The effects of the medicinal plant of marigold and mefenamic acid capsules on pain in girls with primary dysmenorrhea

Dysmenorrhea is usually cramped in nature and focuses on the lower abdomen and is a common disorder that manifests during the menstrual cycle and interferes with a person's daily activities. The present study was performed with aim to compare the effect of the medicinal plant of marigold and mefenamic acid on the pain of patients with primary dysmenorrhea.

This randomized clinical trial study with a control group was conducted in 2018 on 80 girls aged 18-25 years who referred to Khomein health centers. The subjects were divided into two groups: intervention (recipient of amaranth drops) and control (recipient of mefenamic acid capsule) (n=40 in each group) and drugs were taken for 2 months. Before the intervention and during 2 months, the primary dysmenorrhea pain score was evaluated by a visual pain measure including a pain ruler and a pain descriptive form and then were compared. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 19) and independent t, paired t and Wilcoxon tests. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Based on the results of Wilcoxon test, the pain intensity score before the intervention and after 1 and 2 months of consumption was significant in both groups (p≤0.001). Based on the results of independent t-tests and paired t-tests, there was a significant difference in the mean number of pain days (pain duration) before and after the intervention in the two groups (p≤0.001), and the duration of pain had decreased in the test group during the first and second month after the intervention.

Marigold medicinal plant and mefenamic acid reduced the duration of dysmenorrhea pain compared to before treatment, therefore, the use of marigold along with mefenamic acid is recommended in the treatment of dysmenorrhea.