Assessing the Therapeutic Potential of a Traditional Botanical Remedy for Menstrual Pain: Insights From a Prospective Observational Analysis

Primary dysmenorrhea (PDM) affects round 60 to 90% of women and has a great impact on everyday life of affected women, leading to decreased work productivity, cognitive activity and cuts in social life. The aetiology of pain symptoms mainly results from increased contractile activity. Non-rhythmic and uncoordinated contractions lead to high uterine pressure, which together with vasoconstriction result in reduced blood flow and ultimately in painful uterine ischemia. Conventional treatment options are limited to pain medication such as paracetamol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) or - especially, but not only, if contraception is also desired - hormonal contraceptives. Due to the frequent occurrence of (sometimes severe) side effects, there has been a lack of effective treatment options that can be taken regularly without hesitation. The succulent herb Bryophyllum pinnatum (BP) (Lam.) Oken. (Crassulaceae) (synonym: Kalanchoe pinnata) originated in Madagascar,but is at present found in wide-ranging (sub)tropical regions of Africa and Asia. In Switzerland, BP is often used in obstetrics and gynaecology, so far mainly for preterm labour (as a tocolytic), and in some cases for overactive bladder syndrome, nocturia and sleeping disorders, but not for dysmenorrhea. Current pharmacological data on the inhibition of myometrial contractile mechanisms by BP preparations as well as its reported use against inflammation and pain in ethnomedicine made us hypothesize that BP might be a new treatment option for PDM.

Primary objective of the study:

Assessment of the PDM - associated menstrual pain

Secondary objectives of the study:

Assessment of the quality of life in PDM Recording of AEs under study medication Compliance

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This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

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Key information

Conditions

Dysmenorrhea Primary

Age range

18 year–45 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 4

Primary location

Private Centre for Obstetrics and Gynecology "Geburt und Familie", Aarau, Canton of Aargau, Switzerland

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Age between 18 and 45 years with regular menstrual cycles (21-35 days)
Menstrual pain rated 6 or higher on an 11-point PI-NRS during the most painful day
In good general health
Provided written informed consent
Willing to maintain the same personal hygienic product throughout the study (e.g., tampons, pads, menstrual cups; no changes in menstrual hygiene practices allowed during the study)

Exclusion criteria

Secondary dysmenorrhea (i.e. in endometriosis, adenomyosis, urogenital malformations)
Currently taking, or had taken in the past two months, hormonal forms of birth control
Dysmenorrhea reasonably suspected to be due to a IUD
Prior or current liver or kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease, reproductive cancer (uterine, ovarian, etc.)
Personal history of known hypersensitivity to the used drug or its ingredients or to drugs with a similar chemical structure
Other diseases that do not allow the subject to assess the nature and scope as well as possible consequences of the clinical study
Pregnant or breastfeeding women
Signs that the subject is unlikely to comply with the protocol (e.g., unwillingness to cooperate)
Alcohol/drug abuse
Non-German speaking patients (Patient information is only available in German)

Treatment and study plan

Bryophyllum

Drug

Bryophyllum Pinnatum - tablets, for 6 Months

Primary outcomes

Pain Score (Numeric Rating Intensity - NRI)

Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 months

Measurement of the intensity of the pain during the menstrual periods: a score of 0 means no pain, a score of 10 means the maximal pain

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Zurich

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effectiveness of Bryophyllum Pinnatum in the Treatment of Primary Dysmenorrhea: a Prospective Observational Study

Important dates

Study start: 2025
Primary completion: 2028
Study completion: 2028
First posted: Apr 3, 2025
Registry last updated: Apr 10, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

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This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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