Chaste tree, or vitex agnus-castus L., is an herbal supplement that has a variety of uses. It's also called vitex, chaste berry, Monk's pepper and agnus castus. It's most often used to aid hormonal imbalances and the conditions caused by hormonal imbalances. An article at Drugs.com warns that it should not be used by pregnant or lactating women, children or anyone taking dopamine-containing medications. Additionally, it can interfere with fertility medications and decrease the effect of birth control. You should never take chaste berry without first consulting your health care provider. Side effects include stomach upset and allergy symptoms.
Anxiety and Depression
Chaste tree is used to treat anxiety and depression especially as it relates to menopause or PMS. For that reason men are rarely prescribed chaste tree by herbalists. It works to balance the production of estrogen and progesterone, keeping mood swings at bay and the patient calmer by avoiding deep plunges of estrogen.
Regulate Menstruation
Herbalists recommend chaste tree berries to help regulate a woman's menstrual cycle and to diminish the symptoms of PMS. An article at Herb2000.com recommends adding 40 drops to a glass of water and drinking it each morning. It may take several months to see this effect, but chaste tree should help to stop the bloating and breast pain associated with PMS, and regulate the amount of menstrual flow. Women with a heavy flow find it to lessened and women with amenorrhea may begin menstruating after a couple months of treatment.
Other Uses
Chaste tree is also recommended as a treatment for acne and migraine, especially if they are associated with the menstrual cycle. Men are sometimes prescribed chaste tree to cure acne, too. It can also be used to decrease sex drive and to increase breast milk, although too much chaste berry will actually decrease breast milk production. Some women use it to start up menstruation while they are breast-feeding. An article at Herbs2000.com reports that it can also be useful in treating flatulence and treat snake bites, although there are better herbs for those purposes.
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