Remedy 3: Chamomile

Remedy 2: Chamomile

What is it?

Chamomile, with the scientific name of Matricaria chamomilla, is one of the most widely used medicinal plants. 1-3 cups of Chamomile tea a day is recommended during periods to relieve period pain.

Regimen:

• What - Chamomile tea

• How much - 1-3 cups a day

• When - During menstruation, along with other interventions/remedies

• How long - throughout the duration of pain.

How does it work?

Chamomile tea possesses anti-spasmodic properties, which can relieve the painful cramps associated with the menstrual periods.¹ A compound named Apigenin found in chamomile tea helps reduce the impact of excitatory neurotransmitters and hormones on the mind and body, helping to soothe the over-firing sympathetic nervous system.

Apart from reducing the inflammatory response of the immune system, chamomile tea also works to reduce the sensation of pain by inhibiting the COX enzyme.

What is the efficacy?

Methods: Across the three studies, chamomile was tested in different forms like tea sachets, capsules, and various preparations, on women experiencing menstrual pain, including those with primary dysmenorrhea and women with PCOS. Participants either received chamomile or a comparison treatment like mefenamic acid or placebo, typically starting a few days before menstruation and continuing for several days into the cycle, over one to three months. Pain, menstrual bleeding, and related symptoms were measured using standard tools such as the Visual Analogue Scale, symptom checklists, and menstrual bleeding charts to assess changes.^2,3,4

Results: The studies found that chamomile reduced menstrual pain intensity and improved related symptoms like anxiety, bloating, and heavy bleeding. In some trials, its pain-relieving effect was similar to mefenamic acid, while in others it showed added benefits for emotional well-being. Improvements were seen within the first treatment cycles and tended to increase with continued use, with no serious side effects reported.

Conclusion: Based on the results of the most reviewed studies, Chamomile can be considered as an effective treatment for primary dysmenorrhea and reducing menstrual bleeding.

References

1. Bhaskaran N, Shukla S, Srivastava JK, Gupta S. Chamomile: An anti-inflammatory agent inhibits inducible nitric oxide synthase expression by blocking RelA/p65 activity. Int J Mol Med. 2010 Dec;26(6):935-940. doi:10.3892/ijmm_00000545.

2. Niazi A, Moradi M. The Effect of Chamomile on Pain and Menstrual Bleeding in Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review. IJCBNM. 2021;9(3):174-186. doi: 10.30476/ijcbnm.2021.87219.1417.

3. Shabani F, Narenji F, Vakilian K, Zareian MA, Bozorgi M, Bioos S, Nejatbakhsh F. Comparing the Effect of Chamomile and Mefenamic Acid on Primary Dysmenorrhea Symptoms and Menstrual Bleeding: A Randomized Clinical Trial. The Open Public Health Journal. 2022 Aug 23;15(1).

4. Afiat M, Jalaly E, Lashgari Kalat H, Khorsand N, Akbari Lor A, Ghazanfarpour M. Effectiveness of Treatment with Chamomile on Menstrual Function, Dysmenorrhea and Premenstrual Syndrome in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Journal of Babol University of Medical Sciences. 2024 Mar 10;26:0-.