Essential Oils Help Reduce Symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome

A pill containing a mix of essential oils can significantly reduce the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), according to a new study.

Researchers at the University of Pernambuco (UFPE; Brazil; www.ufpe.br) conducted a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study involving women with PMS who were divided into three groups. The first group was treated with one gram of a combination of gamma linolenic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, other polyunsaturated acids, and vitamin E. The second group received two grams of the same medication, and the third--control group--received a placebo. Symptoms were recorded over a 6-month period using the Prospective Record of the Impact and Severity of Menstruation (PRISM) calendar, and total cholesterol and prolactin levels were measured.

The results showed there were no differences in age, marital status, schooling, or ethnicity between the groups. In the group treated with one gram of the medication, a significant reduction was found when the median PRISM score recorded in the luteal phase at baseline, compared with the median score recorded in the 3rd month and in the 6th month of evaluation; in the two-gram group, these differences were even more significant. In the placebo group, there was a significant reduction at the 3rd but not at the 6th month. The difference between the phases of the menstrual cycle was greater in the two-gram group compared to the group treated with one gram of the medication. There were no statistically significant differences in prolactin or total cholesterol levels between baseline values and those recorded after six months of treatment. The study was published online on the January 17, 2011, in Reproductive Health, a publication of BioMed Central.

"The administration of one or two grams of essential fatty acids to patients with PMS resulted in a significant decrease in symptom scores,” said lead author Edilberto Rocha Filho, MD, of the department of maternal and child healthcare. "Furthermore, the administration of the dietary supplement did not result in any changes in the total cholesterol in the patients evaluated”.

PMS is a collection of physical, psychological, and emotional symptoms related to a woman's menstrual cycle. While most women of childbearing age have experienced physical symptoms related to normal ovulatory function, such as bloating or breast tenderness, medical definitions of PMS are limited to a consistent pattern of emotional and physical symptoms occurring only during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. These symptoms are usually predictable and occur regularly during the ten days prior to menses. Generally, symptoms may vanish either shortly before or after the start of menstrual flow.

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