Comparison the effect of mefenamic acid and Teucrium polium on the severity and systemic symptoms of dysmenorrhea

• The Teucrium polium plant was used for the first time for pain relief of primary dismenorrhea.
• Comparison of the plant with mefenamic acid.
• No side effects reported.

BackgroundPrimary dysmenorrhea is a prevalent problem and its effects decrease the quality of life in many women across the world. The aim of this study was to research the effect of Teucrium polium compared to mefenamic acid on primary dysmenorrhea.Materials and MethodsThis triple-blind, randomized, clinical trial study was performed on 70 single female students between 20 and 30 years old educating in Shahid Beheshti University (Tehran, Iran) from October 2014 to February 2014.They were allocated randomly into two groups: In T. polium group (n = 35) who took 250 mg of T. polium powder q6h for the first 3 days of menstruation for two cycles. The second group (n = 35) received 250 mg mefenamic acid,. Dysmenorrhea severity was determined by visual analog scale (VAS).ResultsThere were no differences between two groups for demographic or descriptive variables. Comprising the VAS showed that the participants in T. polium and mefenamic acid groups had lower significant pain in the 1st and the 2nd months after the treatment (P < 0.05). No side effects were reported in the T. polium and Mefenamic Acid groups.ConclusionT. polium was as effective as mefenamic acid in decreasing the pain severity in primary dysmenorrhea.