---
title: Does Vitex agnus castus (chaste tree) help premenstrual syndrome symptoms?
description: In a large study without a control group, 93% of 1,634 women reported decreased PMS symptoms after three months of Vitex, with good tolerance and minimal side
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/treatment-of-premenstrual-syndrome-with-a-phytopharmaceutical-formulation-2000/
---

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- Does Vitex agnus castus (chaste tree) help premenstrual syndrome symptoms?

Non-randomised trial, 2000

# Does Vitex agnus castus (chaste tree) help premenstrual syndrome symptoms?

In a large study without a control group, 93% of 1,634 women reported decreased PMS symptoms after three months of Vitex, with good tolerance and minimal side effects, though the lack of a control group limits certainty about the effect.

 Moderate study design

1,634 women with premenstrual syndrome

## What they did

1,634 women with PMS took Vitex (chaste tree extract) for three menstrual cycles under routine medical conditions. They completed questionnaires about symptoms including depression, anxiety, food cravings, and fluid retention.

## What they found

After three cycles, 93% of patients reported decreased symptoms or cessation of PMS complaints. Physicians rated the effect as good or very good in 85% of cases. Patients rated themselves very much or much better in 81% of cases. 94% rated tolerance as good or very good. Only 1.2% had suspected adverse reactions and there were no serious ones.

## What it means for you

The large sample size strengthens confidence in the findings. However, the study had no control group and was open-label (patients knew they were taking the supplement), which can lead to bias. More controlled research is needed.

1,634

women studied

93%

reported symptom improvement

1.2%

had adverse reactions

## About the study

Original title Treatment of premenstrual syndrome with a phytopharmaceutical formulation containing Vitex agnus castus Authors Loch EG, Selle H, Boblitz N Journal Journal of women's health & gender-based medicine Year 2000 Study design Non-randomised trial Participants 1,634 What was tested Vitex agnus castus (chaste tree extract) Read the paper [doi.org/10.1089/152460900318515](https://doi.org/10.1089/152460900318515)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[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.

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