Dysmenorrhoea, defined as cramping pain in the lower abdomen occurring during menstruation, is known to affect up to 90% of women of childbearing age to varying degrees. The underlying causes of this condition are believed to be due to a number of factors, but are mainly attributed to increased myometrial activity, increased prostaglandin production and hormonal influences. Although there are pharmaceutical treatments available, they mainly concentrate on symptomatic relief, with the main treatment being the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to directly relieve the pain. Other treatments include the use of the combined oral contraceptives which are believed to influence myometrial contractility via regulation of hormonal activity. However due to the gastric and contraceptive side effects of these treatments respectively, other alternative treatments are becoming increasingly popular. One such treatment is the use of Bak foong pills (BFP), a traditional Chinese medicine used in China for the treatment of various gynaecological disorders including primary dysmenorrhoea. The aims of the current project were therefore to highlight the major beneficial effects of BFP and attempt to elucidate its major mechanisms of action in treating dysmenorrhoea. / The study demonstrated that BFP's anti-dysmenorrhoeal properties were due to a combination of hormonal, myometrial relaxant and analgesic effects. Treatment of mice with BFP caused an estrogen-like effects as demonstrated with increased cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mRNA expression. Furthermore, serum estrogen and progesterone levels were also elevated in BFP treated rats. BFP was also able to significantly reduce myometrial contractions, indicating that BFP's anti-dysmenorrhoeal effect may be aided by reduced contractility of the myometrium following treatment. The uterine relaxation caused by BFP was not dependant on increases in nitric oxide or cAMP, but appeared to affect calcium mobilization. Investigation of the analgesic effect of BFP, assessed using a visceral pain model in mice showed that following sub-chronic (72 hour) treatment with BFP, there was a significant reduction in pain response, demonstrating that BFP had direct analgesic effect. (Abstract shortened by UMI.) / Rowlands Dewi Kenneth. / "July 2005." / Adviser: Hsiao Chang Chan. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-07, Section: B, page: 3533. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 148-165). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / School code: 1307.