Premenstrual Syndrome

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• Definition
• Introduction
• Signs & Symptoms
• Research Summary

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Executive Summary

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Write an executive summary in the form of a blog article on the topic of "Research into Chinese medicine treatment for Premenstrual Syndrome" summarising the research below and using language that can be easily understood by patients and avoiding medical jargon using a professional and caring tone of voice.

Write an executive summary in the form of a blog article on the topic of "Researched Chinese medicine treatments for Premenstrual Syndrome" summarising the research below in an objective and easy to understand way, and using language that can be easily understood by patients. Group the article into Chinese medicine treatments first, followed by nutrition and other treatments. Avoid using medical jargon and use a professional and caring tone of voice.

Write me a concise but easy to understand executive summary on the topic of "Chinese medicine treatments for Premenstrual Syndrome" based on the following research that I will give you. Your summary should be 2 paragraphs long in Australian English spelling and include references to the studies.

A Systematic Review published in 2023 in the journal Modern Care Journal found that Saffron shows promising improvements in dealing with women's health issues related to labor, childbirth, premenstrual syndrome and menopause. For the methodology, the investigators implemented a systematic review by utilizing the PICO process to explore various databases like PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, among others, until February 2023. A strategically designed search was conducted using a set of keywords related to saffron and women's health conditions. From a pool of 164 articles, 20 randomized controlled trials that met the minimum score based on the Jadad scale were included in the study. In terms of results, the investigation revealed that saffron holds positive impacts on labor and childbirth, such as enhancing Bishop's score, fostering labor progression, and reducing labor pain intensity and fatigue. Moreover, it helps with episiotomy healing and ameliorates mood swings and psychological symptoms associated with menopause and premenstrual syndrome. The study also acknowledges some influence of saffron on postpartum depression.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2021 in the journal Phytotherapy Research found that Curcumin supplements have comparable effects to placebos in alleviating symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome and dysmenorrhea in young women. In the methodology of this study, a randomized, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled trial was carried out. Women who were affected by both Premenstrual Syndrome and dysmenorrhea were enrolled and randomly assigned to either the curcumin or placebo group. Participants were given a capsule, containing either 500mg of curcuminoid or a placebo, once daily, starting from 7 days before menstruation and continuing till three days after menstruation. This was maintained for three continuous menstrual cycles. As per the results, upon the completion of the trial, both the curcumin and placebo groups witnessed a significant decrease in the severity of Premenstrual Syndrome and dysmenorrhea symptoms, as evident by a decrease in the scores of the Premenstrual Syndrome Screening Tool and the visual analog scale. Therefore, curcumin was found to have similar effects to the placebo, in terms of relieving symptoms of both Premenstrual Syndrome and dysmenorrhea.

A Systematic Review published in 2019 in the journal Journal of Pharmacopuncture found that Chamomile shows promise in alleviating premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms. This review examines the efficacy of chamomile in treating premenstrual syndrome (PMS), a condition characterized by physical and psychological symptoms. Eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) met the inclusion criteria out of 27 identified studies. Chamomile, known for its anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, and anti-anxiety properties, showed promise in alleviating PMS symptoms. It was compared with Mefenamic Acid (MA), placebo, and no treatment, with positive results. While existing studies suggest chamomile's effectiveness, the authors emphasize the need for further trials with diverse forms and doses, larger populations, and longer durations. Chamomile, as a readily available herbal remedy, offers potential relief for PMS symptoms in women.

A Systematic Review published in 2019 in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that This systematic review shows that the overall effectiveness of acupuncture treatment of premenstrual syndrome is superior to that of sham acupuncture and related medications. Results. A total of 15 studies, comprising of 1103 cases, were included. Overall, acupuncture significantly increased the effective rate of PMS compared with medicine and sham acupuncture. Subgroup analyses showed no significant difference among different intervention time to start acupuncture treatment. Among the acupoints involved in the treatment of PMS, SP6, LR3, and RN4 were the most commonly used. The current meta-analysis reveals that acupuncture leads to better effective rate, but the intervention time has no significant effect on the efficacy of acupuncture treatment for PMS. SP6, LR3, and RN4 are the most commonly used acupoints in treating PMS. However, large-scale, case-control studies with rigorous designs are required to provide more accurate evidence.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2019 in the journal Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal found that 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.

A Systematic Review published in 2018 in the journal Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews found that Acupuncture may reduce overall mood and physical PMS symptoms when compared to sham. Acupressure may reduce the number of women having moderate to severe PMS symptoms when compared to sham acupressure. The limited evidence available suggests that acupuncture and acupressure may improve both physical and psychological symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) when compared to a sham control. There was insufficient evidence to determine whether there was a difference between the groups in rates of adverse events.There is no evidence comparing acupuncture or acupressure versus current International Society for Premenstrual Disorders (ISPMD) recommended treatments for PMS, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Further research is required, using validated outcome measures for PMS, adequate blinding and suitable comparator groups reflecting current best practice.

A Clinical Study published in 2016 in the journal Mansoura Nursing Journal found that Cinnamon shows significant positive effects in reducing the severity of physical symptoms of premenstrual syndrome among adolescent girls at Mansoura University. The methodology used in this study was a quasi-experimental research design conducted at the nursing School of Mansoura University. The purposive sample was 150 students suffering from premenstrual syndrome, over the course of September 2012 to May 2013. The data was collected using three tools: a structured questionnaire, an assessment tool to gauge the severity of physical PMS symptoms, and a Likert scale to measure the level of student satisfaction after using cinnamon to relieve physical symptoms. The results showed a significant reduction in the severity of physical PMS symptoms after the students regularly used cinnamon. A notable correlation was found between the decrease in symptom severity and the regular use of cinnamon. Furthermore, the study found that about three-quarters of the sampled students were satisfied with the use of cinnamon for symptom relief. These findings demonstrated the potential benefits of cinnamon in alleviating PMS physical discomfort.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2015 in the journal Journal Of Medicine & Health found that Consuming dark chocolate every day for two weeks before menstruation significantly reduced symptoms of premenstrual syndrome in women aged 18-22, showing improvements in anxiety, fatigue, abdominal cramps, bloating, and other related symptoms. This research involved 30 women aged 18-22, using an experimental design with one group pre and post-test. Subjects consumed 20 grams of dark chocolate daily for two weeks before their menstruation period and reported their symptoms using a questionnaire. The data was analyzed using statistical tests to measure changes in individual PMS symptoms before and after eating dark chocolate. The study found a highly significant decrease in anxiety symptoms and a statistically significant reduction in various PMS symptoms, including fatigue, abdominal cramps, bloating, diarrhea, headache, back pain, changes in appetite, muscle or joint pain, and concentration problems. However, there was a slight increase in acne complaints.

A Systematic Review published in 2014 in the journal BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies found that Acupuncture and herbal medicine show promise in alleviating premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder symptoms, with over 50% relief and proven safety. The passage discusses a review of studies focusing on the efficacy of acupuncture and herbal medicine in treating premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). The review identified and analyzed 19 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving acupuncture and herbal interventions. Acupuncture treatments encompassed various techniques, including traditional acupuncture, hand acupuncture, and moxibustion, while herbal interventions included Vitex Agnus castus, Hypericum perforatum, and other herbal remedies. Results showed that both acupuncture and herbal treatments led to a 50% or greater reduction in symptoms compared to baseline. The studies suggested that acupuncture and herbal treatments could alleviate physical and psychological symptoms of PMS/PMDD. The safety of acupuncture and herbal interventions was generally established, with minimal reported adverse events. However, the review emphasized the need for larger-scale, well-controlled trials to further validate these findings and guide clinical recommendations for specific symptom relief.

A Systematic Review published in 2011 in the journal BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology found that Acupuncture shows promise for alleviating PMS symptoms. This review assesses acupuncture's effectiveness in treating premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Ten randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving women with PMS were analyzed. The results indicate that acupuncture outperforms controls, showing significant symptom improvement (pooled RR 1.55, 95% CI 1.33–1.80, p < 0.00001). A comparison with progestin and/or anxiolytics also favored acupuncture (RR 1.49, 95% CI 1.27–1.74, p < 0.00001). Acupuncture demonstrated superiority over sham acupuncture (RR 5.99, 95% CI 2.84–12.66, p < 0.00001), with no observed harm. However, the studies displayed notable methodological flaws, highlighting the need for further rigorous research to solidify acupuncture's potential in alleviating PMS symptoms.

A Systematic Review published in 2011 in the journal BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology found that Acupuncture seems promising for symptom improvement in women with premenstrual syndrome. Ten RCTs were included in our review. The pooled results demonstrated that acupuncture is superior to all controls. A meta-analysis comparing the effects of acupuncture with different doses of progestin and/or anxiolytics supported the use of acupuncture. In addition, acupuncture significantly improved symptoms when compared with sham acupuncture. No evidence of harm resulting from acupuncture emerged. Most of the included studies demonstrated a high risk of bias in terms of random sequence generation, allocation concealment, and blinding. Although acupuncture seems promising for symptom improvement in women with PMS, important methodological flaws in the included studies weaken the evidence. Considering the potential of acupuncture, further rigorous studies are needed.

A Systematic Review published in 2010 in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine found that Study finds acupuncture for PMS holds promise. The effectiveness of acupuncture for treating premenstrual syndrome (PMS) remains uncertain. This study assessed nine randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on acupuncture's impact on PMS symptoms. Only two trials provided adequate information on sequence generation and allocation concealment. Four studies noted significant reductions in PMS symptoms with acupuncture compared to pharmaceutical treatment. Two trials reported improvements in primary symptoms for both acupuncture and herbal medication groups. Adverse events related to acupuncture were minimal, with only one case of a small subcutaneous hematoma reported. Overall, while the trials suggest potential benefits, methodological flaws limit the conclusive evidence for acupuncture in treating PMS.

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