---
title: Can kambakutaisoto help emotional symptoms of PMS? | Niyora
description: Kambakutaisoto, a traditional medicine made from jujube, licorice, and wheat, appears to help emotional instability in PMS, especially in young women. No larg
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/kambakutaisoto-and-emotional-instability-associated-with-premenstrual-syndrome-2021/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- Can kambakutaisoto help emotional symptoms of PMS?

Survey study, 2021

# Can kambakutaisoto help emotional symptoms of PMS?

Kambakutaisoto, a traditional medicine made from jujube, licorice, and wheat, appears to help emotional instability in PMS, especially in young women. No large clinical trials are presented, so more research is needed.

 Early or limited evidence

Young women with PMS (numbers not specified in review)

## What they did

Narrative review that summarized clinical reports and molecular nutrition studies on kambakutaisoto for PMS and emotional instability.

## What they found

Kambakutaisoto was described as highly effective for emotional symptoms like irritability in young women with PMS. It may work by addressing low blood sugar that worsens before menstruation. Many women cannot take SSRIs or standard hormone treatments due to side effects or lack of effect on emotional symptoms alone.

## What it means for you

This traditional medicine may help with emotional PMS symptoms but this is a review of reports, not original research with numbers. We do not know how well it works because no controlled trials are presented. Human studies are needed.

## About the study

Original title "Kambakutaisoto" and Emotional Instability Associated With Premenstrual Syndrome Authors Shiota A, Shime C, Nakai K et al. Journal Frontiers in nutrition Year 2021 Study design Survey study What was tested kambakutaisoto (traditional Kampo medicine) Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2021.760958](https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2021.760958) Original abstract

Many women suffer from premenstrual syndrome (PMS), which can be considered a modern illness in this busy society; mental symptoms, such as irritability, often affect the surroundings and result in loss of self-confidence. The symptoms of PMS are diverse, and it is often difficult to treat psychiatric and social symptoms with low-dose estrogen progestin combination drug (LEP) alone. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are also effective; however, many are unable to take them owing to their side effects. "Kambakutaisoto" is a Kampo medicine consisting of "jujube," "licorice," and "wheat," which is often described as "food"; however, it is highly effective in treating emotional instability attributed to PMS in sensitive young women. There are many reports on the effects of kambakutaisoto; the molecular nutritional findings of kambakutaisoto, which has dramatic effects despite its mild composition of crude drugs, have also been reported, suggesting an association with premenstrual exacerbation of functional hypoglycemia. A narrative review of its clinical effects on PMS and the results of molecular nutrition studies was performed.

Reproduced under CC-BY.

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual exacerbation (PME)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pme/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[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

Randomised trial, 2022

Do herbal medicines and nutritional supplements help relieve PMS symptoms?

Randomised trial, 2010

What treatments work for premenstrual syndrome?

Systematic review, 2007

What treatments work for premenstrual syndrome?

Review, 2023

Can herbs and supplements help with PMS symptoms?

Non-randomised trial, 2020

What treatments help premenstrual syndrome?

Randomised trial, 2024

Does a supplement with Rhodiola, Vitex, and vitamin B6 reduce PMS?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗