Agnus castus for PMS- has anyone tried it?

[MorocconOil]

I have started taking Agnus Castus after I saw it recommended on MN for PMS.

I started taking it about a week ago and I am about half way into my cycle. It may just be a coincidence but I seem to be suffering from PMT more than ever. I shouldn't be getting symptoms for at least a week yet. I am not getting any physical symptoms, just intense irritability, forgetfulness and impatience with everything.

Has anyone else had similiar experiences with agnus castus? TIA

yup, I take it, with vit B6. I believe it has helped. I haven't noticed anything along the lines you're describing.

Poor you... Is there a helpline on the packet you can call for advice?

How long have you been taking it bakedpotato?

My periods have changed alot lately and I am wondering whether I might be pre-menopausal. It probably has nothing to do with agnus castus at all. It's all a bit weird really.

about 10 mths.
If it's any consolation I was starting to scare myself a bit when I started on it massive irrationality and I haven't been so bad since.
I'm sure the benefits take a while to kick in though, so don't panic. maybe worth asking your GP for a blood test just in case it's thyroid or something.
Are you keeping a pms diary?

I had lots of blood tests and a scan last year but they were all clear except my iron count was a bit low.

I will keep a PMS diary as you suggest and go back to the GP with it. How long do you recommend keeping one for before seeing the GP?

I've taken magnesium in the past and that helped but I tend to forget to take it after a while. I am trying agnus castus as the thread I read said it kicks in quite quickly. However you said it took a while for you potato.

I tried it........didn't help me .....however it wa ssuggested that i didn't have it in a pure enough form, or the correct dosage for me!..
Not sure i took it for long enough.....
Sympathise with you, it's not nice is it?

Hi Talcy, do you know where you can get it in it's purest form? Mine was from Holland and Barrett so is probably quite weak.

It is great stuff but you need to take herbal products for about 3 months before you feel a really big difference. I started taking it about 3.5 years ago for hormonal imbalance and it has helped a lot. Also took it after having my baby to regulate my hormones again and it has really helped. I used the Holland and Barrat studd but if you think it is not effective for you try www.woodlandherbs.co.uk

Red clover is good for menopausal symptoms (hot flushes etc) as is black cohosh. Most people use black cohosh but for those it doesnt work for red clover seems to do the job. You could also think about acupuncture - it is very effective.

Sorry mimizan....got mine from holland and b too...!!!

Maybe it's not menopause then from what you are saying Rumpel. DD is only 2 and I am still bf a bit so perhaps it's hormonal imbalance post-birth?? Hope so.

convinced i'm pre menopausal...hot flushes....3 weekly cycle....2 week pms....very poorly boobs!!!!

Sorry mimizan....i'm whingeing

Sounds familiar except for the hot flushes. How long has it been going on for, and have you been for a test to see whether it is pre menopause. It's quite scarey isn't it?

Yes...horrid.

Got worse over last year really....
Mentioned it to gp (was there for sometrhing else) she told me it was just hormones!!
and to make another apptment!

Need full MOT to get it sorted...(and she told me to take prozac for pms)

Hormone balance deff changed... just not sure why!??

Oh Talcy, it sounds bloody awful. Poor you. I don't think Drs have a clue about it really. It's a disgrace that women are being offered prozac as a treatment. Sounds abit like 'shut-up and put up with it' to me. Our poor Mums and Grandmas must have suffered alot(in silence!!)

I've taken it, it did help though wasn't a miracle cure.

Prozac is a well recognised treatment for severe PMS, BTW but taken cyclically rather than all the time.

yep...my mum had full hysterectomy by 40....a

Think we need to find a good GP

Best of luck to you sorting it out

Just to add a womans body goes in 7 year cycles so depending on your age you could well be entering a new cycle and therefore hormones will change. Also remember your body is controlled by hormones - not just oestrogen/progesteron/testosterone - there are lots of others too. Diet and lifestyle/stress all play a part too. Mine were fine until I had a very traumatic incident and developed post traumatic stress - then they went haywire - luckily I realised what it was and that it when I started taking agnus castus. If you are still bf baby it can help you to produce more milk too.

Didn't know that rumpel!,....i'm 36, could be new set hormone changes then...just a natural change?

Oh thank-you Rumpel. I suddenly feel very optimistic

It sounds good news for you too Talcy

More of an Eastern medical view rather than Western so you prob wont find anything about it unless you do a Traditional Chinese Medicine google or ayurveda. If you have the time it is very interesting - completely different from Western but if you study both you can see where they interlink and merge.

Like the sound of that far more than prozac.

Yep.... puts a different perspective on it....much less clinical..

Thanks all!