A randomized comparative study of herbal decoction of Cassia fistula Linn pod's pericarp and Myristica fragrans Houtt arils vs. mefenamic acid in spasmodic dysmenorrhoea
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Amera Anjum
Abstract
Background
To compare the efficacy and safety of herbal decoction (pods of Cassia fistula Linn. and Arils of Myristica fragrans Houtt) with mefenamic acid in spasmodic dysmenorrhoea.
Methods
In this single-blind, prospective, parallel, standard controlled study, dysmenorrheic patients (n=64) were randomly allocated to receive herbal decoction (n=31) or mefenamic acid (n=33) for two consecutive menstrual cycles. Treatment group received 180 mL herbal decoction of post amaltas (Cassia fistula L pod’s pericarp) (21 g), bisbasah (Myristica fragrans Houtt arils) (3 g) and qand siyah (jaggery) (30 g) which were orally administered at morning for 3 days before the expected start of menstruation. The control group received mefenamic acid 500 mg orally twice daily between day 1 and day 3 of menstruation. The primary outcomes were visual analog scale (VAS) for pain intensity, pain relief scale and the safety assessment by clinical examination and biochemical parameters. The secondary outcomes included health-related quality of life (HRQoL) determined by SF-12 health survey questionnaire, duration of pain and pictorial blood assessment chart score for menstrual blood loss. The data were statistically interpreted with 5% level of significance.
Results
At the baseline, on day 1, pain severity for VAS score between the groups [7.09 ± 1.07 vs. 6.75 ± 1.09] had no significant difference (p>0.05). However, during the second menstrual cycle, a significant reduction [0.03 + 0.17 vs. 0.42 + 1.44] in pain severity on day 1 was noted in both groups (p<0.001). During the second menstrual cycle, improvement in HRQoL health survey [SF-12 total score: 85.88 ± 5.99 vs 74.83 ± 15.9] and reduction in pain duration were significantly higher in the treatment group compared to the control group. No side effects were reported.
Conclusion
Herbal decoction was effective to relieve pain and to improve HRQoL in spasmodic dysmenorrhoea.
Acknowledgments
The authors are gratified to the Director, National Institute of Unani Medicine and Ministry of AYUSH for providing all facilities. The authors are also obliged to all patients of this study of their kind support.
Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.
Research funding: Ministry of AYUSH, India, has funded this trial under unrestricted educational grant for a postgraduate thesis.
Employment or leadership: None declared.
Honorarium: None declared.
Competing interests: The funding organization(s) played no role in the study design; in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report or in the decision to submit the report for publication.
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© 2019 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Pre-clinical Studies
- Antidiarrhoeal properties of Syzygium guineense leaf extract and identification of chemical constituents in its active column fractions
- A randomized comparative study of herbal decoction of Cassia fistula Linn pod's pericarp and Myristica fragrans Houtt arils vs. mefenamic acid in spasmodic dysmenorrhoea
- Effect of Morus alba root bark extract on gene-level expression of inflammatory markers in rats subjected to ethanol and cerulein induced pancreatitis– influence of heat shock protein 70
- Metabolomic fingerprint of Mentha rotundifolia L. Leaf tissues promotes this species as a potential candidate for sustainable production of biologically active molecules
- Effect of Ocimum basilicum leaves extract on acetaminophen-induced nephrotoxicity in BALB/c mice
- Ethanolic extract of Erythrina velutina Willd ameliorate schizophrenia-like behavior induced by ketamine in mice
- Clinical Studies
- Asymmetric dimethylarginine and soluble inter-cellular adhesion molecule-1 serum levels alteration following ginger supplementation in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial
- Muscle stretching with deep and slow breathing patterns: a pilot study for therapeutic development
- Model structure for protocol adherence utilizing a manualized therapeutic massage intervention
- Effect of Complementary Spiritist Therapy on emotional status, muscle tension, and wellbeing of inpatients with HIV/AIDS: A randomized controlled trial – single–blind
- Postoperative analgesia by adding acupuncture to conventional therapy, a non-randomized controlled trial
- Comparative study on effect of neutral spinal bath and neutral spinal spray on blood pressure, heart rate and heart rate variability in healthy volunteers
- Case study
- Is Rajyoga helpful in maintaining patient’s biochemical and hematological profile during breast cancer treatment?
- Review
- Pharmacological and nutritive potential of Euphorbia granulata
- Utilization, preference, perception and characteristics of people adopting traditional and AYUSH systems of medicine in India: a systematic review
- Letter to the editor
- Differences in Nominal Significance (DINS) Error leads to invalid conclusions: Letter regarding, “Diet enriched with fresh coconut decreases blood glucose levels and body weight in normal adults”
Articles in the same Issue
- Pre-clinical Studies
- Antidiarrhoeal properties of Syzygium guineense leaf extract and identification of chemical constituents in its active column fractions
- A randomized comparative study of herbal decoction of Cassia fistula Linn pod's pericarp and Myristica fragrans Houtt arils vs. mefenamic acid in spasmodic dysmenorrhoea
- Effect of Morus alba root bark extract on gene-level expression of inflammatory markers in rats subjected to ethanol and cerulein induced pancreatitis– influence of heat shock protein 70
- Metabolomic fingerprint of Mentha rotundifolia L. Leaf tissues promotes this species as a potential candidate for sustainable production of biologically active molecules
- Effect of Ocimum basilicum leaves extract on acetaminophen-induced nephrotoxicity in BALB/c mice
- Ethanolic extract of Erythrina velutina Willd ameliorate schizophrenia-like behavior induced by ketamine in mice
- Clinical Studies
- Asymmetric dimethylarginine and soluble inter-cellular adhesion molecule-1 serum levels alteration following ginger supplementation in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial
- Muscle stretching with deep and slow breathing patterns: a pilot study for therapeutic development
- Model structure for protocol adherence utilizing a manualized therapeutic massage intervention
- Effect of Complementary Spiritist Therapy on emotional status, muscle tension, and wellbeing of inpatients with HIV/AIDS: A randomized controlled trial – single–blind
- Postoperative analgesia by adding acupuncture to conventional therapy, a non-randomized controlled trial
- Comparative study on effect of neutral spinal bath and neutral spinal spray on blood pressure, heart rate and heart rate variability in healthy volunteers
- Case study
- Is Rajyoga helpful in maintaining patient’s biochemical and hematological profile during breast cancer treatment?
- Review
- Pharmacological and nutritive potential of Euphorbia granulata
- Utilization, preference, perception and characteristics of people adopting traditional and AYUSH systems of medicine in India: a systematic review
- Letter to the editor
- Differences in Nominal Significance (DINS) Error leads to invalid conclusions: Letter regarding, “Diet enriched with fresh coconut decreases blood glucose levels and body weight in normal adults”
