Chasteberry has been used medicinally since ancient times and its name originates from the belief that it decreases sexual desire. It is thought to influence female reproductive hormones and, as a result, has been referred to as the "women's herb." According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), there is not enough scientific information to confirm the usefulness of chasteberry for any medical condition. For this reason, you should talk with your doctor before using chasteberry.
Identification and Dosing
Chasteberry is also known as chaste-tree berry, vitex, hemp tree, and monk's pepper. The chasteberry fruit is dried and made into either a liquid extract or solid extract that is used in capsules and tablets. Raw chasteberry extracts are normally used in doses of 20 to 240 mg per day to a maximum of 1800 mg per day administered in 2 or 3 divided doses.
Uses
According to the NIH, chasteberry is used to treat menstrual problems such as treating premenstrual syndrome, menopause and infertility, and to increase breast milk production as well as to treat acne. It is also used to treat lumpy or fibrocystic breasts, bleeding problems after childbirth, to prevent miscarriage, and to boost production of breast milk, according to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database (NMCD) Other uses include the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH, dementia, joint problems, colds, upset stomach, spleen ailments, headaches, and inflammatory conditions.
Effectiveness
Preliminary scientific information shows that chasteberry is possibly effective for managing symptoms of PMS such as breast sensitivity, swelling, cramps, and food cravings, notes the NMCD. According to the NIH, chasteberry may also be helpful in treating some forms of infertility and studies are underway, exploring the benefits of chasteberry for PMS; however, presently, there is no conclusive support for the effectiveness of chasteberry for any health condition.
Considerations
Although chasteberry is considered safe for most people, it can cause some side effects, such as stomach problems, acne-type rashes, and lightheadedness, reports the NIH. Chasteberry should not be used by women who are pregnant, using contraceptive pills, or who have hormone-related problems such as breast cancer. You should also not use chasteberry with certain medicines, such as antipsychotic drugs and Parkinson's disease medicines, due to potential drug interactions.
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