---
title: Does a combination of St. John's Wort and Chaste Tree help PMS-like symptoms in perimenopausal women?
description: The herbal combination significantly improved PMS symptoms, especially depression and food cravings, compared to placebo. The study was very small with only 1
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/effects-of-a-combination-of-hypericum-perforatum-and-vitex-agnus-castus-on-pms-2009/
---

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- Does a combination of St. John's Wort and Chaste Tree help PMS-like symptoms in perimenopausal women?

Randomised trial, 2009

# Does a combination of St. John's Wort and Chaste Tree help PMS-like symptoms in perimenopausal women?

The herbal combination significantly improved PMS symptoms, especially depression and food cravings, compared to placebo. The study was very small with only 14 women.

 Early or limited evidence

14 late-perimenopausal women with PMS-like symptoms

## What they did

Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial lasting 16 weeks in 14 late-perimenopausal women. Participants received either an herbal combination of St. John's Wort and Chaste Tree or placebo twice daily, with PMS symptoms measured every 4 weeks.

## What they found

After 16 weeks, the herbal combination was significantly better than placebo for total PMS (p equals 0.02), depression (p equals 0.006) and food cravings (p equals 0.027). Anxiety (p equals 0.003) and water retention/bloating (p equals 0.002) also improved significantly. No trends appeared in the placebo group.

## What it means for you

This herbal combination may help PMS-like symptoms in perimenopausal women. Main limitation: very small sample of only 14 women, so results need confirmation in a larger, dedicated trial.

14

women studied

16 weeks

study duration

p = 0.02

significance for total PMS score

## About the study

Original title Effects of a combination of Hypericum perforatum and Vitex agnus-castus on PMS-like symptoms in late-perimenopausal women: findings from a subpopulation analysis Authors van Die MD, Bone KM, Burger HG et al. Journal Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) Year 2009 Study design Randomised trial Participants 14 What was tested St. John's Wort and Chaste Tree combination, twice daily Read the paper [doi.org/10.1089/acm.2008.0539](https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2008.0539)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Appetite and food cravings](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-food-cravings/)[Vitex agnus-castus (chasteberry)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-vitex/)[Other herbal medicine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-herbal-other/)[Perimenopause and menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-perimenopause/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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