---
title: Do herbal treatments help PMS and PMDD? | Niyora
description: Vitex agnus castus seems to reduce symptoms better than placebo. Ginkgo biloba and crocus sativus might help, but evening primrose oil and St. John's Wort do
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/herbal-treatments-for-alleviating-premenstrual-symptoms-a-systematic-review-2011/
---

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- Do herbal treatments help PMS and PMDD?

Systematic review, 2011

# Do herbal treatments help PMS and PMDD?

Vitex agnus castus seems to reduce symptoms better than placebo. Ginkgo biloba and crocus sativus might help, but evening primrose oil and St. John's Wort do not.

 Moderate study design

Women with PMS or PMDD (from 10 randomised controlled trials)

## What they did

Searched databases from January 1980 to September 2010 for randomised controlled trials testing herbs for PMS or PMDD. Identified 102 articles, found 17 eligible RCTs and included 10 in the review. Evaluated study quality using the Jadad scale.

## What they found

Vitex agnus castus (4 trials, about 500 women) consistently reduced PMS better than placebo. Single trials support ginkgo biloba or crocus sativus for symptom improvement. Evening primrose oil and St. John's Wort showed no effect different from placebo. No herbs were associated with major health risks, although the reduced number of tested patients limits safety conclusions.

## What it means for you

Some herbs, especially Vitex agnus castus, may help PMS symptoms. However, studies varied too much to combine their results and we need more trials to be confident. Safety data is limited because not many people have been tested.

10

RCTs included in review

4

Trials of Vitex agnus castus

500

Women in Vitex studies (approximate)

## About the study

Original title Herbal treatments for alleviating premenstrual symptoms: a systematic review Authors Dante G, Facchinetti F Journal Journal of psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology Year 2011 Study design Systematic review What was tested Herbal remedies: Vitex agnus castus, ginkgo biloba, crocus sativus, evening primrose oil, St. John's Wort Read the paper [doi.org/10.3109/0167482x.2010.538102](https://doi.org/10.3109/0167482x.2010.538102)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Vitex agnus-castus (chasteberry)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-vitex/)[Saffron](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-saffron/)[Evening primrose oil](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-evening-primrose/)[Other herbal medicine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-herbal-other/)

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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Does Vitex agnus castus help treat premenstrual syndrome?

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