Non-randomised trial, 2019
Does Benson's relaxation technique reduce oxidative stress and PMS symptoms?
Yes. Women who used Benson's relaxation technique showed a clear change in oxidative stress markers compared to those who did not. This may help reduce both physical and mental PMS symptoms.
What they did
A quasi-experimental study where 30 female nursing students learned Benson's relaxation technique while 30 others did not. Researchers measured oxidative stress markers and PMS symptoms before and after using blood tests and questionnaires.
What they found
The relaxation group showed a clear difference in two oxidative stress markers compared to the control group. Within the relaxation group, the average improvement in MDA was 0.126 and in TAC was minus 0.122. The most common symptoms were headache, fatigue, nervous tension, and mood swings.
What it means for you
Benson's relaxation technique may help reduce oxidative stress, a chemical imbalance linked to PMS. This suggests relaxation could be a useful tool for managing PMS. The main limitation is that improvements were measured in laboratory markers, and we do not know how much this translates to symptom relief in daily life.
60
students (30 per group)
0.126
mean improvement in MDA oxidative stress marker
-0.122
mean improvement in TAC antioxidant capacity
About the study
- Original title
- The Influence of Benson Relaxation on Oxidative Stress Marker of Premenstrual Syndrome in Students of Khoy University of Medical Sciences
- Authors
- Olia JBH, Zinalpoor S, Sakhaei S et al.
- Journal
- Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences
- Year
- 2019
- Study design
- Non-randomised trial
- What was tested
- Benson's relaxation technique
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2019.865
Topics
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