---
title: Does the Chinese herbal formula Baixiangdan help PMS symptoms by changing nerve cell activity?
description: In rat studies, the formula reduced PMS-like behaviors and enhanced nerve cell survival and GABA receptor activity, which affects mood and anxiety.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/treatment-of-premenstrual-syndrome-with-chinese-medicine-formula-baixiangdan-2011/
---

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- Does the Chinese herbal formula Baixiangdan help PMS symptoms by changing nerve cell activity?

Randomised trial, 2011

# Does the Chinese herbal formula Baixiangdan help PMS symptoms by changing nerve cell activity?

In rat studies, the formula reduced PMS-like behaviors and enhanced nerve cell survival and GABA receptor activity, which affects mood and anxiety.

 Early or limited evidence

Wistar rats (number not specified)

## What they did

Animal study with rats randomly assigned to normal or treatment group. Rats were observed in an open field test measuring how much they moved and explored. Then blood serum from treated rats was used to test how it affected nerve cells grown in laboratory dishes, measuring cell survival and GABA receptor function.

## What they found

Treatment group rats showed lower activity scores in the open field test (less crossing and rearing). Nerve cells exposed to serum from treated rats survived better at 24 and 48 hours. GABA receptor activity changed: EC50 value increased from 29.0 in normal serum to 63.5 in treated group serum.

## What it means for you

The formula may help PMS by improving nerve cell health and changing how GABA receptors work, which could reduce anxiety and mood problems. The main limitations are that this is a rat study, not humans, and involves laboratory-grown cells.

29.0

EC50 normal serum

63.5

EC50 treated serum

## About the study

Original title [Treatment of premenstrual syndrome with Chinese medicine formula, baixiangdan capsule: implications for neuron viability and GABA(A) receptor modulation in rat cortex] Authors Sun S, Qiao M, Zhang H Journal Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica Year 2011 Study design Randomised trial What was tested Baixiangdan capsule (Chinese medicinal formula) Read the paper [doi.org/10.4268/cjcmm20111122](https://doi.org/10.4268/cjcmm20111122)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Other herbal medicine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-herbal-other/)[Stigma, attitudes and culture](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-stigma-culture/)

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