Randomised trial, 1998
Does Vitex agnus castus help cyclical breast pain?
Yes. The extract reduced breast pain faster than placebo and was well tolerated.
What they did
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 97 women with cyclical breast pain were randomly assigned to Vitex agnus castus extract or placebo. Women took either the extract (1.8 ml daily in two 30-drop doses) or placebo pills daily for 3 consecutive menstrual cycles. Pain was measured on a visual pain scale.
What they found
Breast pain intensity decreased more quickly in the Vitex group than the placebo group. The extract had satisfactory tolerability with few side effects reported.
What it means for you
Vitex may help reduce cyclical breast pain faster than placebo. The main limits are that the abstract does not specify how much pain reduction occurred or give statistical significance, and the sample size is relatively small.
97
Women in the study
3
Menstrual cycles of treatment
1.8 ml
Daily dose of Vitex
About the study
- Original title
- [Treatment of cyclical mastodynia using an extract of Vitex agnus castus: results of a double-blind comparison with a placebo]
- Authors
- Halaska M, Raus K, Bĕles P et al.
- Journal
- Ceska gynekologie
- Year
- 1998
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 49
- What was tested
- Vitex agnus castus 1.8 ml daily
- Read the paper
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9818496/
Topics
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