Evidence supporting the use of: Chastetree
For the health condition: PMS (general)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Chastetree (Vitex agnus-castus), also known as chasteberry, has a long history of traditional use for women’s reproductive health, particularly for symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Modern scientific research has provided some validation for these traditional uses. Several randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses have investigated the efficacy of chastetree extracts in alleviating PMS symptoms such as breast tenderness, irritability, mood swings, and headaches. These studies suggest that chastetree may help normalize the balance of hormones, particularly by modulating prolactin levels through its dopaminergic effects. This action is thought to reduce symptoms associated with both PMS and premenstrual mastalgia (breast pain).

Systematic reviews, including a 2017 review published in the journal Phytomedicine, report that chastetree extract is more effective than placebo in reducing overall PMS symptoms and is generally well tolerated. However, while the evidence is promising and supports its use, the quality of studies varies and some have methodological limitations such as small sample sizes or short durations. As a result, chastetree is commonly recommended in integrative and herbal medicine for PMS, but further large-scale, high-quality research would help clarify its efficacy and safety profile.

In summary, chastetree is supported by both traditional use and scientific studies for PMS, with a moderate level of scientific evidence (rated 3/5) for its effectiveness.

More about Chastetree
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