The most prevalent issue that women face with their periods is pain. Over 50 percent of women experience some pain during their menstrual cycle. Some women may experience a sensation of pulling in the pelvic region or heaviness in the abdomen. Some ladies get bad cramps.
It is reported as the most frequent menstrual disorder for which adolescents and their parents were referred to a physician and a leading cause of long-term school absenteeism.
A majority of period pain before and during menstruation can be relieved by over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and aspirin. Taking the medicine may also lessen heavy menstrual bleeding. To relieve period pain, some women also use herbal remedies.
In a survey of herbal plants in Ibarapa Local Government Area, Oyo State, researchers identified that Seamum indica and Carica papaya (fruits) were the most effective herbal plants considered for treating menstrual pain. At the same time, Oryza sativa fraghans and Terminalia chebula are less effective for the treatment of menstrual pain.
According to the Pharma Innovation Journal, a semi-structured questionnaire survey was administered to 30 respondents in the study area. Information obtained included the planned time to use the concoction, the time of collection, its side effects, and the availability of the plants.
The study was entitled “Ethnobotanical survey of herbal plants used for menstrual pains in Ibarapa Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria.”
The respondents were mostly female, ranging in age from 31 to 45 years, and were mainly herbal sellers. Thirteen plant species were documented for the management and treatment of menstrual pain in the study area.
The survey documented Moringa oleifera (moringa), neem, Oriza sativa (rice), Sesamum indicum (Ellu), pawpaw, Sesamini indicium (morogbo), Sorghum bicolor (Poroporo), Ocimum grastissimum (scent leaf or Efinrin), bitter leaf (Ewuro), Lactuca virosa (Iyalode leaves), Fragrance (Paragon), Aloe vera (Iti erin), and Terminalia chebula (Egbo fruit).
According to the researchers, Moringa oliefera leaf is also effective in treating menstrual pain, in the same way, that Aloe vera, Azadirachta indica, and Oryza sativa (rice) are 10 percent effective in reducing menstrual pain, and others are 6.7 percent and 3.3 percent effective.
The leaf of Carica papaya was known to be one of the most effective among selective herbal plants in treating menstrual disorders.
In addition, the result shows no side effects from the use of herbal plants in the treatment of menstrual pain.
Also, the results show that the time to use concoction is mostly 76.7 percent before meal and 23.3 percent after meal. Leaves are the most common part of the plants used for the treatment, although seeds or other parts of the plant are used in some cases.
They suggested that the findings could be used in drug development for treating and preventing diseases.
Similarly, scientific evidence suggests that remedies from Aloe buettneri, Dicliptera verticillata, Hibiscus macranthus, and Justicia insularis can play an important role in the cause and treatment of menstrual pain.
Under laboratory conditions, the synergistic effect of compounds present in these plants, the researchers said, provided evidence to support the usage of their mixture in traditional medicine for the treatment of menstrual pain.
Researchers hypothesised that in comparison to the control group, the treated rats’ production of sex hormones was elevated by the plant mixture.
Progesterone levels in the blood increased by 7.4 and 15.62 times in rats treated with a mixture of their powders and aloe buettneri, respectively. Compared to the control group, the levels of oestradiol and progesterone also dramatically increased with Justicia insularis and Aloe buettneri, respectively.
Progesterone is produced in the ovaries, placenta, and adrenal glands. It helps to regulate the monthly menstrual cycle and prepares the body for conception and pregnancy.
However, the researchers stated that more studies still need to be done to fully understand how the aqueous extract of the mixture of leaves in traditional medicine can treat infertility among women.
Previously, researchers in a study compared the effects of ginger, mefenamic acid, and ibuprofen on pain in 150 students (18 years old and over) with primary dysmenorrhoea at two medical universities in Iran.
The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine published a study in 2009 indicating that ginger was as effective in relieving pain during unpleasant menses as Ibuprofen and mefenamic acid. Ginger also alleviates nausea and vomiting, sometimes associated with painful menses.
It is an alternative treatment for moderate-to-severely painful menses without adverse effects like diarrhoea and heartburn.
In addition, pure honey consumption in women who suffer from menstrual pain reduces significantly the severity of pain and amount of bleeding.
The study in the 2012 Evidence-Based Care edition involved 60 female students and it compared the effect of pure and impure honey on the severity of pain, the amount of bleeding, and the duration and interval of menstrual cycles in female students with menstrual pain.
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