Evidence supporting the use of: Blackhaw
For the health condition: PMS (general)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium) has a long history of traditional use in North American herbal medicine, particularly among Indigenous peoples and early European settlers, for the management of gynecological complaints including premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms such as cramping, irritability, and bloating. The bark of the plant has been used as an antispasmodic and uterine relaxant, which is believed to help alleviate menstrual cramps and dysmenorrhea—symptoms often associated with PMS. While these uses are well documented in ethnobotanical literature and early 20th-century herbal texts, there is limited modern scientific research to substantiate these claims specifically for PMS. Most available evidence consists of anecdotal reports and traditional practice rather than rigorous clinical trials. Some laboratory studies have identified antispasmodic and sedative constituents in Blackhaw, such as viburnin and salicin, which could plausibly affect uterine muscle contractions, but these data do not directly confirm efficacy for PMS in humans. Thus, Blackhaw's use for PMS is justified primarily by tradition, with a modest historical evidence base but minimal scientific validation at this time.
Other ingredients used for PMS (general)
ashwagandhabeet
black cohosh
borage oil
bupleurum falcatum
calcium
chamomile
chaste tree
DIM (diindolylmethane)
dong quai root
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
evening primrose oil
fennel
flaxseed
gamma linolenic acid (GLA)
green tea
inositol
jujube
kudzu
licorice root
lignans
liquid liver fractions
maca
magnesium
motherwort
pollen
quail egg
relora® (proprietary)
sage
soybean
valerian root
vitamin B6
vitamin C
vitamin D
watermelon
wild yam
zinc
tangerine
bee pollen
Szechuan lovage
royal jelly
Equol (proprietary)
peach
27-deoxyactein
Alchemilla
Aerva lanata
Agrimonia pilosa
Agnuside
Ashoka
Borage
banana
Cohosh
Calendula
Clary sage
Cnidium
Cyathula
Chocolate
Dong Quai
Evodia
Eicosapentaenoic Acid
Evening Primrose Oil
Estrogen
Gugglesterone
Lady's Mantle
Lotus
Labisia pumila
Montanoa tomentosa
Miroestrol
Macaenes
Pulsatilla
Phthalides
Pimpinella
Pycnogenol
Phytoestrogens
Rubus
Rubiaceae
Soy
Sweet Bay
Sweet Orange alcohol
Vervain
Vitex Agnus-Castus
Other health conditions supported by Blackhaw
Afterbirth PainAmenorrhea
Cramps (menstrual)
Dysmenorrhea
Menopause
Menstrual Irregularity
Pain (general remedies for)
PMS (general)
PMS Type C
PMS Type D
PMS Type H
PMS Type P