Insights & Discussion
Peppermint oil capsules may significantly reduce the severity of premenstrual syndrome symptoms in reproductive-age women.
The study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 50 high school students in Babol, Iran who were diagnosed with premenstrual syndrome. Participants were divided into two groups. One group was given Colpermin® capsules, which contained peppermint oil, while the other group was given a placebo. These were taken twice daily from the 15th day of one menstrual period to the first day of the next period across two menstrual cycles. The severity of PMS was evaluated at the first luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and again at the third luteal phase, using a 28-item PMS checklist.
Over two menstrual cycles, participants who took the peppermint oil capsules experienced a more significant decrease in premenstrual syndrome scores compared to those in the placebo group. Thus, peppermint oil has demonstrated its potential as an effective treatment in managing the severity of premenstrual syndrome symptoms in this sample.
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Small-intestinal release peppermint oil is a cost-effective treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, yielding modest quality of life gains and relieving abdominal pain.
2021 United European Gastroenterology Journal A trial‐based economic evaluation of peppermint oil for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome Weerts ZZRM, Essers BAB, Jonkers DMAE, Willems JIA, Janssen DJPA, Witteman BJM, et al.
Randomised Controlled Trial Peppermint Oil
In the research study, a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was carried out to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of small-intestinal release peppermint oil - an often used treatment - in patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The cost-effectiveness was analyzed from a societal perspective, using two different approaches: costs per Quality of Life Years (QALY) and costs per successfully treated patient or abdominal pain responder. The later was defined according to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) definitions. Sensitivity analyses were also conducted to further substantiate the results. This comprehensive evaluation involved 126 IBS patients randomly assigned to receive either placebo or peppermint oil.
The findings showcase that peppermint oil took precedence as a dominant and effective treatment compared to placebo in considerable number of cases. Not only did it prove more successful at reducing the abdominal pain experienced by IBS patients, but analysis also positioned it as a viable option with regards to the cost-effectiveness ratio based on QALY. The results displayed that peppermint oil came out as a financially savvy treatment in varying scenarios, demonstrating a high probability of cost-effectiveness when evaluated using the abdominal pain responder outcome measure.