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Study, 2023

Do alternative and complementary therapies help premenstrual syndrome?

Therapies such as herbs, acupuncture, yoga, and aromatherapy showed improvements in PMS symptoms like breast pain, headache, and dizziness.

Moderate study design Review of studies on alternative therapies for PMS in women

What they did

Researchers reviewed studies about alternative and complementary therapies used for PMS.

What they found

Alternative and complementary therapies including phytotherapy (herbal treatment), acupuncture, auriculotherapy (ear acupuncture), reflexology, yoga, and aromatherapy showed changes in PMS symptoms such as breast pain, headache, dizziness, and vomiting. Women reported using these therapies as a first option for managing PMS.

What it means for you

Several natural and alternative approaches may help reduce PMS symptoms, and many women prefer to try these before other treatments. However, the review does not provide details about how many studies were included, how strong the evidence is for each therapy, or how much symptoms actually improved. More specific information is needed to know which therapies work best.

About the study

Original title
Use of alternative and complementary therapies in premenstrual syndrome
Authors
Jennifer Rhamsay Toaquiza Passo, Fabiola Beatríz Chasillacta Amores
Journal
Salud Ciencia y Tecnología
Year
2023
Study design
Study
What was tested
Various alternative and complementary therapies including herbs, acupuncture, yoga, aromatherapy, reflexology, and ear acupuncture
Open access
Yes
Original abstract

Introduction: premenstrual syndrome deals with a number of symptomatology which, although it is true, affects the daily life of the women who suffer from it more severely.Objective: to analyze the efficacy of the use of alternative and complementary therapies for premenstrual syndrome.Methods: we conducted a systematic review focused on information on alternative and complementary therapies for premenstrual syndrome.Results: the use of alternative and complementary therapies such as phytotherapy, acupuncture, auriculotherapy, reflexology, yoga, aromatherapy have shown changes against premenstrual syndrome symptomatology such as mastalgia, headache, dizziness, vomiting, among others.Conclusions: alternative and complementary therapies are used by women suffering from premenstrual syndrome as a first option in their treatment

Reproduced under CC-BY.

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