Effects of herbal medicine for dysmenorrhea treatment on accompanied acne vulgaris: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

BackgroundThe incidence of preadolescent acne among women is increasing. Acne deteriorates the quality of life; conventional treatment options are limited and have not been effective against acne, particularly acne associated with menstruation. Despite evidence that acne associated with menstruation abnormalities naturally improves when menstruation recovers to normal, there have only been few studies on the effects of dysmenorrhea treatment on acne. Therefore- we designed this study to assess the effects of gyejibokryung-hwan (GBH) and dangguijagyag-san (DJS), which are widely used in dysmenorrhea treatment, on acne associated with menstruation cycle.MethodsThis is a protocol for a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled and multicenter trial. One hundred and sixteen participants with dysmenorrhea accompanied by acne vulgaris will be recruited at three centers and randomized into two groups, the herbal treatment group and placebo group. The participants will receive GBH or DJS based on pattern identification or placebo granules thrice daily for 8 weeks, with an 8-week follow up. The primary outcome will be the mean percentage change in the count of inflammatory acne lesions. The secondary outcomes would be based on dysmenorrhea numeric rating scale, verbal multidimensional scoring system for dysmenorrhea, acne numeric rating scale, investigator’s static global assessment scale of facial acne vulgaris, and safety testing. Adverse events will also be reported.DiscussionThe effects of GBH or DJS used in dysmenorrhea treatment on acne associated with the menstrual cycle will be evaluated. The findings of this trial will provide evidence regarding the effect of herbal medicine in improving acne vulgaris associated with menstruation in women.Trial registrationKorean Clinical Trial Registry (http://cris.nih.go.kr; registration number: KCT0002259). Date of registration: March 10, 2017

The Impact of Dysmenorrhea on Quality of Life Among Spanish Female University Students

“…In addition, it is important to note that, over recent years, there has been a major demand for new, complementary or integrative therapies which coexist alongside traditional medicine [ 11 ]. In this sense, several studies have proven that different complementary therapies, such as yoga, acupressure or herbal medicine, among others, may contribute towards an improvement in the symptoms of PD and therefore lead to improvements in overall quality of life (QoL) [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. The findings reported by Mc Govern et al suggest that yoga is a safe and effective treatment for improving QoL through reduction of pain, stress, anxiety, depression and insomnia, a conclusion also made by other authors [ 15 , 16 ].…”

An update and systematic review on the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea

“…Dysmenorrhea is the cause of one to three percent of the cases of absenteeism at school and work, which translates into a loss of 600 million hours a year and the equivalent to USD 2 billion in the United States. The condition is highly prevalent among women, with incidence ranging from 45% to 97% in groups of different ages and nationalities (Kim et al, 2017; Lee et al, 2016).…”

“…In the realm of complementary medicine, methods resorting to herbs, yoga, relaxation, psychotherapy, massage, hypnosis, vitamins (E, B, C), and supplements (calcium and magnesium) as well as acupressure and acupuncture have been used (Chao et al, 2014; Hosseinlou et al, 2014; Lee et al, 2016; Xu et al, 2017). The herbs used more commonly to treat dysmenorrhea are chamomile, ginger, fennel, cinnamon, and aloe vera (Kim et al, 2017; Rahnama et al, 2012). Common treatments for dysmenorrhea are extensive and in some cases subject to restrictions.…”

<p>Moxibustion for Patients with Primary Dysmenorrhea at Different Intervention Time Points: A Randomized Controlled Trial</p>

“…6 PD morbidity ranges from 45% to 97% across different ages and nationalities. [7][8][9] Despite its high incidence rate and wide geographic distribution, the causes and mechanisms of PD remain unclear. The most widely accepted theory suggests that PD is associated with increased synthesis of prostaglandins (PGs), resulting in dysrhythmic uterine contractions and decreased blood flow.…”