Randomised trial, 2008
Does Chinese herbal medicine reduce PMS symptoms?
Yes. Chinese herbal medicine significantly reduced PMS symptoms (p < 0.001) with no adverse effects reported. Both groups received herbs and placebo in sequence, making the study design complex.
What they did
This was a controlled trial with 61 Australian women with PMS. Women were assigned to different groups based on traditional Chinese medicine patterns. Each group received both Chinese herbal medicine and placebo, given one after the other over a 3-month period. Symptoms were assessed at baseline and at the end of each treatment period.
What they found
Highly significant symptom reductions (p < 0.001) were found between baseline and the end of the third herbal treatment month in almost all assessments in both groups. Perceived stress showed significant improvement (p < 0.05) only in the group that received herbs first. No adverse effects were reported by any participant.
What it means for you
Chinese herbal medicine appears to reduce PMS symptoms significantly with no side effects. However, the complex design (sequential herbs and placebo) makes results harder to interpret. Strengths include no side effects and significant reductions. Limitations are the small sample (61 women), Australian population, and sequential design.
61
Australian women with PMS
3 months
study duration
p < 0.001
significance of symptom reduction
About the study
- Original title
- A controlled trial of Chinese herbal medicine for premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- Chou PB, Morse CA, Xu H
- Journal
- Journal of psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology
- Year
- 2008
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- What was tested
- Chinese herbal medicine based on traditional Chinese medicine patterns, given sequentially with placebo over 3 months
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1080/01674820801893011
Original abstract
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a common disorder troubling many women during their reproductive years. The Chinese have been using herbal medicines to treat menstrual cycle related symptoms for centuries. The present study examined the effectiveness of Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment of PMS among Australian women within the theoretical framework of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Sixty-one women were assigned randomly into two groups within different TCM patterns. Herbal medicine and placebo were provided sequentially for a period of three months. There were significant differences (p 0.05). There were highly significant reductions (p < 0.001) between baseline and the end of the third herbal treatment month in all assessments in both groups except that a significant result (p < 0.05) was recorded on perceived stress only in the herbs-first group. No adverse effects were reported by any participant. The results support the hypothesis that the symptoms occurrence and severity of PMS can be effectively reduced by the use of Chinese herbal medicine.
Reproduced under public-domain.
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