Premenstrual syndrome Agnus castus

Schellenberg R. Treatment for the premenstrual syndrome with Agnus castus fruit extract prospective, randomised, placebo controlled study. BMJ 2001 322 134-137. 

N.A. Vitex labrusca L. V agnus-castus L. Flavonoids, iridoids, agnuside, aucubin, cineol, casticin, viticine.99,182,309 Treatment of mastopathy, premenstrual syndrome, and luteae insufficiency. Regulate hormones, progesterogenic, increases breast milk production. 

Current promoted uses of V. agnus-castus relate to treatment of disorders of the female reproductive system such as short menstrual cycles, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and breast swelling and pain (mastodynia/ mastalgia). The Commission E has approved the use of V. agnus-castus for irregularities of the menstrual cycle, premenstrual complaints, and mastalgia (10,11). Recent randomized, placebo-controlled studies have been conducted... 

Loch EG, Selle H, Boblitz N. Treatment of premenstrual syndrome with a phytopharmaceutical formulation containing Vitex agnus castus. J Women s Health Gend Based Med 2000 9 315-320. 

Lauritzen C, Reuter HD, Repges R, Bohnert KJ, Schmidt U. Treatment of premenstrual tension syndrome with Vitex agnus castus. Controlled, double-blind study versus pyridoxine. Phytomedicine 1997 4 183-189. 

Berger D, Schaffner W, Schrader E, Meier B, Brattstrom A. Efficacy of Vitex agnus castus L. extract Ze 440 in patients with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Arch Gynecol Obstet 2000 264 150-153. 

Surprises also await a curious mind in the world of homeopathic remedies that have effects proven by placebo controlled, randomized, clinical double blind studies. Plant-derived products containing a mother tinctme or a solution of D1 poten-tization often feature detectable amounts of active ingredients. Chasteberry (Vitex agnus-castus) is used in both homeopathic and conventional (allopathic) medicines. The two different kinds of products contain just about the same amount of the same active ingredient (called casticin Fig. 3.14 shows analysis results) and their therapeutic recommendation is identical (managing the premenstrual stress syndrome). 

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