Chamomile is a time-honored herb renowned for its calming properties. Its active compounds—flavonoids and terpenoids—contribute to anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and sedative effects, which are especially useful for promoting relaxation and reducing anxiety. Recognized as generally safe by the FDA, chamomile is frequently used to manage premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms, including emotional mood disturbances, excessive menstrual bleeding, and cyclic breast pain.
Protocols Studied in Research
Chamomile based Supplement For Excessive Menstrual Bleeding [1][2][3]
- Protocol: Take a chamomile capsule (250 mg) three times a day, starting 7 days before menstruation and continuing until the next onset.
- Outcome: The average amount of bleeding decreased significantly in the chamomile group (p = 0.001).
Chamomile based Supplement For Breast Pain (Mastalgia) [1][2][3]
- Protocol: Take 5 drops of chamomile extract three times a day for at least 2 consecutive months.
- Outcome: Both the chamomile and placebo groups showed a significant decline in breast pain after two months (p < 0.0001 for chamomile; p = 0.048 for placebo).
Chamomile based Supplement For Emotional Symptoms (Including Anxiety/Depressed Mood, Nervousness, Irritability, Mood Swings, and Crying/Sad) [1][2][3]
- Protocol: Take one chamomile capsule every 8 hours for 7 days before the onset of menstrual bleeding.
- Outcome: According to the Mann‑Whitney test, chamomile capsules were effective in reducing menstrual‑related mood disorders (p < 0.001).
Research Interpretation: Summary and Conclusion
Research indicates that chamomile supplementation can significantly alleviate various PMS symptoms. When used in different formulations and dosing schedules, chamomile has been shown to reduce excessive menstrual bleeding, ease cyclic breast pain, and improve emotional symptoms such as anxiety, mood swings, and irritability. These benefits, supported by significant statistical outcomes, reinforce chamomile's traditional reputation as a natural, calming, and anti-inflammatory remedy for PMS.
Publications
[1] Najafi Mollabashi E, Ziaie T, Bostani Khalesi Z. The effect of Matricaria chamomile on menstrual related mood disorders. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol X. 2021 Oct 1;12:100134. doi: 10.1016/j.eurox.2021.100134. PMID: 34704015; PMCID: PMC8526954.
[2] Mollabashi EN, Ziaie T, Bekhradi R, Khalesi ZB. Do Chamomile effect on duration, amount of bleeding, and interval of menstrual cycles? J Pharmacopuncture. 2020 Mar 31;23(1):25-29. doi: 10.3831/KPI.2020.23.004. PMID: 32322432; PMCID: PMC7163389.
[3] Saghafi N, Rhkhshandeh H, Pourmoghadam N, Pourali L, Ghazanfarpour M, Behrooznia A, Vafisani F. Effectiveness of Matricaria chamomilla (chamomile) extract on pain control of cyclic mastalgia: a double-blind randomised controlled trial. J Obstet Gynaecol. 2018 Jan;38(1):81-84. doi: 10.1080/01443615.2017.1322045. Epub 2017 Oct 26. PMID: 29072514.
