---
title: Does a flashing light device reduce PMS symptoms? | Niyora
description: A small study found that 17 women using a take-home flashing light device for 15-20 minutes daily had a median 76% reduction in PMS symptoms after three month
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/pms-eeg-and-photic-stimulation-1997/
---

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- Does a flashing light device reduce PMS symptoms?

Non-randomised trial, 1997

# Does a flashing light device reduce PMS symptoms?

A small study found that 17 women using a take-home flashing light device for 15-20 minutes daily had a median 76% reduction in PMS symptoms after three months, but this was an uncontrolled trial so certainty is low.

 Early or limited evidence

17 women with PMS, and separately 6 women with PMS for EEG study

## What they did

17 women with PMS used a take-home flashing light device for 15-20 minutes daily throughout their cycle for three months. Separately, 6 women with PMS had weekly brain wave recordings (EEG) during their cycle.

## What they found

The 17 women had a median 76% reduction in PMS symptoms after three months. Twelve of the 17 women no longer technically had PMS. The 6 women showed increased slow brain wave (delta) activity and slower P300 responses during their premenstrual phase compared to mid-cycle.

## What it means for you

Flashing light might help PMS symptoms, but this was a very small study with no control group and no placebo comparison, so we cannot be confident the effect is real. The brain wave findings suggest PMS involves changes in electrical brain activity.

76%

median reduction in PMS symptoms

12 of 17

women no longer had PMS

15-20 minutes

daily device use

## About the study

Original title PMS, EEG, and Photic Stimulation Authors David Noton Journal Journal of Neurotherapy Year 1997 Study design Non-randomised trial Participants 17 What was tested Flashing light device, 15-20 minutes daily Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1300/j184v02n02_02](https://doi.org/10.1300/j184v02n02_02)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)

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