Chasteberry

Aka: Chasteberry, Vitex agnus-castus, Monk's Pepper, Chaste Tree Berry

advertisement

II. History: Naming

  1. Used by European celibate clergy to decrease libido

III. Mechanism

  1. Components: Flavinoids, glycosides, Essential Oils
  2. Key effects: Estrogen and Progesterone
    1. Low dose (example: 20 to 120 mg/day)
      1. May inhibit FSH release and decrease Estrogen level
      2. May stimulate LH release and increase Progesterone
    2. High dose (example: 480 mg/day)
      1. Stimulates Prolactin release
      2. Appears to not affect FSH, LH, Estrogen, Progestins
  3. Other effects
    1. Acts at central Dopamine receptors

IV. Clinical uses

  1. Uses where Chasteberry may be possibly effective
    1. Cyclical Mastalgia
    2. Premenstrual Syndrome
    3. May improve fertility (contraindicated in pregnancy)
  2. Uses where there is insufficient evidence
    1. Altering libido
    2. Stimulation of Lactation

V. Pregnancy and Lactation

  1. Contraindicated in pregnancy
  2. Not recommended in Lactation

VI. Drug Interactions

  1. None reported
  2. May affect Dopaminergic medications
    1. Medications for Parkinsonism
    2. Metoclopramide

VII. Dosing

  1. Fruit extract 20 to 40 mg daily

VIII. Adverse Effects

  1. Gastrointestinal upset
  2. Headache, Dizziness or Fatigue
  3. Xerostomia

IX. References

  1. Roemheld-Hamm (2005) Am Fam Physician 72(5):821-4 [PubMed]
  2. Schellenberg (2001) BMJ 322:134-7 [PubMed]

Images: Related links to external sites (from Bing)

These images are a random sampling from a Bing search on the term "Chasteberry." Click on the image (or right click) to open the source website in a new browser window. Search Bing for all related images

Related Studies

Related Topics in Alternative Medicine

advertisement