Efficacy of Saussurea costus (Qost) Oil as an Iranian Traditional Medicine Product on Primary Dysmenorrhea: Case Series

Dysmenorrhea is known as painful menstruation with considerable effects on women's mental status and quality of life with some limits for treatment. The objective of this prospective case series was to evaluate effects of Saussurea Costus (Qost) oil, an Iranian Traditional Medicine (Persian Medicine) product, on the primary dysmenorrhea. In this case series, 13 patients were included to study and treated with local Qost oil for 6 weeks. The oil was rubbed (without massage) 15 drops every 12 hours to the sub-navel region until pubis. The improvement of dysmenorrhea, evaluated with VAS score based on the last periodic cycle before the study and the last cycle after the completion of the intervention, which continued 6 weeks (at least one period for each patient). Then, 4 weeks after the end of the intervention (equivalent to one period for each patient), the evaluation was performed. The mean VAS score of patients before intervention was 7.77. The score after the end of intervention up to 4 weeks after the end of intervention improved to 1.85. (76.191%). During this study, no side effects were reported in the patients, and no patient was excluded from the study. Due to easiness of use and low invasion of topical treatment, it can be suitable for dysmenorrhea controlling. Upon the beneficial effects of Qost oil on uterine diseases and pains in Persian Medicine sources, usage of that oil in double blinded clinical trial in the subject of dysmenorrhea is suggested.