Non-randomised trial, 2007
Can a herbal formula called kamishoyosan help PMDD symptoms?
In this small pilot study, many women with PMDD improved after taking kamishoyosan, but it was not tested against a dummy treatment, so this is an early, less certain result.
What they did
30 women with PMDD took kamishoyosan (TJ-24) for six menstrual cycles. Researchers measured depression symptoms using a standard rating scale during the late premenstrual phase.
What they found
19 women (63.3%) had more than 50% improvement in their depression rating scale scores. 14 women (46.7%) saw their symptoms drop low enough to count as remission.
What it means for you
This herbal treatment looked promising for easing PMDD symptoms in this small group, but because everyone knew they were taking it and there was no comparison group, more rigorous research is needed before being confident it works.
63.3%
Had over 50% symptom improvement
46.7%
Reached remission
6
Number of cycles treated
About the study
- Original title
- Effectiveness of kamishoyosan for premenstrual dysphoric disorder: open-labeled pilot study
- Authors
- Yamada K, Kanba S
- Journal
- Psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
- Year
- 2007
- Study design
- Non-randomised trial
- What was tested
- Kamishoyosan (TJ-24), a traditional Japanese herbal formula, taken for six menstrual cycles
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1819.2007.01649.x
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