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.
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
Topics
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