If you routinely experience the following symptoms up to two weeks before
your period, you are probably among those women (about 40% of the population)
that suffer from premenstrual syndrome, or PMS.
- exhaustion
- sleep disturbances
- breast swelling
- bloating
- weight gain
- acne
- cravings for sweet
- constipation, then diarrhea.
Emotional symptoms may include irritability, depression, anxiety, confusion,
and feeling out of control. For some women, symptoms are severe and make life
very difficult. While a healthy diet, vitamin supplements, rigorous exercise and
relaxation techniques can go a long way toward alleviating PMS, herbs may also
be helpful in quelling symptoms. Among herbs studied for the treatment of PMS,
Vitex agnus castus (commonly known as chaste tree berry) is certainly the
most extensively studied. German health authorities approve the use of chaste
tree fruit for menstrual irregularities and premenstrual complaints. In one
German study, vitex had a response rate of 90% among women who received
treatment for 135 days or so.
Although some women using vitex may experience side effects such as nausea,
diarrhea, mild skin rash, and increased acne, there have been no reports of
toxic interactions involving vitex. One researcher has suggested that vitex may
undermine the effectiveness of birth control pills and The German Commission
E discourages using vitex during pregnancy. In contrast, herbalists and
midwives in the United States occasionally recommend vitex during the first
trimester to prevent miscarriage. Again, there is no documented evidence to
support the use of vitex in this way. More research needs to be done on the
varied use and efficacy of vitex.
