Evidence supporting the use of: Chaste tree
For the health condition: Ovarian Pain

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus), also known as chasteberry, has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine, particularly for a range of gynecological complaints. In European and Mediterranean herbal traditions, chaste tree was historically used to address symptoms associated with the menstrual cycle, such as premenstrual syndrome (PMS), cyclical breast pain (mastalgia), and irregular periods. Its use for "ovarian pain" is not as specifically documented as for PMS or mastalgia, but because ovarian pain is often associated with menstrual irregularities or disorders like premenstrual syndrome, traditional practitioners have sometimes recommended chaste tree for this symptom as well.

The proposed mechanism behind chaste tree’s effects is its action on the pituitary gland, leading to modulation of prolactin levels and an indirect balancing of ovarian hormones. Several clinical studies have validated its use for PMS and cyclical breast pain, but direct evidence for its efficacy in treating ovarian pain specifically is limited. Most available studies do not focus on ovarian pain as a distinct clinical endpoint, but rather on broader menstrual complaints. Therefore, while there is a plausible traditional rationale for its use in ovarian pain related to hormonal imbalances, scientific validation for this specific indication is lacking.

In summary, chaste tree’s use for ovarian pain is grounded primarily in traditional practices and extrapolated from its effectiveness for other menstrual-related symptoms, with limited direct scientific evidence for this particular use.

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