---
title: Do bergamot and grapefruit essential oils reduce PMS and menstrual symptoms?
description: Grapefruit essential oil significantly reduced both PMS and menstrual symptoms over three cycles, while bergamot only reduced PMS symptoms.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-effect-of-aromatherapy-intervention-with-bergamot-and-grapefruit-essential-2025/
---

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- Do bergamot and grapefruit essential oils reduce PMS and menstrual symptoms?

Randomised trial, 2025

# Do bergamot and grapefruit essential oils reduce PMS and menstrual symptoms?

Grapefruit essential oil significantly reduced both PMS and menstrual symptoms over three cycles, while bergamot only reduced PMS symptoms.

 Moderate study design

90 women with premenstrual syndrome

## What they did

Randomized controlled trial with 90 women with PMS divided into three equal groups. Each group smelled either grapefruit oil, bergamot oil, or placebo (inert oil) for 30 minutes, three times a day, for 4 days during the luteal phase of their cycle. This was repeated over 3 menstrual cycles.

## What they found

Grapefruit essential oil significantly reduced the total PMS score and multiple symptoms including depressive affect, anxiety, fatigue, depressive thoughts, appetite changes, sleep changes, and bloating. Bergamot reduced some PMS symptoms but did not reduce menstrual symptoms. Placebo showed no significant effects.

## What it means for you

Grapefruit essential oil may help with both PMS and menstrual symptoms. The main limitation is that women only used the oils for 4 days per cycle, so it is unclear whether longer use would help more.

90

women in study

30

women per group

4

days per cycle of treatment

## About the study

Original title The effect of aromatherapy intervention with Bergamot and Grapefruit essential oils on premenstrual syndrome and menstrual symptoms: a randomized controlled trial Authors Özer E, Döner Şİ, Dağ Tüzmen H Journal BMC complementary medicine and therapies Year 2025 Study design Randomised trial Participants 30 What was tested Grapefruit, bergamot, or placebo essential oil inhalation for 30 minutes three times daily for 4 days per cycle, repeated for 3 cycles Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04857-3](https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04857-3)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Other herbal medicine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-herbal-other/)

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