Study, 1994
Does a traditional Japanese herbal medicine help PMS symptoms?
In a small test, Keishi-bukuryo-gan reduced PMS symptoms in all 4 women who took it, with 2 showing major improvement and 2 showing some improvement.
What they did
Four women with PMS were given Keishi-bukuryo-gan extract (TJ-25). Before and after treatment, their PMS was scored on a system rating emotional, neurological, breast, fluid-related, stomach, and skin symptoms, for a total score out of 100.
What they found
Of 4 women treated, 2 had major improvement (symptom score dropped to 30% or less of their starting score), and 2 had improvement (score dropped to 31 to 60% of their starting score). No side effects were reported.
What it means for you
This herbal medicine might help PMS symptoms. However, this is a very small study with only 4 women and no comparison group, so we cannot be sure the medicine caused the improvement.
4
women treated
30%
or less score reduction for major improvement
100
total points on symptom scale
About the study
- Original title
- Therapeutic Effect of "Keishi-bukuryo-gan" on Premenstrual Syndrome. Newly developed "PMS Scores(Jikei)" and their application
- Authors
- Kazunori Ochiai, Kazunori Matsumoto, Yoshiteru Terashima
- Journal
- 日本東洋醫學雜誌
- Year
- 1994
- Study design
- Study
- What was tested
- Keishi-bukuryo-gan extract (TJ-25), a traditional Japanese herbal medicine
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.3937/kampomed.45.365