This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition.
This herb is NOT recommended during pregnancy due to potential risks to the developing fetus.
This herb is NOT recommended while breastfeeding as effects on infants are unknown.
Consult your healthcare provider before use.
2 Known Drug Interactions — Some May Be Serious
2 Moderate
This herb may interact with medications you are taking. Review the interactions table below and consult your healthcare provider before use.
What is a herb–drug interaction?
A herb–drug interaction happens when a plant or supplement changes how a medication works in your body — making it stronger, weaker, or more likely to cause harm. Herbs contain active compounds that can speed up or slow down the enzymes and transporters your body uses to process drugs.
Why it matters
•St. John's Wort can make birth control, antidepressants, and blood thinners less effective.
•Garlic can increase bleeding risk with warfarin and other blood thinners (also ginkgo, ginger, and turmeric).
•Kava can amplify sedation when taken with anxiety or sleep medications (also valerian).
The risk is highest for older adults, anyone taking several medications, and people with chronic conditions.
Always tell your doctor and pharmacist about every herb and supplement you take — and check below before combining.
Vitex's hormonal effects may theoretically interfere with hormonal contraceptive effectiveness.
This list reflects a curated subset of documented interactions and is not exhaustive. The absence of a drug here is not proof that it is safe to combine. Always confirm with a pharmacist or healthcare provider.
How does Vitex agnus-castus work to balance hormones?
Vitex agnus-castus works primarily through its effects on the pituitary gland rather than containing hormones itself. It binds to dopamine receptors, which helps inhibit the secretion of prolactin. By normalizing elevated prolactin levels, Vitex helps regulate the balance between estrogen and progesterone, specifically improving the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. This dopaminergic mechanism allows it to address hormonal imbalances that contribute to conditions like PMS and irregular cycles (Evidence level B).
Can I take Vitex with birth control pills or HRT?
It is generally advised to avoid taking Vitex agnus-castus concurrently with oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Because Vitex modulates estrogen and progesterone activity through the pituitary gland, it may interfere with the effectiveness of exogenous hormones found in birth control. Additionally, Vitex is contraindicated for individuals with hormone-sensitive conditions or those undergoing IVF treatment. Consult a healthcare provider before combining this herb with any hormonal therapies.
What is the recommended daily dosage for Vitex?
The standard adult dosage for Vitex agnus-castus is typically 20-40 mg of a standardized extract daily, or 400-500 mg of dried fruit in capsule form. For Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), clinical studies (Evidence level B) often utilize the 20-40 mg range. It is usually taken once daily in the morning. Because Vitex works by regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, it may take up to three months of consistent use to observe full therapeutic benefits.
Is Vitex (chasteberry) safe to take during pregnancy?
Vitex agnus-castus is considered unsafe during pregnancy. Due to its hormonal activity and ability to modulate prolactin, it may interfere with the natural hormonal shifts required to maintain a pregnancy. Historically, it was used to suppress libido, not to support gestation. Women trying to conceive should discontinue Vitex once pregnancy is confirmed. There is insufficient reliable data to support its safety during breastfeeding, so it is generally recommended to avoid use while nursing.
Does Vitex interact with dopamine agonists or antipsychotic medications?
Yes, Vitex agnus-castus has significant interactions with drugs that affect the dopaminergic system. Because Vitex acts as a dopamine agonist, it can antagonize the effects of antipsychotic medications (such as haloperidol or risperidone) and other drugs used to treat Parkinson's disease. This pharmacological antagonism can reduce the efficacy of these prescription medications. Patients taking dopamine-related medications should avoid Vitex unless supervised by a qualified physician.
PubMed-compiled information sheet
This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 28 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Vitex agnus-castus, also known as chasteberry, is a botanical treatment primarily used for female reproductive disorders and premenstrual symptoms [PMID:23136064, PMID:30000866].
Background
Vitex agnus-castus is a shrub tree native to the Mediterranean region, grown in tropical and sub-tropical regions [PMID:28243425, PMID:36342880].
Traditional uses
Traditionally used for women's health conditions including menstrual pain, premenstrual tension, infertility, and as a galactagogue in Persian traditional medicine [PMID:36745730, PMID:30000866]. It has also been traditionally used to reduce sexual desire [PMID:16156340].
Active compounds
The berries and leaves contain essential oils (e.g., limonene, sabinene, 1,8-cineole), iridoid glycosides (e.g., agnoside, aucubin, agnucastoside A, B, and C), diterpenes (e.g., vitexilactone, rotundifuran), and flavonoids (e.g., apigenin, castican, orientin, isovitexin) [PMID:30000866, PMID:12895546, PMID:36342880].
Mechanism of action
Some constituents, possibly the diterpene clerodadienols, bind to dopamine D2 receptors in the pituitary [PMID:30000866]. It may affect physiological actions via multiple extra- and intracellular mechanisms, up-regulating the ovarian cycle and fecundity through hypothalamic, pituitary, and ovarian hormones [PMID:39853839].
Clinical evidence
Evidence APremenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
Meta-analyses and systematic reviews indicate that Vitex agnus-castus is effective for the alleviation of PMS symptoms [PMID:31780016, PMID:29063202, PMID:28237870].
Evidence BMastalgia / Cyclical Breast Pain
Double-blind placebo-controlled studies and retrospective cohort data show a substantial decrease in breast tenderness and beneficial influence on premenstrual mastodynia [PMID:12809367, PMID:38393671].
Evidence APolycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
A systematic review suggests Vitex agnus-castus may reduce hirsutism by reducing testosterone and androgen levels [PMID:35916457].
Evidence AHyperprolactinaemia
Systematic reviews included trials investigating latent hyperprolactinaemia [PMID:23136064], and it is noted that high doses may decrease serum prolactin [PMID:30000866].
Evidence DMenstrual Cycle Disorders
A retrospective longitudinal cohort study found that three-month treatment substantially decreased the percentage of patients with irregular cycles [PMID:38393671].
Evidence A
Safety & adverse effects
Vitex is generally well tolerated; reported adverse effects are minor and may include gastrointestinal complaints, dizziness, and dry mouth [PMID:16156340]. Oral forms have not been implicated in clinically apparent liver injury or serum aminotransferase elevations [PMID:36745730].
Pregnancy & lactation
Some evidence indicates high doses may decrease serum prolactin and might decrease lactation [PMID:30000866]. Its traditional use as a galactagogue is not well supported by scientific clinical trials and should be discouraged [PMID:16156340, PMID:30000866].
Drug interactions
No herb-drug interactions have been reported, but caution is advised when used concomitantly with dopamine agonists or antagonists [PMID:16156340].
Evidence summary
Strong evidence (Meta-analyses/Systematic Reviews) supports the use of Vitex for PMS and PMDD. Moderate to strong evidence supports its use for mastalgia and PCOS-related hirsutism. Evidence for general fertility and menstrual irregularities is described as weak or requiring further study.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 23136064 (2013) — Vitex agnus-castus extracts for female reproductive disorders: a systematic review of clinical trials. · Planta medica
2.PMID: 35916457 (2023) — Polycystic ovaries and herbal remedies: A systematic review. · JBRA assisted reproduction
3.PMID: 34946512 (2021) — Herbal Products Used in Menopause and for Gynecological Disorders. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4.PMID: 31780016 (2019) — Vitex agnus-castus in premenstrual syndrome: A meta-analysis of double-blind randomised controlled trials. · Complementary therapies in medicine
5.PMID: 27677719 (2016) — Botanicals and Their Bioactive Phytochemicals for Women's Health. · Pharmacological reviews
Systematic reviews have evaluated its safety and efficacy for PMDD, and it is listed as a second-line treatment [PMID:29063202, PMID:31078196].
6.
PMID: 29063202 (2017) — Vitex agnus castus for premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder: a systematic review. · Archives of women's mental health
7.PMID: 36745730 (2012) — Herbal medicine for depression and anxiety: A systematic review with assessment of potential psycho-oncologic relevance. · Phytotherapy research : PTR
8.PMID: 30000866 (2006) — Vitex agnus castus effects on hyperprolactinaemia. · Frontiers in endocrinology
9.PMID: 39853839 (2025) — Effects, Mechanisms of Action and Application of Vitex agnus-castus for Improvement of Health and Female Reproduction. · Phytotherapy research : PTR
10.PMID: 23472485 (2013) — Adverse effects of herbal medicines: an overview of systematic reviews. · Clinical medicine (London, England)
11.PMID: 29403626 (2017) — A review of effective herbal medicines in controlling menopausal symptoms. · Electronic physician
12.PMID: 16156340 (2005) — Chasteberry. · American family physician
13.PMID: 31741280 (2019) — A comprehensive review of clinical studies with herbal medicine on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). · Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences
14.PMID: 40238977 (2025) — Premenstrual Syndrome and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: Common Questions and Answers. · American family physician
15.PMID: 38393671 (2024) — Use of Vitex agnus-castus in patients with menstrual cycle disorders: a single-center retrospective longitudinal cohort study. · Archives of gynecology and obstetrics
16.PMID: 31078196 (2019) — Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. · The Medical clinics of North America
17.PMID: 12391713 (2002) — Gynecology: select topics. · Primary care
18.PMID: 36342880 (2022) — The mechanisms underlying the role of Vitex agnus-castus in mastalgia. · Bratislavske lekarske listy
19.PMID: 28243425 (2017) — Systematic Review of Premenstrual, Postmenstrual and Infertility Disorders of Vitex Agnus Castus. · Electronic physician
20.PMID: 31369395 (2019) — The effects of Vitex agnus-castus on menstrual bleeding: A systematic review and meta-analysis. · Journal of complementary & integrative medicine
21.PMID: 24347927 (2013) — The genus Vitex: A review. · Pharmacognosy reviews
22.PMID: 12809367 (2003) — Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus)--pharmacology and clinical indications. · Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
23.PMID: 19678775 (2009) — Vitex agnus-castus (Chaste-Tree/Berry) in the treatment of menopause-related complaints. · Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)
24.PMID: 40806148 (2025) — Anticancer Activity of Vitex agnus-castus Seed Extract on Gastric Cancer Cells. · Nutrients
25.PMID: 12895546 (2003) — Glucosides from Vitex agnus-castus. · Phytochemistry
26.PMID: 28237870 (2017) — The treatment of premenstrual syndrome with preparations of Vitex agnus castus: a systematic review and meta-analysis. · American journal of obstetrics and gynecology