---
title: Can a herbal formula called kamishoyosan help PMDD symptoms? | Niyora
description: In this small pilot study, many women with PMDD improved after taking kamishoyosan, but it was not tested against a dummy treatment, so this is an early, less
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/effectiveness-of-kamishoyosan-for-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-open-labeled-2007/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- Can a herbal formula called kamishoyosan help PMDD symptoms?

Non-randomised trial, 2007

# Can a herbal formula called kamishoyosan help PMDD symptoms?

In this small pilot study, many women with PMDD improved after taking kamishoyosan, but it was not tested against a dummy treatment, so this is an early, less certain result.

 Early or limited evidence

30 outpatients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

## What they did

30 women with PMDD took kamishoyosan (TJ-24) for six menstrual cycles. Researchers measured depression symptoms using a standard rating scale during the late premenstrual phase.

## What they found

19 women (63.3%) had more than 50% improvement in their depression rating scale scores. 14 women (46.7%) saw their symptoms drop low enough to count as remission.

## What it means for you

This herbal treatment looked promising for easing PMDD symptoms in this small group, but because everyone knew they were taking it and there was no comparison group, more rigorous research is needed before being confident it works.

63.3%

Had over 50% symptom improvement

46.7%

Reached remission

6

Number of cycles treated

## About the study

Original title Effectiveness of kamishoyosan for premenstrual dysphoric disorder: open-labeled pilot study Authors Yamada K, Kanba S Journal Psychiatry and clinical neurosciences Year 2007 Study design Non-randomised trial What was tested Kamishoyosan (TJ-24), a traditional Japanese herbal formula, taken for six menstrual cycles Read the paper [doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1819.2007.01649.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1819.2007.01649.x)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Other herbal medicine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-herbal-other/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/)

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.

## Related studies

Study, 2022

What are the symptoms, causes, and treatments of PMS and PMDD?

Review, 2015

What do we know about PMS and PMDD and how are they treated?

Systematic review, 2014

Do acupuncture and herbal medicine help PMS or PMDD symptoms?

Lab study, 2026

Do core stability exercises help women with PMDD?

Review, 2026

Can traditional Chinese medicine help treat PMDD?

Survey study, 2024

How common are PMS and PMDD in young Turkish women and what factors are linked to them?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗