---
title: What complementary and alternative medicines help with women's reproductive health issues?
description: Acupressure helps with pregnancy nausea and calcium helps with PMS. Vitamin B6, ginger, magnesium, chaste-tree berry, low-fat diet, exercise, and fish oil sho
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/complementary-and-alternative-medicine-cam-in-reproductive-age-women-a-review-of-2003/
---

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- What complementary and alternative medicines help with women's reproductive health issues?

Randomised trial, 2003

# What complementary and alternative medicines help with women's reproductive health issues?

Acupressure helps with pregnancy nausea and calcium helps with PMS. Vitamin B6, ginger, magnesium, chaste-tree berry, low-fat diet, exercise, and fish oil show promise but need more research.

 Strong study design

Review of studies on reproductive-age and pregnant women

## What they did

A systematic review of 93 randomized controlled trials of complementary and alternative medicine therapies for pregnancy-related and gynecologic conditions, published between 1966 and 2002.

## What they found

Of 93 trials reviewed, 45 studied pregnancy conditions and 33 studied PMS. Evidence supported acupressure for pregnancy nausea and calcium for PMS. Preliminary evidence suggested benefits of vitamin B6, ginger, magnesium, chaste-tree berry extract, low-fat diet, exercise, and fish oil for pregnancy nausea, PMS, or period pain.

## What it means for you

Some complementary treatments have limited evidence of benefit, with acupressure and calcium most promising. Many others need better research. Limited evidence does not mean treatments don't work, but stronger studies are needed to confirm benefit.

93

Randomized controlled trials reviewed

33

Trials studying PMS

45

Trials studying pregnancy conditions

## About the study

Original title Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in reproductive-age women: a review of randomized controlled trials Authors Fugh-Berman A, Kronenberg F Journal Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.) Year 2003 Study design Randomised trial What was tested Various complementary and alternative medicine therapies Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/s0890-6238(02)00128-4](https://doi.org/10.1016/s0890-6238(02)00128-4)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Calcium](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-calcium/)[Magnesium](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-magnesium/)[Vitamin B6](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-vitamin-b6/)[Omega-3 fatty acids](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-omega-3/)[Other herbal medicine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-herbal-other/)[Acupuncture and acupressure](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-acupuncture/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/)[Endometriosis](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-endometriosis/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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What supplements or alternative treatments help PMS symptoms?

Systematic review, 2025

Do nutritional interventions help with emotional symptoms of PMS?

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