The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point

Archive for the 'PMS/Dysmenorrhea' Category

Impact of dietary minerals on PMS

Thursday, February 28th, 2013

howtodealwithpms1Many dietary supplements are advocated to reduce certain symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). However, only one  — calcium — has been demonstrated to be of significant benefit.

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts, in Amherst, studied the effects of taking iron, potassium, zinc, and other minerals. (more…)

Review: Ginger to treat pain

Monday, January 16th, 2012

Zingiber officinale, commonly known as ginger, has been used to treat pain, among other things.

Prof. Ernst and colleagues from the University of Exeter, in the UK reviewed the evidence for the use of ginger to treat any type of pain. (more…)

Acupuncture in Ob/Gyn

Tuesday, December 13th, 2011

Acupuncture is often recommended for obstetrical and gynecological (Ob/Gyn) conditions.

Prof. Ernst has reviewed the evidence. (more…)

Valerian for dysmenorrhea

Thursday, October 6th, 2011

Researchers at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, in Tehran, Iran, evaluated valerian — an herb with sedative effects and antispasmodic effects on smooth muscles — on the severity of dysmenorrhea. (more…)

A systematic review of reflexology

Thursday, June 16th, 2011

ReflexologyTherapy[1]Prof. Ernst has reviewed all the studies. (more…)

Reviews of acupuncture for primary dysmenorrhea

Friday, February 4th, 2011

Primary dysmenorrhea is painful menstruation that’s not due to a disease, but to menstruation itself.

There’s “promising evidence” for acupuncture, according to at least 1 group of researchers at Kyung Hee University Medical Center, in Seoul, South Korea. (more…)

Review: Acupuncture to manage PMS

Friday, January 14th, 2011

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) refers to physical or emotional symptoms that typically occur about 5 to 11 days before a woman starts her monthly menstrual cycle.

Researchers at Kyung Hee University, in Seoul, Korea reviewed the evidence. (more…)

Krill oil vs fish oil to manage premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea

Saturday, September 11th, 2010

In this study, researchers at the University of Montreal, in Quebec, evaluated the response to alternative sources of omega-3 fatty acids (krill vs fish) in women with premenstrual syndrome.

A reader comments, and I reply. So, it’s back to the top of the queue for this post. (more…)

Krill oil effects in humans

Sunday, August 8th, 2010

A reader asked for a summary of the benefits of krill oil.

Most of the published literature is based on animal studies. But several researchers have studied humans. (more…)

Reviewing herbs, vitamins, and minerals in treating premenstrual syndrome

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

menopauseResearchers from Dalhousie University, in Halifax, Nova Scotia reviewed the evidence and make recommendations for women experiencing symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). (more…)

Flaxseed review

Saturday, December 12th, 2009

Medscape has published 2 case histories. One patient wants to take flaxseed to improve cholesterol levels and diabetes control. The other has constipation and premenstrual symptoms.

Here’s what we know. (more…)

Treating endometriosis with Chinese herbal medicine

Friday, July 10th, 2009

In China, treating endometriosis with herbal medicines (CHM) is routine.

Cochrane reviewed the evidence, and the outcome is encouraging. (more…)

No support for chastetree during pregnancy and lactation

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Chastetree (Vitex agnus castus) is a deciduous shrub used to treat a variety of gynecologic conditions, including menstrual irregularities.

Researchers from the University of Toronto and McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada reviewed the evidence as it pertains to its use by pregnant women. (more…)

Review of herbal medicines in gynecology

Thursday, August 28th, 2008

Dr. Cathi Dennehy from the Department of Clinical Pharmacy at the University of California San Francisco has reviewed the evidence.

I was surprised by her assessment of black cohosh for menopausal symptoms.

Here’s a summary of her findings.

(more…)

Saffron to treat PMS

Thursday, May 8th, 2008

This is the first study of saffron to treat premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in humans. (more…)

Chasteberry to treat breast discomfort and premenstrual syndrome

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008

Chasteberry (Vitex agnus-castus), or monk’s pepper is an herbal medicine that may be effective in treatment of cyclical breast discomfort and premenstrual syndrome. This is the conclusion reached in a review published in American Family Physician.

On the other hand?

(more…)

A bewildering study of acupuncture treatment of dysmenorrhea

Sunday, September 23rd, 2007

Why do CAM journals publish useless studies?

Case in point. (more…)

Pycnogenol reduces pain of endometriosis

Sunday, March 25th, 2007

Long-term treatment with French maritime pine bark extract (pycnogenol) reduced symptoms of endometriosis, such as pelvic pain and dysmenorrhea, in a study reported in the Journal of Reproductive Medicine.

Medscape has a summary.

(more…)

Evaluating omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation for joint pain

Saturday, March 10th, 2007

A literature review by two researchers at York University in Toronto “suggest[s] that omega-3 PUFAs are an attractive adjunctive treatment for joint pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and dysmenorrhea [painful menstruation].”

Results were positive for most measures of outcome.

(more…)

A critical review of spinal manipulation

Friday, November 10th, 2006

Spinal manipulation (SM) is a traditional treatment practiced by chiropractors, osteopaths, physiotherapists, and other healthcare providers mostly (but not exclusively) to treat musculoskeletal problems. SM can be described as the use of hands or force applied to the patient to achieve a therapeutic outcome.

The literature supports SM for treating back pain, but not much else.

(more…)