تأثیر عصاره لاواندر بر سندرم قبل از قاعدگی

Background and purpose: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a common problem among women that results in many physical and psychological problems. Recent studies have proposed some treatments but none have confirmed their efficacy. This study aimed at deterring the effects of lavandula on pain relief of women suffering from PMS. Materials and methods: A single blinded randomized clinical trial was performed in female students at Sari Islamic Azad University during 2007-2008. The study population included 90 cases who were confirmed for PMS without depression (determined through Beck Questionnaire). They were randomly divided into two groups. The students in the experimental group used two drops of Lavandula oil, two times a day one week before starting menstruation for two consecutive months. But the subjects in the control group were given a placebo. Severity of symptoms was evaluated before and after the intervention and the data were analyzed using t-test, X2 and Mann-Whitney. Results: Severity of PMS symptoms was similar in both groups before the intervention (P=0.086) and it decreased in both groups after the intervention. However, this decrease was significantly higher among the intervention group (P=0.000). Conclusion: The results indicated the efficacy of Lavandula essence for reliving PMS. Therefore, it can be used as a complementary method to reduce the pain of patients who need sedatives.