Chasteberry

Chasteberry is the fruit of the chaste tree, a small shrub-like tree native to Central Asia and the Mediterranean region. The name is thought to come from a belief that the plant promoted chastity--it is reported that monks in the Middle Ages used chasteberry to decrease sexual desire.

The dried ripe chasteberry is used to prepare liquid extracts or solid extracts that are put into capsules and tablets.

Chasteberry. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Other Names

Common Names--chasteberry, chaste-tree berry, vitex, monk's pepper

Latin Name--Vitex agnus-castus

Uses

Traditional

Chasteberry has been used for thousands of years, mostly by women to ease menstrual problems and to stimulate the production of breast milk.

Modern-day

Chasteberry is still used for menstrual problems, such as premenstrual syndrome (PMS), as well as for symptoms of menopause, some types of infertility, and acne.

How Chasteberry Is Taken

The dried ripe chasteberry is used to prepare liquid extracts or solid extracts that are put into capsules and tablets.

How Chasteberry Works

The berries of the chaste tree contain active compounds called flavonoids which are known to have antioxidant activity. Antioxidants can prevent the damage of cells.

Chasteberry's therapeutic effects are due to the fact that it has indirect effects on various hormones such as prolactin and progesterone. Prolactin is a hormone produced by the brain that causes the production of milk. This action is triggered in response to a baby sucking on a nipple during breastfeeding. Progesterone is a hormone that is a key player in the female mestrual cycle. It is also very important in pregnancy and the development of the fetus. Chasteberry is believed to help regulate these hormones.

Recommended Daily Intake

In most preparations, the dosage of the fruit extract is 20 to 40 mg per day.

Risks

Side effects

• Chasteberry has not been associated with serious side effects. However, it can cause gastrointestinal problems, acne-like rashes, and dizziness.
• Chasteberry may affect certain hormone levels. Women who are pregnant or taking birth control pills or who have a hormone-sensitive condition (such as breast cancer) should not use chasteberry.
• Because chasteberry may affect the dopamine system in the brain, people taking dopamine-related medications, such as selegiline, amantadine, and levodopa, should avoid chasteberry. Dopamine is also a neurohormone released by the brain. Its main function as a hormone is to inhibit the release of prolactin from the anterior lobe of the pituitary.

Interactions

Research

• A few studies of chasteberry for premenstrual syndrome (PMS) have found a benefit. However, most of these studies were not well designed, so firm conclusions about chasteberry for PMS cannot be drawn.
• Small studies suggest that chasteberry may help with breast pain and some types of infertility, but there is not enough reliable scientific evidence to determine whether chasteberry has any effect on these conditions.
• The National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine is funding studies on chasteberry. Recent projects have explored how chasteberry works in the body and how it might affect PMS symptoms.

History

Chasteberry has been used for more than 2,000 years. It was used in ancient Greece, Egypt, and Rome to treat many gynecologic conditions. During the middle ages, it was believed that chasteberry would decrease sexual desire. More recently, over the past few decades, chasteberry has been used to treat premenstrual syndrome (PMS), menstrual cycle irregularities, and abnormal uterine bleeding.

Other Resources

• Chasteberry (Vitex agnus castus). In: Coates P, Blackman M, Cragg G, et al., eds. Encyclopedia of Dietary Supplements. New York, NY: Marcel Dekker; 2005:95-103.
• Chasteberry. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Web site. Accessed on November 21, 2006.
• Chasteberry (Vitex agnus-castus). Natural Standard Database Web site. Accessed on November 21, 2006.
• Chaste tree fruit. In: Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckman J, eds. Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs. Newton, MA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2000:62-64.

References

Upton R. Chaste tree fruit: Vitex agnus-castus: standards of analysis, quality control, and therapeutics. American Herbal Pharmacopoeia and therapeutic compendium. Santa Cruz, Calif,: American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, 2001.

Meier B, Berger D, Hoberg E, Sticher O, Schaffner W. Pharmacological activities of Vitex agnus-castus extracts in vitro. Phytomedicine 2000;7:373-81.