Review, 2023
Can herbs and supplements help with PMS symptoms?
Herbs like chaste berry and supplements like calcium and magnesium may help with PMS. Evidence is strongest when combined with lifestyle changes and therapy, though more research is needed.
What they did
Reviewed research on PMS, its causes, and the role of herbal and dietary supplements in treatment alongside other approaches.
What they found
Severe PMS affects 5-8% of women; most with severe PMS also have PMDD. Physical symptoms include headache, tiredness, indigestion, insomnia, nausea, and breast tenderness. Emotional symptoms include mood swings, anxiousness, and aggressiveness. Treatment involves education, herbs (St John's Wort, chaste berry, saffron, ginkgo biloba, chamomile, evening primrose, turmeric), supplements (Vitamin B6, calcium, magnesium), lifestyle changes, relaxation therapies, CBT, stress reduction, and acupuncture. Current drugs like SSRIs and hormonal therapy have unwanted side effects.
What it means for you
There are natural options for PMS that may help, especially combined with lifestyle and psychological approaches. However, strong scientific evidence for herbal and supplement effectiveness is limited compared to prescription medicines. More research is needed.
5-8%
women with severe PMS
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual Syndrome: An Overview of the Review Analysis, and Potential Role of Herbal and Dietary Supplements
- Authors
- Pooja Kumari, Rashmi Saxena Pal, MVNL Chaitanya et al.
- Journal
- Current Women s Health Reviews
- Year
- 2023
- Study design
- Review
- What was tested
- Herbs, supplements, lifestyle changes, and therapy
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.2174/0115734048249644231016094235
Topics
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