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Case report, 2026

Does eating a special rice porridge diet help PMS symptoms?

Yes, in one young woman. After eating rice porridge with milk and ghee during the first three days of her period for three cycles, her pain, mood symptoms, and digestive problems all improved.

Early or limited evidence 19-year-old woman with recurrent PMS symptoms

What they did

Case report of a 19-year-old woman with PMS symptoms (abdominal pain, constipation before her period, increased bowel movements during menstruation, and mood disturbances) for one year. She was given Havishya diet (rice porridge made with rice, milk, and ghee) twice daily during the first three days of her period for three consecutive menstrual cycles.

What they found

Pain reduced from 6 to 3 on a symptom scale. Psychological stress score reduced from 8 to 4. Gastrointestinal symptoms reduced from 7 to 3. She reported better concentration, reduced irritability, and improved quality of life.

What it means for you

This Ayurvedic dietary approach may help reduce PMS symptoms in one woman. The improvements were notable, but this was only one person and the improvement could be due to other factors like attention, expectation, or natural variation in symptom severity. Larger studies with control groups are needed to know if this diet really works.

6 to 3

pain score reduction

8 to 4

psychological stress score reduction

7 to 3

GI symptoms score reduction

About the study

Original title
Management of Premenstrual Disorder( PMD) through Havishya (Dietary Rajaswala Paricharya)- A Case Report
Authors
Sarika Trimbak Shinde
Journal
Annals of Ayurvedic Medicine
Year
2026
Study design
Case report
What was tested
Havishya diet (rice porridge made from rice, milk, and ghee) during menstruation
Open access
Yes

Topics