Abstract
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a group of physical and psychological symptoms that occur
during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and that are experienced by females of
reproductive age. The syndrome is characterised by breast tenderness, abdominal bloating,
headaches, food cravings and swelling of the extremities, irritability, depression, anxiety, social
withdrawal and memory changes. The symptoms of PMS occur during the luteal phase of
menstruation (Day 14 to Day 1 of the next menstruation cycle). Research has shown that the
symptoms of PMS may interfere with a female’s daily activities; this may include increased
absenteeism at work and can affect her relationships. The exact aetiology of PMS is unknown –
PMS has been associated with a multifactorial aetiology, which includes behaviour, diet,
genetics, physical activity and excessive alcohol consumption. Conventional medicine uses
several pharmacological drugs to treat or alleviate symptoms of PMS, but these drugs may have
side effects and may interact negatively with other medications. Finding the right individual
homoeopathic remedy can be difficult; therefore, Grant Bentley developed a system that assists
in finding the most suitable remedy for each individual. The Grant Bentley Method (GBM) of
Homoeopathic Facial Analysis (HFA) uses homoeopathic case-taking, photographs of the facial
features and repertorisation to determine the dominant miasmatic group of a person, which aids
in the selection of a specific homoeopathic remedy. Research using individualised homoeopathic
treatment in PMS has been shown to be effective, but so far, there have been no studies on
homoeopathic treatment using the GBM of HFA on women with PMS.
The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of individualised homoeopathic treatment,
using the Grant Bentley Method, on females experiencing premenstrual syndrome by using case
studies and a daily self-grading premenstrual syndrome symptom grading chart...
M.Tech. (Homoeopathy)