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evidence · mechanism · dose
Supplements/Herb

Chasteberry (Vitex)

aka Vitex agnus-castus

Dopaminergic herb reducing prolactin and improving PMS/luteal phase symptoms.

Women's HealthHormone OptimizationFertility

Overview

Dopaminergic herb reducing prolactin and improving PMS/luteal phase symptoms.

Natural sources
  • Vitex agnus-castus berry
Common forms
  • Standardized extract

Mechanism of action

Dopaminergic D2 agonism reduces prolactin, normalizing luteal phase.

Pathways
  • · D2 agonism → prolactin ↓
Hormones
  • · Prolactin

Effects on the body

Decreases
Prolactin
Supports
Luteal phase length

Organ system effects

Reproductive

Improves PMS, PMDD, and luteal phase defects.

Evidence-based benefits

Reduces PMS symptoms

Strong evidence

May improve fertility in luteal phase defect

Moderate evidence

Potential side effects

Common
  • · GI upset
  • · Headache
Rare
    Serious

      Drug interactions

      Dopamine antagonists / antipsychotics
      Antagonistic.
      moderate
      Hormonal contraceptives
      May reduce efficacy.
      moderate

      Safety & non-supplemental interactions

      Educational summary — always confirm with your clinician or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or combining with prescription therapy.

      Avoid if you are
      • ·Pregnant or breastfeeding (insufficient safety data)
      • ·Children under 18 (unless directed by a clinician)
      • ·Pregnant or breastfeeding
      Avoid with these conditions
      • ·Hormone-sensitive cancers
      • ·Pituitary disorders
      Avoid / monitor with these medications
      • ·Hormonal contraceptives
      • ·Hormone replacement therapy
      • ·Dopamine agonists/antagonists (antipsychotics, metoclopramide)
      • ·Fertility drugs

      Supplement interactions

      Pairs well with

      None listed.

      Avoid combining with
      • Pregnancy
        Hormonal effects.

      Dosing & bioavailability

      Typical dose
      20–40 mg standardized extract

      Where to buy

      Affiliate-style search links to reputable retailers. We don't endorse specific brands — verify third-party testing (USP, NSF, Informed Sport) before purchase.

      Herb
      Chasteberry …
      Amazon
      Wide selection · fast shipping
      Herb
      Chasteberry …
      iHerb
      Global delivery · curated brands
      Herb
      Chasteberry …
      Thorne
      Practitioner-grade · NSF tested

      Scientific evidence (9)

      RCTBMJ · 2001

      Vitex agnus-castus for premenstrual syndrome

      Schellenberg R

      3-cycle RCT of Vitex in PMS.

      Key findings

      Significant PMS-symptom improvement vs placebo.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Chasteberry (Vitex) — Reduces PMS symptoms

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Chasteberry (Vitex) Reduces PMS symptoms" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Chasteberry (Vitex) and "Reduces PMS symptoms". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Chasteberry (Vitex) — May improve fertility in luteal phase defect

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Chasteberry (Vitex) May improve fertility in luteal phase defect" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Chasteberry (Vitex) and "May improve fertility in luteal phase defect". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Chasteberry (Vitex) — randomized controlled trial

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Chasteberry (Vitex) randomized controlled trial" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Chasteberry (Vitex) and "randomized controlled trial". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Chasteberry (Vitex) — meta-analysis

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Chasteberry (Vitex) meta-analysis" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Chasteberry (Vitex) and "meta-analysis". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Chasteberry (Vitex) — pharmacokinetics

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Chasteberry (Vitex) pharmacokinetics" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Chasteberry (Vitex) and "pharmacokinetics". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Chasteberry (Vitex) — safety adverse events

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Chasteberry (Vitex) safety adverse events" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Chasteberry (Vitex) and "safety adverse events". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Chasteberry (Vitex) — dose response

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Chasteberry (Vitex) dose response" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Chasteberry (Vitex) and "dose response". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewGoogle Scholar · 1970

      Google Scholar: Chasteberry (Vitex) — clinical evidence

      Live Scholar search

      Cross-database citation index for Chasteberry (Vitex) as it relates to "clinical evidence".

      Key findings

      Includes preprints, theses, and journal articles. Useful for tracking citation counts and follow-on work.

      Open study
      Educational use only. This profile is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you take prescription medication or have a chronic condition.