Randomised trial, 2025
Do essential oils reduce PMS symptoms?
Yes, all three essential oils (rosa damascena, lavender, and citrus aurantium) reduced PMS symptoms, with lavender showing the strongest effect on mood and physical symptoms.
What they did
Randomized controlled trial in Iran (2022-2023) with 128 married women of reproductive age with PMS. Four groups of 32 each received aromatherapy with rosa damascena, lavender, citrus aurantium, or control. Treatments were applied twice daily for five minutes over two consecutive menstrual cycles, starting one week before menstruation through four days after onset.
What they found
All three essential oils had positive effects on mood, psychological, and physical PMS symptoms. Lavender demonstrated the highest efficacy in reducing PMS symptoms.
What it means for you
Essential oils, particularly lavender, may help reduce PMS symptoms. The main limitation is that the study was conducted in one region of Iran and results may not apply broadly to other populations.
128
women in study
32
women per group
2
menstrual cycles of treatment
About the study
- Original title
- A Comparative Study on the Effects of Aromatherapy with Rosa damascena, Lavender (Lavandula stoechas), and Citrus aurantium Essential Oils on the Severity of Premenstrual Syndrome Symptoms in Married Women at Reproductive Age
- Authors
- Mahsa Rastegar, Fariba Askari, Narjes Bahri et al.
- Journal
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals)
- Year
- 2025
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 128
- What was tested
- Essential oil aromatherapy (rosa damascena, lavender, or citrus aurantium) twice daily for 5 minutes over two menstrual cycles
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.22038/ijogi.2025.81889.6170
Topics
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