Effects of chamomile and -theanine beverage on menstrual pain, menstrual symptoms, mood, and sleep quality in young women experiencing primary dysmenorrhea: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

The short version

This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial with 30 young Malaysian women explored whether a beverage combining chamomile and l-theanine could ease primary dysmenorrhea - menstrual cramping that occurs without any underlying pelvic disease. Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) is a flowering herb long used as a calming remedy; the study intervention used a standardized flower extract of it. L-theanine is a non-protein amino acid concentrated in tea leaves (Camellia sinensis), used in supplements to support relaxation. The trial paired both in a functional beverage (CTT) and tested it against a chamomile-flavored placebo (non-CTT) to see whether the combination eased pain, mood, and sleep during menstruation. Thirty women aged 18-30 with primary dysmenorrhea (pain rated at least 4 of 10 on a visual scale across three cycles) were randomly split into a CTT group (480 mg chamomile extract plus 200 mg l-theanine daily) or a non-CTT control group, drinking two 240 mL packs daily - one on waking, one before bed - for five days spanning two days before their period through its third day. Pain was tracked with two 0-10 scales, symptoms with the 18-item Cox Menstrual Symptom Scale, sleep with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and mood with the Profile of Mood States. Compared to their own baseline, women drinking CTT saw pain scores drop by roughly 57% on both pain scales (p<0.001), a large reduction over five days. Eight menstrual symptoms also eased significantly, including lower abdominal pain (down 53%), back pain (down 56%), and irritability (down 45%, all p<0.05). Mood shifted too: depression scores fell 12% and vigor (energy and alertness) rose 62% (p<0.05). On sleep, only "daytime dysfunction" - grogginess, poor concentration, and low energy during the day - improved (down 32%, p<0.05); overall sleep quality, how long it took to fall asleep, and total sleep time did not change significantly. Hemoglobin levels, checked with a finger-prick test, were unaffected in either group, likely because red blood cells take weeks to months to regenerate, too slow to show up in five days. Interestingly, the placebo group also felt calmer on a few measures, which the researchers link to the shared chamomile scent and flavor rather than to any active ingredient. For young women managing primary dysmenorrhea without relying on NSAIDs, a short course of this chamomile-l-theanine beverage appears to meaningfully ease pain and several physical and emotional symptoms, with no reported side effects. Because chamomile and l-theanine were only tested together, it is not yet clear how much each contributes individually, and the tiny sample (15 per group) and single five-day cycle mean the results are preliminary. Longer trials spanning multiple cycles, larger and more diverse groups, and a scent-neutral placebo are needed before firmer conclusions can be drawn.

Key findings

• A five-day course of a beverage combining 480 mg chamomile (Matricaria recutita) extract and 200 mg l-theanine (a calming amino acid found in tea) reduced menstrual pain by more than half on two standard 0-10 pain scales (p<0.001) in women with primary dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramping without an underlying pelvic condition).
• The beverage also significantly eased eight physical and emotional symptoms, including lower abdominal pain, back pain, stomachache, depression, and irritability, by roughly 31% to 56%.
• On mood testing, the beverage reduced depression scores and increased vigor (a measure of energy and alertness), and on sleep testing it improved "daytime dysfunction" (daytime grogginess and poor concentration from lack of sleep), though it did not significantly change overall sleep quality or how quickly participants fell asleep.
• No adverse events or dropouts occurred during the trial, and hemoglobin (the blood protein that carries oxygen) levels were unaffected, likely because red blood cell turnover takes far longer than the five-day study period.
• This was a small, preliminary randomized controlled trial (15 participants per group) testing chamomile and l-theanine only in combination, so larger, longer studies are needed before drawing firm conclusions about either ingredient alone.

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