---
title: Does agnus castus (Vitex) fruit extract reduce premenstrual syndrome symptoms?
description: Yes. Women taking agnus castus had significantly greater symptom improvement than placebo, with 52% having at least 50% symptom reduction compared to 24% on p
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/treatment-for-the-premenstrual-syndrome-with-agnus-castus-fruit-extract-2001/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- Does agnus castus (Vitex) fruit extract reduce premenstrual syndrome symptoms?

Randomised trial, 2001

# Does agnus castus (Vitex) fruit extract reduce premenstrual syndrome symptoms?

Yes. Women taking agnus castus had significantly greater symptom improvement than placebo, with 52% having at least 50% symptom reduction compared to 24% on placebo.

 Strong study design

170 women with premenstrual syndrome (mean age 36 years, mean cycle length 28 days)

## What they did

170 women (86 on active treatment, 84 on placebo) participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. They took one agnus castus tablet daily or placebo for three consecutive menstrual cycles.

## What they found

Agnus castus was significantly better than placebo for reducing irritability, mood swings, anger, headache, breast fullness, and bloating. 52% of the agnus castus group had 50% or greater symptom reduction compared to 24% of the placebo group. Four women on active treatment and three on placebo reported mild side effects, but none stopped treatment.

## What it means for you

Agnus castus appears to be an effective and safe herbal treatment for premenstrual syndrome. This is a large, well-designed randomized controlled trial with good-quality evidence.

170

women evaluated

52%

active group response rate

24%

placebo group response rate

## About the study

Original title Treatment for the premenstrual syndrome with agnus castus fruit extract: prospective, randomised, placebo controlled study Authors Schellenberg R Journal BMJ (Clinical research ed.) Year 2001 Study design Randomised trial Participants 178 What was tested Agnus castus dry extract, one tablet daily, for three menstrual cycles Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1136/bmj.322.7279.134](https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.322.7279.134)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Vitex agnus-castus (chasteberry)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-vitex/)[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.

## Related studies

Randomised trial, 2012

Does Vitex agnus castus work for PMS, and what dose is best?

Survey study, 2025

Can a chatbot help monitor PMS symptoms over time?

Randomised trial, 2012

Does Vitex agnus castus help women with PMS?

Survey study, 2025

Can a plant-based supplement reduce PMS symptoms?

Survey study, 2024

What do pharmacy students know about using herbs for PMS?

Non-randomised trial, 2014

Does Vitex help PMS symptoms?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗