Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. Study finds chamomile significantly more effective than Mefenamic acid for relieving the physical and emotional symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.
Premenstrual Syndrome has been estimated to affect as many as 83% of women with regular menstruation (1, 2). Its physical symptoms can include abdominal bloating, fatigue, breast tenderness, and headache and its behavioral/emotional symptoms can include irritability, anger, depression, increased appetite, and loss of concentration (3, 4).
Although there is no known cause for premenstrual syndrome, there are medications to help with symptoms (5). One such medication is Mefenamic acid, which affects hormone levels and has been shown to be superior to placebo for premenstrual syndrome (6). Now a new study (7) suggests that Chamomile tea, known to possess strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties (8), may also help with premenstrual syndrome.
The study involved 90 female college students aged 20 to 25. They received either 300 milligrams of Chamomile (one 100-mg capsule taken 3 times daily = 45 women) or 750 mg of Mefenamic Acid (250 milligrams taken 3 times daily = 45 women) for 2 months. During the study, each subject provided information on the intensity of their menstrual periods. Unfortunately, the researchers did not provide the scale of the questionnaire regarding scoring, only that the participants completed the daily questionnaire, which consisted of 30 items divided into 15 physical and 15 psychological, emotional and behavioral symptoms.
The researchers noted that after two months of supplementation, those in the Chamomile group experienced a 57.9% reduction in the physical severity of their menstrual periods (48.4 to 20.4 score on the questionnaire) compared to a 37.2% reduction in the Mefenamic acid group (43.9 to 27.6, p = 0.04). Regarding behavioral/emotion symptoms, Chamomile was far superior to Mefenamic acid, producing a 66.9% reduction in symptoms (50.1 to 16.6) compared to a 24% reduction in the Mefenamic group (44.7 to 34, p < 0.001).
For the researches, “Consumption of Chamomile seems to be more effective than Mefenamic Acid in relieving the intensity of PMS-associated symptomatic physical and psychological pains.”
Source: Sharifi, Farangis, et al. “Comparison of the effects of Matricaria chamomila (Chamomile) extract and mefenamic acid on the intensity of premenstrual syndrome.” Complementary therapies in clinical practice 20.1 (2014): 81-88.
© 2017 Elsevier B.V. or its licensors or contributors
Posted January 27, 2016.
Greg Arnold is a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Hauppauge, NY. You can contact Dr. Arnold directly by emailing him at PitchingDoc@msn.com or visiting his web site at www.PitchingDoc.com.
References:
- Bakhshani NM, Mousavi MN, Khodabandeh G. Prevalence and severity of premenstrual symptoms among Iranian female University students. J Pak Med Assoc 2009;59:205e8 [in Persian]
- Tamjidi A. Study prevalence of symptoms of premenstrual syndrome in women 15e45 years old in Tehran in 1374 [Midwifery Thesis of Master]. Teharan: ShahidBeheshti University, M.C. Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery School; 1995 [in Persian].
- Fritz M, Speroff L. Clinical gynecologic endocrinology and infertility. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2011. p. 568e78
- Gibbs RS, Karlan BY, Haney AF, Nygaard LE, editors. Danforth’s obstetrics and gynecology. Philidelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2008
- Berek J. Berek& Novak’s gynecology. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2012.
- Gibbs RS, Karlan BY, Haney AF, Nygaard LE, editors. Danforth’s obstetrics and gynecology. Philidelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2008.
- Sharifi F. Comparison of the effects of Matricaria chamomila (Chamomile) extract and mefenamic acid on the intensity of premenstrual syndrome. Complement Ther Clin Pract 2014 Feb;20(1):81-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2013.09.002. Epub 2013 Oct 9
- Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for herbal medicines. Montvale NJ: Thomson Medical Economics Co; 2000. p. 461e2.
