---
title: Do echinophora-platyloba and fennel help reduce PMS symptoms?
description: Yes. Both herbs significantly reduced PMS symptoms more than placebo, and they worked about equally well.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/comparing-the-effects-of-echinophora-platyloba-fennel-and-placebo-on-pre-2011/
---

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- Do echinophora-platyloba and fennel help reduce PMS symptoms?

Randomised trial, 2011

# Do echinophora-platyloba and fennel help reduce PMS symptoms?

Yes. Both herbs significantly reduced PMS symptoms more than placebo, and they worked about equally well.

 Moderate study design

90 students in Iran with moderate or severe PMS

## What they did

90 students with moderate or severe PMS were assigned to three equal groups: one received echinophora-platyloba extract, one received fennel extract, and one received placebo. They recorded their symptom severity before and after treatment.

## What they found

Before treatment, the three groups were similar. After treatment, echinophora-platyloba (score 49.7) and fennel (score 64.4) significantly reduced symptoms compared to placebo (score 79.1). The two herbs worked about equally well.

## What it means for you

Both herbs reduced PMS symptoms more than placebo. However, the study was single-blind (researchers knew which group was which), which is weaker than double-blind studies.

90

students with moderate or severe PMS

49.7

symptom score for echinophora

79.1

symptom score for placebo

## About the study

Original title Comparing the Effects of Echinophora-platyloba, Fennel and Placebo on Pre-menstrual Syndrome Authors Delaram M, Kheiri S, Hodjati MR Journal Journal of reproduction & infertility Year 2011 Study design Randomised trial Participants 90 What was tested Echinophora-platyloba extract or fennel extract Open access Yes Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23926506/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23926506/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Other herbal medicine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-herbal-other/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)

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