Effect of Yoga on Premenstrual Syndrome: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Introduction: Yoga takes an approach that addresses the mental and spiritual aspects, making it a powerful tool for treating medical conditions that often do not respond well to traditional methods. Researchers have a growing interest in studying the effects of yoga on chronic health issues and mental wellbeing. Aim: To investigate and summarise the impact of yoga on premenstrual syndrome. Materials and Methods: For this systematic review, international databases (Google Scholar, PubMed, EBSCOhost, and ScienceDirect) were systematically searched from the inception of the databases until January 31, 2024. The keywords “premenstrual syndrome” and “yoga” were employed, and “Medical Subject Headings” (MeSH) were utilised for these keywords. Two researchers independently screened articles, and consensus for inclusion was achieved through mutual discussions. All studies assessing the effect of yoga on premenstrual syndrome were extracted from the selected studies without restricting to the form or type of yogic intervention. Results: A total of 35 studies on the subject were scrutinised, and 12 publications meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were incorporated in the study for evaluation. All studies indicated that yoga is effective in reducing at least one or some of the physical symptoms, such as bloating, pain, fatigue, breast tenderness, appetite changes, and psychological changes like irritability, stress, anxiety, depression, loss of interest, attention, control, and arousal during premenstrual syndrome. There is a lack of clarity regarding the effect of yoga on many other symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. Conclusion: Yoga interventions demonstrate effectiveness in alleviating premenstrual symptoms in women with premenstrual syndrome.