Chasteberry has been widely used for a variety of purposes since at least the Middle Ages, when monks nibbled on chasteberry leaves to quell mortal desires. Chasteberry was used traditionally by women to ease menstrual symptoms and stimulate lactation, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). Its modern application continues to carry on the tradition of addressing female complaints, however, its purpose has been extended to other difficulties, such as menopause symptoms and infertility.
History
Also known as chaste-tree berry, vitex and monk's pepper, chasteberry is the fruit of a small shrub that originally grew in Asia and the Mediterranean, according to NCCAM. A September 2005 article in the American Family Physician journal by Beatrix Roemheld-Hamm, M.D., PH.D., indicates that some of chasteberry's historical applications have been discounted, and some are not proven to be beneficial. For example, there's no evidence to indicate that it decreases sexual desire, nor is there clinical evidence to indicate that it stimulates lactation.
Properties and Preparations
Chasteberry contains active hormones that are also secreted in humans, namely progesterone, testosterone and androstenedione, states the Memorial Sloan-Ketterig Cancer Center. Studies on animals and humans further indicates that it changes the way the pituitary gland releases sex hormones in men and women. Hypothetically, the center continues, this could have an affect on how estrogen, progesterone and testosterone are released in the human body; however, the way chasteberry exerts its effects is not fully understood. NCCAM indicates that chasteberry is used in solid preparations, such a capsules and pills, as well as liquid formulations.
Infertility
According to the 2005 American Family Physician article, there is only preliminary evidence to indicate that chasteberry is helpful for infertility; Dr. Roemheld-Hamm goes on to state that "high-quality clinical studies on chasteberry are small or of limited duration, which limits the ability to apply the findings to a larger population." The article defers to a single 1998 study published in Forsch Komplementarmed, conducted on 96 women with infertility disorders, which suggest that those who received chasteberry conceived more readily than those who received a placebo. However, the number of women who conceived was small (15), and the treatment administered for only three months. The chasteberry product used in the trial also contained five other herbs.
What Chasteberry Can Help
Clinical findings that chasteberry may be used for infertility and other conditions appear to be inconclusive. There is better evidence to suggest that chasteberry can be beneficial for cyclical breast discomfort and premenstrual syndrome, according to the American Family Physician article. Chasteberry appears to be safe and well-tolerated.
Cautions
NCCAM indicates that there are no significant side effects associated with chasteberry, aside from gastrointestinal distress, rash and dizziness. Women who are pregnant or on oral contraceptives should avoid taking chasteberry, as should those with a hormone-related health condition like breast cancer. Also, avoid chasteberry if you're taking medications that affect dopamine levels, such as selegiline, amantadine and levodopa. Herbs such as chasteberry promote a holistic approach to health with minimal use of surgeries and conventional medications. Consult your physician before taking chasteberry or any natural remedy.
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