Could fennel beat PMT?

IT'S not to everyone's taste not but fennel could help women who suffer from the monthly misery of pre-menstrual syndrome.

Young women given drops made f rom the l i quorice- f l avoured seeds of the plant felt less depressed and found it easier to do their jobs and get on with their friends and family.

It is thought that fennel helps to rebalance female sex hormones blamed for some of the symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome.

PMS affects around three-quarters of women, and up to 40 per cent of those say it damages their quality of life. In extreme cases, women can become violent and suffer from severe depression.

There is also an economic impact, with research suggesting that time off and loss of productivity annually costs employers around €3,500 per female employee.

Treatments range from simple dietary changes to hormones and anti-depressants. But they do not work for all and, in the case of drugs, can have side-effects.

Scientists in Iran, where fennel already has a variety of medical uses, tested its ability to stave off PMS on 36 women who they split into three groups.

The first took a fennel extract from three days before their period until three days afterwards. The second exercised regularly and the third continued as normal.

The symptoms eased in those doing exercise and those taking the extract. The greatest improvement was in those taking the extract, the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology’s annual conference heard.

Researcher Hassan Pazoki, of Urmia University, said: ‘After eight weeks, the severity of symptoms had reduced so much that they could do their jobs and have a normal relationships with their friends and family. Depression was also reduced.’

Dr Pazoki said combining regular exercise with fennel extract was even more effective. He said while the drops are bitter to taste, they don’t produce any side-effects.

Nick Panay, a consultant gynaecologist and chairman of the National Association for Premenstrual Syndrome, said: ‘We support any research into the evidence for the effectiveness and safety of both natural and medicinal treatment options for PMS.’