Chaste Tree Berry

Chaste Tree Berry (Vitex agnus castus), also known as hemp tree and monk's pepper, is perhaps the most important herb in the treatment of PMS. It is also used to treat menstrual irregularities, painful menstruation, and breast pain.

During a normal menstrual cycle, progesterone production should outstrip estrogen production in the half of the cycle following ovulation. The fruit of the Vitex agnus castus contains a substance that is dopamine-like in it's activity. It acts on the  pituitary and hypthalamus to inhibit prolactin release, thus increasing progesterone in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. In women that have "estrogen dominance" and PMS symptoms, this increase in progesterone can bring relief.

Two surveys of its efficacy were done on 1,542 women who took a liquid extract (42 drops daily) for spans up to 16 years. The patients' doctors rated its effectiveness as either very good, good or satisfactory in 92% of cases. Further clinical confirmation of it's effectiveness for PMS can be found in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association article "Herbs of special interest to women".