end, and more than two-thirds of the women had at least a 50% reduction in symptom severity. Women tolerated the tablets well and stuck with the treatment. ## What it means for you This was a small, open pilot study with no placebo group, so the improvement could be partly or wholly a placebo effect, not proof that St John's Wort works. The authors say it only justifies doing a proper randomised, placebo-controlled trial next, not using it as a confirmed PMS treatment. 19 Women in study 51% Reduction in PMS symptom scores >2/3 Women with at least 50% symptom reduction ## About the study Original title A pilot study of Hypericum perforatum for the treatment of premenstrual syndrome Authors Stevinson C, Ernst E Journal BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology Year 2000 Study design Randomised trial What was tested St John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) tablets, 300 mg extract standardised to 900 microg hypericin per day, taken for two menstrual cycles. Read the paper [doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.2000.tb11085.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.2000.tb11085.x) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Other herbal medicine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-herbal-other/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/) 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 Systematic review, 2017 Does Vitex agnus castus help treat premenstrual syndrome? Study, 2026 What coping strategies help women manage PMS symptoms? Randomised trial, 2021 Does exercise and fennel reduce PMS symptoms in adolescent girls? Non-randomised trial, 2021 Does a combination of exercise, ginger milk, and massage help premenstrual syndrome? Non-randomised trial, 2019 Does exercising before your period help with pain and anxiety? Non-randomised trial, 2019 Does Cananga aromatherapy with warm compress reduce PMS symptoms in teenage girls? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗