13 August 2009

Herbal control of mood swings and anxiety by email

Depression, angry outbursts, irritability, anxiety, confusion and social withdrawal are often associated with a woman’s menstrual cycle, and the Royal Hospital for Women is running a clinical trial to determine if those emotions can be controlled using a herbal supplement.
 
Lead researcher Associate Professor John Eden said this type of clinical trial could further widen the methods used by women to help them cope month-to-month.
 
“Many women are taking drug therapies to control moods swings and anxiety. It would be great to be able to offer them a natural therapy”, he said.
 
The herbal supplement contains tyrosine, cimicifuga racemosa extract (black cohosh), pyridoxine HCI, folic acid, cyanocobalamin, chromium picolinate and calcium hydrogen phosphate.
 
Previous studies have shown black cohosh is effective for treating menopause symptoms and tyrosine appears to prevent the substantial decline in various aspects of cognitive performance and mood associated with many kinds of acute stress.
 
In addition, chromium supplements have shown to improve glucose metabolism and might help reduce sugar cravings.
 
By answering a questionnaire via the internet and email the trial will assess the impact on both psychological and physical symptoms in women during the menstrual cycle.
 
The Royal Hospital for Women needs to recruit 110 women aged between 18 and 45 with a regular menstrual cycle and experiencing at least one psychological symptom for three to six months.
 
Initially women will be screened via the internet during a four-week cycle and those selected will participate in a randomised placebo-controlled trial running over 12 weeks, allowing three menstrual cycles to be monitored.
 
Interested women should call (02) 9382 6621 or visit www.rhw.org.au.
 

 
Media Enquiries:  Selina O'Connor, (02) 9382 8226 or 0421 618 793