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Case report, 2023

Can maca, alfalfa, and magnesium help with PMS, period pain, and heavy bleeding?

One woman taking these supplements for four months experienced relief of her PMS symptoms, period pain, cramping, and heavy bleeding. However, this is just one person, so we cannot be certain these supplements caused the improvement.

Early or limited evidence One premenopausal woman with PMS, painful periods, and heavy menstrual bleeding

What they did

One premenopausal woman was given maca, alfalfa, and magnesium for four months to treat premenstrual syndrome, painful periods, and heavy menstrual bleeding.

What they found

After four months, the patient experienced resolution of multiple PMS symptoms including balanced moods, improved satiety, reduced cystic acne, and regulated bowel movements, as well as complete resolution of menstrual pain, cramping, and lighter menstrual cycles.

What it means for you

This is one woman's experience. Without a control group, we cannot know if the improvements came from the supplements, other life changes, time passing, or placebo effect. More research is needed before we can say these supplements work for PMS and heavy periods.

4

Months of treatment

1

Number of women

About the study

Original title
Improvements in Premenstrual Syndrome, Primary Dysmenorrhea, and Menorrhagia with Natural Therapies: A Case Report
Authors
Kim Ross
Journal
Current Research in Complementary & Alternative Medicine
Year
2023
Study design
Case report
What was tested
Maca, alfalfa, and magnesium
Open access
Yes
Original abstract

Premenstrual syndrome, primary dysmenorrhea, and abnormal uterine bleeding are separate but intertwined aspects of women's reproductive health.Symptoms can include, but are not limited to, heavy menstrual cycles, painful periods, abdominal cramping, and changes in moods and emotions that can significantly impact the quality of life for women.Women are increasingly interested in seeking natural or alternative therapies to address these conditions.The purpose of this case report is to share one woman's experience using Lepidium peruvianum (maca), Medicago sativa (alfalfa), and magnesium to address premenstrual syndrome, primary dysmenorrhea, and abnormal uterine bleeding, specifically menorrhagia, which has not reported in the scientific literature.In four months, the patient experienced a resolution of multiple PMS symptoms, including balanced moods, improved satiety, reduced cystic acne, and regulated bowel movements, as well as complete resolution of menstrual pain, cramping, and lighter menstrual cycles.This case demonstrated the safe and effective use of Lepidium peruvianum, Medicago sativa, and magnesium in a premenopausal woman to manage premenstrual syndrome, primary dysmenorrhea, and menorrhagia.Further, rather than focusing on one intervention, the case highlights the importance of personalized care (N=1) that utilizes targeted botanical and nutrient therapies in combination to maximize clinical outcomes.

Reproduced under CC-BY-SA.

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