Botanical Index No. 234

Chasteberry

vitex agnus-castus

Medicinal Actions

Analgesic, Anorectic, Antiandrogenic, Antibacterial, Antiinflammatory, Antilactagogue, Antiprolactin, Antiseptic, Candidicide, Dopaminergic, Emmenagogue, Fungicide, Lactagogue, Progesterogenic, Sedative

Primary Conditions Treated

Acne Alactea Amenorrhea Anemia Bacteria BPH Breast Anaphrodisiac Breast Pain Candida Constipation Cramp Dementia Depression Dyslactea Dysmenorrhea Endometriosis Enterosis Epilepsy Fatigue Fever Fibrocystic Breast Disease Fibroid Frigidity Fungus Gas Hangover Headache HRT-Withdrawal Hypogonadism Hyperprolactinemia Herpes Impotence Infection Infertility Inflammation Insomnia Irregular Cycle Lactorrhea Mastosis Melancholia Menopause Menorrhagia Menstrual Distress Mycosis Nervousness Neurasthenia Neurosis Oligomenorrhea Pain PMS Polymenorrhea Spermatorrhea Stomatosis Uterosis Vaginosis Yeast

General Dosage

20 mg fruit/day; 30–40 mg fruit/day; 0.5–1 g fruit 3 ×/day; 40 drops/day/3 months; hydroalcoholic extracts corresponding to 30–40 mg fruits; 1–4 ml/day liquid extract; 1–5 ml/day tincture; 40 drops StX tincture; 175 mg/day tincture; 2 capsules 2 ×/day.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 2b. CAN cautions that it may cause allergic reactions. May counteract the effectiveness of birth control pills. Contraindicated in pregnancy and nursing. Because of its hormonal action, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided. It may interfere with endocrine therapies. The use of agnus castus to treat symptoms of corpus luteum deficiency is only recommended in patients not on any other hormonal therapy.” Commission E reports no contraindications or interactions for the fruit. Adverse effects: skin reactions, GI distress. Schulz et al., 1998, are more positive, reporting no serious side effects. High-dose experiments evoked some dose-dependent side effects but so mild as to generate no fears. May interfere with metabolism of dopamine-receptor antagonists. Vitex acting on the pituitary increasing luteinizing hormone, helping reduce prolactin and increase progesterone.

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