Title of article :
Effect of Melissa officinalis (Lemon balm) on Sexual Dysfunction in Women: A Double- blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Study
Author/Authors :
Darvish-Mofrad-Kashani, Zahra Department of Traditional medicine - Faculty of Medicine - Shahed University, Tehran, Iran , Emaratkar, Elham Department of Traditional medicine - Faculty of Medicine - Shahed University, Tehran, Iran , Hashem-Dabaghian, Fataneh Research Institute for Islamic and Complementary Medicine - Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Emadi, Fatemeh Department of Traditional medicine - Faculty of Medicine - Shahed University, Tehran, Iran , Raisi, Firoozeh Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital - Tehran University of Medical Science (TUMS),Tehran,Iran , Aliasl, Jale Research Institute for Islamic and Complementary Medicine - Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Kamalinejad, Mohammad Department of Pharmacognosy - School of Pharmacy Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical , Hasheminejad, Abbas Department of Traditional medicine - Faculty of Medicine - Shahed University, Tehran, Iran , Eftekhar, Tahere Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics - Faculty of Medical Science - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Zafarghandi, Nafise Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Medical Science - Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract :
Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) is the most prevalent female sexual dysfunction
(FSD) and its bio-psychosocial multifactorial etiology justifies its multifaceted treatment. In
Persian Medicine (PM), the weakness of the main organs (heart, brain and liver) is one of the
important causes of lack of sexual desire; hence, their strengthening is a priority during treatment.
Melissa officinalis is one of the medicinal plants with tonic characteristics for the main organs
in PM and was used for treatment in this study. The aim of the present study was to evaluate
the efficacy and safety of M. officinalis in the improvement of HSDD in women. Eighty nine
(89) eligible women suffering from decreased sexual desire were randomly assigned to groups.
The participants received medication (500 mg of aqueous extract of M. officinalis) or placebo 2
times a day for 4 weeks. Changes in scores of desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction
and pain were evaluated at the end of 4 weeks of treatment using the Female Sexual Function
Index (FSFI) questionnaire in the two groups. Forty three participants completed the study. The
increase in desire (P < 0.001), arousal (P < 0.001), lubrication (P < 0.005), orgasm (P < 0.001),
satisfaction (P < 0.001), pain (P < 0.002) and FSFI total score (P < 0.001) in the M. officinalis
group was significantly more than that of the placebo group. The willingness to continue
treatment was significantly higher in the M. officinalis as compared to the placebo group (P
< 0.001). M. officinalis may be a safe and effective herbal medicine for the improvement of
HSDD in women.
Keywords :
Women , Sexual dysfunction , Melissa officinalis , Libido , Lemon balm , Persian Medicine , Hypoactive sexual desire disorder
