Title:Herbal Medicines - A Fruitful Approach to Periodic Illness
Dysmenorrhoea: Evidence-based Review
Volume: 25
Issue: 2
Author(s): Keshav Bansal*, Sachin Sharma and Meenakshi Bajpai
Affiliation:
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, IPR, GLA University, Mathura, India
Keywords:
Dysmenorrhoea, herbal treatments, menstrual cycle, periodic pain, painful menstruation, oral hormonal contraceptives.
Abstract: Dysmenorrhea (menstrual or periodic pain) is a discomfort that occurs during painful
periods. It is the first and most prominent reason for female lower abdominal pain. Most adolescent
girls consider it a curse due to the periodic occurrence of painful cramps and bleeding. The
pathogenesis of painful periods is most likely because of increased prostanoids, notably prostaglandins,
produced by the cyclooxygenase pathway (PGs). Misuse of synthetic medications leads
to the development of medication resistance and deposits toxic residues in the body; thus, there is
a critical need for safe and effective alternatives. In recent decades, herbal treatment approaches
have found extensive applications in the treatment of various ailments. Herbal therapies are an
alternate source, which include several bioactive chemicals, and recent improvements in our understanding
of the value of herbal therapy methods have caused a sharp rise in their production.
The main focus of this review was to study herbal treatment options; the recent studies conducted
on herbal therapies and various experimental investigations on dysmenorrhea and herbal therapy
methods have been studied, and randomized controlled trials and animal models have been discussed
describing the anti-inflammatory properties of some potential herbal medicines that can be
used as treatment options for dysmenorrhoea. This review aimed to present herbal treatments that
can be used as alternative traditional synthetic medications and oral hormonal contraceptives in the
treatment of painful menstruation.
