Remedy · herb
Chasteberry
Also: Vitex agnus-castus, vitex, chaste tree
A herb with reasonably consistent trial support for premenstrual syndrome.
Evidence by condition
Each grade reflects the research for Chasteberry and that condition specifically.
- BPremenstrual syndrome
Reduces PMS symptoms more than placebo across RCTs (large pooled effect), though the meta-analysis authors caution the effect is likely overstated by trial bias.
1 citation
- The treatment of premenstrual syndrome with preparations of Vitex agnus castus: a systematic review and meta-analysis Meta-analysis 2017 · American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology · PMID 28237870 · DOI 10.1016/j.ajog.2017.02.028
- The treatment of premenstrual syndrome with preparations of Vitex agnus castus: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Chasteberry acts on dopamine and prolactin pathways and has some of the better trial support among herbs for PMS, though study quality tempers confidence. Because it is hormonally active, avoid it in pregnancy and use caution with hormonal or dopamine-affecting medicines.