---
title: Could a plant from Costa Rica help with period pain and PMS? | Niyora
description: Lab tests show that extracts from Justicia pectoralis plant have effects on proteins involved in pain and hormones, which could explain its traditional use. H
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/alternative-therapies-from-costa-rica-for-the-management-of-pms-and-dysmenorrhea-2007/
---

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- Could a plant from Costa Rica help with period pain and PMS?

Study, 2007

# Could a plant from Costa Rica help with period pain and PMS?

Lab tests show that extracts from Justicia pectoralis plant have effects on proteins involved in pain and hormones, which could explain its traditional use. However, the plant has not been tested in people with PMS or dysmenorrhea.

 Early or limited evidence

Not applicable - lab study of plant extracts

## What they did

Lab tests on plant extracts from Justicia pectoralis collected in Costa Rica. Researchers tested whether the extracts could block a key pain-causing enzyme, and whether they could bind to receptors for estrogen, progesterone, and serotonin.

## What they found

The plant extracts blocked a pain-causing enzyme called COX-2. They bound to estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and a serotonin receptor. These findings suggest potential ways the plant could help with pain and mood symptoms.

## What it means for you

The plant has biological properties that could plausibly explain traditional use for period pain and PMS symptoms. However, this is lab work on plant extracts, not testing in people, so we cannot know if it actually helps women.

## About the study

Original title Alternative therapies from Costa Rica for the management of PMS and dysmenorrhea: Justicia pectoralis Jacq.: mechanisms of action Authors Tracie Locklear, Brian Joseph Doyle, Alice Pérez Sánchez et al. Journal The FASEB Journal Year 2007 Study design Study What was tested Justicia pectoralis plant extracts Read the paper [doi.org/10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a436-a](https://doi.org/10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a436-a)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Other herbal medicine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-herbal-other/)[Diuretics and other drugs](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diuretics-other-drugs/)[Economic burden](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-economic-burden/)

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