Chasteberry for PMS
What is chasteberry?
Chasteberry is an herb that has long been used in traditional medicine, most particularly for women’s health and menstrual issues. Other names include: vitex, chaste tree berry, and vitex agnus-castus. It comes from a shrub-like tree native to the Mediterranean and Centra Asia. Chasteberry is effective in helping to reduce symptoms of PMS and PMDD, normalizing periods, improving fertility, and correcting luteal phase dysfunction.
how does chasteberry work?
Chasteberry has several ways it works in the body to help with overall hormonal balance and to reduce PMS symptoms. Chasteberry itself is not a hormone, nor does it contain any hormones. The therapeutic effects of chasteberry are due to the indirect effects it has on different hormones and mood chemicals (neurotransmitters) in the body.
chasteberry increases luteinizing hormone (LH)
One of the primary ways chasteberry works in the body is by stimulating the pituitary gland (which is in the brain) to produce luteinizing hormone (LH). LH is the hormone that signals to the body to ovulate. By stimulating the release of LH, chasteberry can help to trigger ovulation.
chasteberry increases progesterone
Due to the effect chastetberry has on the pituitary gland, increasing the release of luteinizing hormone (LH), this promotes ovulation and raising progesterone levels. Progesterone is released by the corpus luteum, which is what remains after the egg is released from the follicle during ovulation.
chasteberry reduces prolactin
Chasteberry can also help to reduce prolactin by binding to dopamine receptors. Prolactin is a hormone also released from the pituitary glad that plays a role in hormone regulation and promoting lactation; however, elevated levels of prolactin can interfere with ovulation. Significantly high levels of prolactin can stop your period all together. Overall, chasteberry can suppress the release of prolactin to help promote ovulation and regularity of your menstrual cycle.
mood chemical effects
Chasteberry also has an effect on dopamine, and possibly acetylcholine and opioid receptors. Several components found in chasteberry extracts can affect pituitary dopamine receptors when taken at higher doses. This activity is the way chasteberry can help to reduce elevated prolactin levels.
What are the benefits of chasteberry for pms?
Taking chasteberry for two to six menstrual cycles may help to reduce PMS symptoms. Particularly it can help to reduce breast pain or tenderness, constipation, mood swings, and headaches.
A systematic review of 17 randomized controlled trials (the gold standard of research) found chasteberry to be safe and effective for PMS and PMDD (source). Another study found that chasteberry is more effective than antidepressants for PMDD (source).
Benefits of chasteberry for PMS include:
Normalizes the menstrual cycle
Less PMS symptoms
Less PMDD symptoms
Boosts progesterone
Anti-anxiety effects
Anti-depressant effects
Reduces breast pain and tenderness
Improves estrogen dominance
Improves constipation
Improves irritability
Reduces headaches
Boosts libido
how much chasteberry should I take for pms?
Chasteberry formulations can have amounts that range from 100 mg to 1000 mg and can be taken in capsule or tincture form.
Work with your healthcare provider to determine the correct dose for your body.
How long should I take chasteberry for pms?
Typically, it can take two or three menstrual cycles to notice the effects on your cycle and symptoms. It is usually intended to take for up to six months to achieve desired effects of ovulation, reduced symptoms, and a regulated cycle then stopped. In general, take for two or three months and reassess. Can be taken for up to six consecutive cycles.
free pain-free period 5-day meal plan:
when should I not take chasteberry for pms?
In general, chasteberry is usually well tolerated. Side effects are generally mild but may include:
stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting
headache, fatigue, or insomnia
skin itching and/or irritation
irregular menstruation
Do not take in combination with:
antipsychotic drugs
contraceptive drugs
dopamine agonists
estrogens
metoclopramide (reglan)
fertility or IVF drugs
Also do not take:
Right after stopping birth control
If you have elevated LH (can be seen in PCOS)
since chasteberry acts by increasing LH, it can worsen symptoms
Under the age of 18
your pituitary and ovarian communication is still developing
Take away message:
Chasteberry is an effective herbal supplement to help reduce symptoms of PMS and PMDD. If you’re looking to understand the root causes of your PMS or PMDD, check out my hormone testing packages HERE.
SOURCES
Atmaca M, Kumru S, Tezcan E. Fluoxetine versus Vitex agnus castus extract in the treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Hum Psychopharmacol 2003;18:191-5. View abstract.
Berger D, Schaffner W, Schrader E, et al. Efficacy of Vitex agnus castus L. extract Ze 440 in patients with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Arch Gynecol Obstet 2000;264:150-3. View abstract.
Daniele C, Thompson Coon J, Pittler MH, Ernst E. Vitex agnus castus: a systematic review of adverse events. Drug Saf 2005;28:319-32.. View abstract.
Jarry H, Leonhardt S., Gorkow C, Wuttke W. In vitro prolactin but not LH and FSH release is inhibited by compounds in extracts of Agnus Castus: direct evidence for a dopaminergic principle by the dopamine receptor assay. Exp Clin Endocrinol 1994;102:448-54. View abstract.
Loch EG, Selle H, Boblitz N. Treatment of premenstrual syndrome with a phytopharmaceutical formulation containing Vitex agnus castus. J Womens Health Gend Based Med 2000;9:315-20. View abstract.
Ma, L., Lin, S., Chen, R., and Wang, X. Treatment of moderate to severe premenstrual syndrome with Vitex agnus castus (BNO 1095) in Chinese women. Gynecol.Endocrinol. 2010;26(8):612-616. View abstract.
Meier B, Berger D, Hoberg E, et al. Pharmacological activities of Vitex agnus-castus extracts in vitro. Phytomedicine 2000;7:373-81. View abstract.
Milewicz A, Gejdel E, Sworen H, et al. [Vitex agnus castus extract in the treatment of luteal phase defects due to latent hyperprolactinemia. Results of a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study]. Arzneimittelforschung 1993;43:752-6. View abstract.
Schellenberg R. Treatment for the premenstrual syndrome with agnus castus fruit extract: prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled study. BMJ 2001;322:134-7. View abstract.
Van Die MD, Burger HC, Teede HG, Bone KM. Vitex agnus castus extracts for female reproductive disorders: a systematic review of clinical trials. Planta Med 2013:79:562-575. View abstract.
Wuttke W, Jarry H, Christoffel V, et al. Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus)--pharmacology and clinical indications. Phytomedicine 2003;10:348-57. View abstract.
Zamani, M., Neghab, N., and Torabian, S. Therapeutic effect of Vitex agnus castus in patients with premenstrual syndrome. Acta Med.Iran 2012;50(2):101-106. View abstract.
