---
title: Do herbal plant capsules help with depression and anxiety in PMS?
description: Women who took Elsholtzia splendens capsules had lower depression and anxiety scores than women who took Cirsium japonicum capsules. This suggests Elsholtzia
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/effects-of-elsholtzia-splendens-and-cirsium-japonicum-on-premenstrual-syndrome-2010/
---

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- Do herbal plant capsules help with depression and anxiety in PMS?

Study, 2010

# Do herbal plant capsules help with depression and anxiety in PMS?

Women who took Elsholtzia splendens capsules had lower depression and anxiety scores than women who took Cirsium japonicum capsules. This suggests Elsholtzia splendens may help reduce these PMS symptoms.

 Early or limited evidence

30 women in their twenties with PMS.

## What they did

Researchers gave 30 women in their twenties capsules containing either Elsholtzia splendens or Cirsium japonicum and tracked their PMS symptoms for over 3 months.

## What they found

Depression and anxiety scores were significantly lower in women taking Elsholtzia splendens than in women taking Cirsium japonicum. Women in the Elsholtzia splendens group also had less instability on the premenstrual assessment form.

## What it means for you

Elsholtzia splendens may help reduce depression and anxiety symptoms of PMS more than Cirsium japonicum. However, the study did not compare these plants to no treatment, so we cannot know if they actually help. The sample was small.

30

women studied

over 3 months

duration

## About the study

Original title Effects of Elsholtzia splendens and Cirsium japonicum on premenstrual syndrome Authors Chung MS, Kim GH Journal Nutrition research and practice Year 2010 Study design Study Participants 30 What was tested Capsules of Elsholtzia splendens or Cirsium japonicum for over 3 months. Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2010.4.4.290](https://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2010.4.4.290)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Other herbal medicine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-herbal-other/)

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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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