Vitex is a medicinal herb that has been used for thousands of years.
In this article, we will look at vitex’s many health benefits, its safety, and recommended dosage.
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What is Vitex?
Vitex is an herb native to the Mediterranean region, Southern Europe, and Central Asia, often seen growing widespread on riverbanks and on shores.
The plant’s Latin name is Vitex agnus-castus, while its common names include vitex, chaste tree, chasteberry, monk’s pepper, and sage tree.
Herbalist David Hoffman mentions that some of the major bioactive constituents found in vitex include:
- Iridoid glycosides (acubin, agnuside)
- Iabdane diterpenes (otundifuran, vitexilactone)
- Flavonoids (casticin, vitexin, isovitexin, kaempferol)
- Essential oils (1,8-cineole, limonene)
Vitex is commonly used in women’s health, specifically for reproductive conditions such as menstrual cycle irregularities, Premenstrual syndrome, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, breast pain, infertility, and menopause symptoms.
4 Benefits of Vitex:
Here are the top research-backed health benefits of vitex:
1. May Help Manage Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) & Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is a variety of physical and emotional symptoms that begin before the start of a woman’s menstrual period.
Some of these symptoms may include:
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Back pain
- Abdominal pain/cramping
- Breast tenderness
- Fatigue
- Migraines/headaches
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is the same as PMS, but a more severe form and is considered a psychiatric disorder.
Researchers believe that vitex may be helpful in the treatment of PMS and PMDD due to its action of decreasing excessive prolactin levels. High levels of the hormone prolactin can cause menstrual issues and infertility. Prolactin is also the hormone responsible for the production of breast milk.
In a study of 1,634 patients with Premenstrual Syndrome, a 3-month treatment with vitex extract was reported to decrease the number of Premenstrual Syndrome symptoms or completely eliminate PMS complaints in 93% of patients.
A systemic review analyzed several studies on the use of vitex for PMS and PMDD. The studies revealed the following results:
- Vitex showed a 50% improvement in back pain compared to the treatment of Fluozetine (a commonly prescribed medication).
- Vitex showed to reduce several PMS symptoms such as headaches, anxiety, irritability, crying spells, breast tenderness, back pain, fatigue, and insomnia.
- The treatment of 40 mg of vitex per day showed to have an improvement in significantly reducing migraines associated with PMS.
A study using both vitex and St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) for the treatment of PMS-like symptoms in women helped to reduce anxiety, irritability, headaches, fatigue, dizziness, depression, crying episodes, and insomnia.
Additionally, The German Commission E, a scientific advisory board that evaluates the safety and efficacy of herbs, approves the use of vitex for Premenstrual Syndrome complaints, cyclical breast discomfort, and menstrual cycle irregularities.
Summary:
Clinical studies indicate that vitex may be used to effectively alleviate symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.
2. May Alleviate Menopausal Symptoms
Menopause is considered a natural transition that women go through as they age. During this transition, many women may experience menopausal symptoms, which include:
- Hot flashes
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Low sex drive
- Sleep disturbance
Vitex, among other herbs for women’s health such as fenugreek, raspberry leaf, and red clover, has successfully reduced menopause symptoms such as anxiety and hot flashes in a study involving menopausal women.
A clinical trial studied the effectiveness of vitex essential oil topically on peri-menopausal and post