An article published in 2000 in the Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association (40(2):234–242) reviewed research on herbs commonly used for women’s health. The author, Mary L. Hardy, is medical director of the Cedars-Sinai Integrative Medicine Medical Group and an associate clinical professor of medicine at the University of Southern California.
According to Dr. Hardy, chaste-tree berry and evening primrose oil may be reasonable options for women experiencing premenstrual symptoms. Dong quai, a traditional Chinese herb, may also be useful, particularly when included in multi-herb formulations. Extracts of black cohosh root have been reported to be well tolerated and associated with relief of menopausal symptoms in clinical studies.
