Efficacy of Asarun versus Sumbul ul teeb in Premenstrual Syndrome- A randomised clinical study

The National Institute of Mental Health definition states that premenstrual changes or the cyclic occurrence of symptoms that are of sufficient severity to interfere with some aspects of life and which appear with consistent and predictable relationships to menses.PMS is characterized by a group of physical, emotional, and psychological symptoms of varying severity starting a week before the onset of menstruation and ends after the onset of menstruation**.Worldwide prevalence of PMS is about 80%-90%,and that in India ranges from 14.3%-74.4%.The aetiology of PMS is unclear hence, definitive treatment is not available. However, several possible treatments have been established based on symptomatic relief .Current treatment options for PMS, which include Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and hormonal therapy are limited, both in terms of their efficacy and associated side effects often only partially alleviating symptoms.It is estimated that up to 80% of the worlds population rely on herbal medicines as a primary source of healthcare and traditional medical practice and some of these medicinal plants have been shown to be effective in relieving PMS symptoms.The ancient physicians mentioned that, *ImtilÄikaifiat*exist in the premenstrual phase which leads to number of features like anxiety, headache, irritability, insomnia, decreased concentration, palpitations etc.It is well studied that surge of AkhlÄt­-i-Muharrika (hormones) are responsible for the accumulation of body fluid in tissue spaces during premenstrual phase and this theory correlates with the concept given by IbnSina and others.Several unani drugs like Mushktramashi, Sumbul-ut-teeb, Parsiyawashan, Asarun, Anisoon, Zanjabeel, Zafran, Baboona, Gouzaban, Asgandh, Methi, Qust etc which possess properties Muharrik-i-as**ab, Muqawwi-i-asab, Munaqi-i-asab, Muqawwi-i-dim**agh, Munaqi-i-dim**agh, Mudirr-i-bawl, Mudirr-i-haiz, Muqawwi-i-gurda, Muqawwi-i-mida, Mufatteh sudad, Muhallil-i-awarm, Mulattif, Musakkin, Muqawwi-i-jigar, Mulayyin-i-shikam, Qabid activitiesand are described to overcome the various symptoms associated with PMS**.**Of these Asarun  is selected to  evaluate its effect in comparison with Sumbul-ut-teeb in the management of PMS.