Continued from last week
Chinese Herbs
In a 2008 report, scientists sized up 39 studies (involving a total of
3,475 women) and concluded that Chinese herbs may alleviate menstrual
cramps more effectively than over-the-counter pain medications. Most
study participants were given formulas containing five or six herbs
(used in traditional Chinese medicine), such as Chinese angelica root,
fennel fruit, licorice root, cinnamon bark, and red peony root. The
review said that there was “promising evidence” but the trials were of
poor quality.
According to a survey published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology in
2014, the herbal formula most frequently recommended for primary
dysmenorrhea in Taiwan is “Dang-gui-shao-yao-san” which contains Dang
gui (Angelica sinensis) and Peony powder and is believed to have
sedative and anti-inflammatory compounds.
Fennel
An herb with a licorice-like taste and celery-like crunchy texture,
fennel contains anethole (a compound with anti-spasm effects) that may
help to ease menstrual cramps in some women. The available research
includes a study published in the Iranian Journal of Nursing and
Midwifery Research in 2015 that examined the effects of a fennel
extract (fennelin) and vitagnus compared to the pain medication
mefenamic acid for primary dysmenorrhea. For the study, 105 women with
mild to moderate dysmenorrhea took either fennel extract, vitex
extract, mefenamic acid, or a placebo. During the two cycles after the
intervention, both fennelin and vitagnus had a greater effect compared
with the mefenamic acid. However, the Cochrane Review of this study
said the evidence was of very low quality.
Pycnogenol (French Maritime Pine Bark Extract)
Extracted from the bark of pine trees, the supplement Pycnogenol was
found to significantly diminish pain and reduce the need for analgesic
pain medication among a group of women with menstrual cramps in one
2008 study. Another small study in 2014 also found pain reduction when
taking Pycnogenol and an oral contraceptive for three months. However,
a Cochrane Review of claims for this supplement’s effects for other
chronic conditions found no sufficient evidence of effectiveness.
The Possible Benefits of Pycnogenol
Using Herbs
If you’re considering using herbs (or other forms of alternative
medicine or specific diets or foods) for menstrual cramps, it’s
important to talk with your doctor first to weigh the pros and cons.
If you have severe menstrual cramps, it could be a sign of problems
that need to be assessed by your doctor. Concluded
