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-menopausal women. It was reported that 33% had significant improvements in menopausal symptoms and 36% had mild improvements. Most improvements were noted for emotional well-being, as well as reduced hot flashes and night sweats.
Another study confirms the use of vitex as a treatment for reducing the number, and severity, of hot flashes in postmenopausal women.
A study of pre-and post-menopausal women examined the use of an herbal formula that included vitex, black cohosh, dong quai, milk thistle, red clover, and American ginseng on relieving menopause symptoms. The women receiving the herbal formula had significant reductions in menopausal symptoms. By three months of treatment, there was a 73% decrease in hot flashes and a 69% reduction in night sweats. In addition, the women reported having improved sleep quality.
Summary:
Clinical trials have found that vitex may improve menopause symptoms, especially for decreasing hot flashes and improving sleep quality.
3. May Help to Balance Hormones & Improve Fertility
Hormonal imbalance occurs when there is too much and/or too little of certain hormones. This can cause a variety of health issues, such as menstrual irregularities, fertility troubles, PMS, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and more, according to herbalist, Dr. Aviva Romm.
Vitex affects the hypothalamic-pituitary axis (HPA axis), which helps regulate hormone production.
Research suggests that vitex increases the release of luteinizing hormone (LH), helping to increase progesterone and regulate the function of the ovaries. It is also known that vitex helps lower prolactin levels.
In addition, some research indicates that vitex can affect neurotransmitters such as dopamine.