--- title: Does chaste tree help premenstrual symptoms? | Niyora description: Chaste tree extract has been shown in controlled studies to help breast tenderness before the period and may help other premenstrual symptoms. It works by red url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/chaste-tree-vitex-agnus-castus-pharmacology-and-clinical-indications-2003/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does chaste tree help premenstrual symptoms? Randomised trial, 2003 # Does chaste tree help premenstrual symptoms? Chaste tree extract has been shown in controlled studies to help breast tenderness before the period and may help other premenstrual symptoms. It works by reducing prolactin, a hormone linked to breast tissue. Moderate study design Women with premenstrual symptoms, particularly breast tenderness ## What they did Multiple double-blind placebo-controlled studies tested chaste tree extract for premenstrual symptoms. Researchers studied one group to see if it reduced prolactin levels and identified which compounds in the plant are active. ## What they found Chaste tree extract improved premenstrual breast tenderness in double-blind controlled studies. In one study it reduced prolactin levels in treated patients. The active compounds work similarly to dopamine in blocking prolactin release. ## What it means for you Chaste tree extract may help breast tenderness and possibly other symptoms. Some evidence comes from less rigorous studies, so more research is needed. 1 double-blind study measuring prolactin reduction ## About the study Original title Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus)--pharmacology and clinical indications Authors Wuttke W, Jarry H, Christoffel V et al. Journal Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology Year 2003 Study design Randomised trial Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1078/094471103322004866](https://doi.org/10.1078/094471103322004866) Original abstract Extracts of the fruits of chaste tree (Vitex agnus castus = AC) are widely used to treat premenstrual symptoms. Double-blind placebo-controlled studies indicate that one of the most common premenstrual symptoms, i.e. premenstrual mastodynia (mastalgia) is beneficially influenced by an AC extract. In addition, numerous less rigidly controlled studies indicate that AC extracts have also beneficial effects on other psychic and somatic symptoms of the PMS. Premenstrual mastodynia is most likely due to a latent hyperprolactinemia, i.e. patients release more than physiologic amounts of prolactin in response to stressful situations and during deep sleep phases which appear to stimulate the mammary gland. Premenstrually this unphysiological prolactin release is so high that the serum prolactin levels often approach heights which are misinterpreted as prolactinomas. Since AC extracts were shown to have beneficial effects on premenstrual mastodynia serum prolactin levels in such patients were also studied in one double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study. Serum prolactin levels were indeed reduced in the patients treated with the extract. The search for the prolactin-suppressive principle(s) yielded a number of compounds with dopaminergic properties: they bound to recombinant DA2-receptor protein and suppressed prolactin release from cultivated lactotrophs as well as in animal experiments. The search for the chemical identity of the dopaminergic compounds resulted in isolation of a number of diterpenes of which some clerodadienols were most important for the prolactin-suppressive effects. They were almost identical in their prolactin-suppressive properties than dopamine itself. Hence, it is concluded that dopaminergic compounds present in Vitex agnus castus are clinically the important compounds which improve premenstrual mastodynia and possibly also other symptoms of the premenstrual syndrome. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Bloating, breast tenderness and physical symptoms](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-physical-symptoms/)[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. ## Related studies Systematic review, 2013 Does Vitex (chaste tree) help PMS and PMDD symptoms? Randomised trial, 2012 Does Vitex agnus castus work for PMS, and what dose is best? Randomised trial, 2010 Does Vitex agnus castus reduce moderate-to-severe PMS in Chinese women? Randomised trial, 2006 What herbs and dietary supplements have evidence for treating premenstrual syndrome? Survey study, 2025 Can a plant-based supplement reduce PMS symptoms? Survey study, 2024 What do pharmacy students know about using herbs for PMS? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗