The etiology of Premenstrual syndrome is complicated, and according to the hypothesized causes, various conventional therapeutic approaches have been recommended. As it is a chronic condition that needs prolong treatment for three to six months, therefore special attention should be paid to the side effects of pharmacological interventions.

Various drugs used in this condition are benzodiazepines, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists. Despite a fair success rate of these medicines, each has a substantial adverse effect profile such as dysphoria, insomnia, muscle cramps, nausea, perspiration and tremor.

Therefore, the need of the hour is to switch towards complementary and alternative treatment for premenstrual syndrome. Which would be safe, less costly, more effective, easily available, and efficacious for the management of premenstrual syndrome.

In Unani classical texts, various plant products may be useful to treat symptoms of Premenstrual syndrome such as Qust Shireen, Sumbul-ul-Teeb, Asl-us-Soos, Tukhm-e-Sambhalu, Pudina, Bisfayej and Revand chini.

Several drugs have been subjected for clinical evaluation in Premenstrual syndrome such as Tukhm e Sambhalu, Balchar, Bisfayej and Pudina.

Revand Chini  contains a number of phenolic compounds including anthroquinones, stilbenes, tannin, polysaccharides and others which are proved to have various type of associated pharmacological activity. Ibn Sina in The Canon of Medicine  and Ibn Baitar in Compendium on Simple Medicaments and Foods given description for its usefulness in PMS .

According to a previous clinical study Revand chini has proved to be effective in primary dysmenorrhea but its effect on symptoms of follicular phase (Premenstrual phase) is not documented yet.

Therefore, in view of above, Revand chini (Rheum emodi)  is selected  to conduct clinical trial to evaluate  it’s efficacy  in the management of premenstrual syndrome.