Evaluation of the synergism of medicinal effects of Chamomile and Ginger on pain and symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea: A randomized controlled trial.

Shabani F, Zareian MA. Compl Med J.  2020 Jan 30;9(4):3852-67.

Dysmenorrhoea is one of the most common complaints affecting menstruating women, with over 70% of women experiencing noteworthy pain and discomfort during menstruation. This can seriously impact on quality of life, impairing women’s ability to work, socialise and carry out activities of daily living. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as mefenamic acid are the main treatment option for symptomatic relief; however natural therapies including Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) and Ginger (Zingiber officinale) have also demonstrated benefit in clinical trials. This study aimed to compare the effects of Chamomile, Ginger, Chamomile plus Ginger and mefenamic acid on dsymenorrhoea symptoms in young women.

Study Overview

Trial design: Randomised controlled trial

Population: 400 female students aged 18 to 30 years, at Arak university, Iran

Intervention: The women were divided into four equal groups, and received:

• Chamomile 500 mg with honey
• Ginger 1000 mg with honey
• Chamomile 500 mg plus Ginger 1000 mg with honey
• Mefenamic acid 250 mg

Taken three times daily, from two days before menstruation until the third day of menstruation, for two consecutive menstrual cycles.

Outcomes: Severity of pain was measured with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), overall symptoms were assessed with the Andersch-Millsom Verbal Scale, and blood loss was assessed via the Pictorial Blood Loss Assessment Chart

Results

• The severity of pain, number of days of pain, amount of analgesia required, total symptoms score, and bleeding rate were significantly decreased in all four groups by the end of the study compared to baseline (p=0.001).
• The Chamomile plus Ginger group had the greatest improvements in overall symptom score (p=0.02) and mood score compared to the other interventions
• The Ginger alone group had the greatest improvement in fatigue scores (p=0.02)
• Mefenamic acid had the greatest effect on reduction of bleeding (p=0.008)
• The Chamomile alone group had the greatest reduction in total pain scores

Summary

This study demonstrated that both Chamomile and Ginger, either alone or together, are equally as effective as mefenamic acid in relieving menstrual pain and associated symptoms.