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Chasteberry

Hormonal balance and PMS symptom relief

herbal
Evidence · Grade DSafety · Use with caution
Systematic review availableHuman trial evidenceTraditional useSafety cautionInteraction riskNeeds more research

Chasteberry (Vitex agnus-castus) is a Mediterranean shrub whose fruit has been used for centuries to support hormonal balance, particularly for menstrual cycle irregularities and premenstrual symptoms.

Chasteberry is a traditional herbal remedy backed by modern clinical research for premenstrual syndrome and cyclic mastalgia.

Quick answer

What it is: Chasteberry is a traditional herbal remedy backed by modern clinical research for premenstrual syndrome and cyclic mastalgia.

May support:Estrogen Dominance, PMDD, PMS, Perimenopause, Menstrual Cramps, Menopause, PCOS

Evidence:Evidence · Grade D

Safety:Safety · Use with caution

Evidence Summary

Evidence · Grade D

Supported by multiple RCTs and a Cochrane review showing benefit over placebo for PMS symptoms, particularly mood and physical symptoms.

Last reviewed · Jun 2026

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Commonly Combined With

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Why It Works

Modulates prolactin and supports luteal phase progesterone through dopamine D2 receptor activity.

How it works in more detail

The primary mechanism involves dopaminergic compounds in Vitex that bind to D2 receptors in the hypothalamus and pituitary, suppressing prolactin release. Elevated prolactin is associated with many PMS symptoms including breast tenderness and mood disturbances. By normalizing prolactin, chasteberry may indirectly support the corpus luteum and progesterone production during the luteal phase.

How to use

Always consult a qualified clinician.

Editorial guidance

Suggested dosage
Typical dose: 150-250 mg of standardized extract (containing 0.5% agnusides) once daily, taken in the morning.
Research dosage range
150-250 mg standardized extract daily
Typical onset
Effects may take 1-3 menstrual cycles to become noticeable
Typical forms
capsule, tincture, tablet
Quality markers
Standardized to contain 0.5% agnusides or equivalent flavonoids
Medication interactions
  • Dopamine antagonists
  • Oral contraceptives
  • Fertility medications
Avoid if
  • pregnancy
  • hormonal disorders
Pregnancy / lactation
Avoid during pregnancy and lactation unless supervised by a qualified practitioner.

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Suggested dosage

Typical dose: 150-250 mg of standardized extract (containing 0.5% agnusides) once daily, taken in the morning.

General guidance — discuss specifics with a clinician.

Active medicinal compounds

Agnusides, casticin, flavonoids, essential oils

Traditional use

Chasteberry has a long history of traditional use, dating back to ancient Greece and Rome, where it was used to treat a variety of female reproductive issues. It was historically used to suppress libido in monks, hence the name 'chasteberry'. In traditional herbal medicine, it has been employed for menstrual irregularities, infertility, and symptoms associated with menopause.

Safety

Safety warnings

May interact with dopamine-related medications, hormonal contraceptives, and fertility treatments. Not recommended during pregnancy.

Avoid if

  • pregnancy
  • hormonal disorders

Medication interactions

  • Dopamine antagonists
  • Oral contraceptives
  • Fertility medications

Reported side effects

  • Mild digestive upset
  • Headache
  • Skin rash
  • Menstrual changes

Pregnancy & lactation

Avoid during pregnancy and lactation unless supervised by a qualified practitioner.

General guidance — discuss specifics with a clinician.

Evidence ecosystem

Scientific literature, clinical guidance, government sources, ongoing research, traditional use, and lived experience — grouped by source type and quality.

Overall grade (D)

Supported by multiple RCTs and a Cochrane review showing benefit over placebo for PMS symptoms, particularly mood and physical symptoms.

Filter by source type

Systematic Reviews(1)

Structured reviews of the full body of evidence (incl. Cochrane).

Very High Quality

  • Herbal medicine for depression and anxiety: A systematic review with assessment of potential psycho-oncologic relevance.

    Yeung KS, Hernandez M, Mao JJ, Haviland I, Gubili J · Phytotherapy research : PTR · 2018

    Anxiety and depression are prevalent among cancer patients, with significant negative impact. Many patients prefer herbs for symptom relief to conventional medications which have limited efficacy/side effects. We identified single-herb medicines that may warrant further study in cancer patients. Our search included PubMed, Allied and Complementary Medicine, Embase, and Cochrane databases, selecting only single-herb randomized controlled trials between 1996 and 2016 in any population for data extraction, excluding herbs with known potential for interactions with cancer treatments. One hundred articles involving 38 botanicals met our criteria. Among herbs most studied (≥6 randomized controlled trials each), lavender, passionflower, and saffron produced benefits comparable to standard anxiolytics and antidepressants. Black cohosh, chamomile, and chasteberry are also promising. Anxiety or depressive symptoms were measured in all studies, but not always as primary endpoints. Overall,

    Systematic ReviewPubMedVery High Quality

Observational Studies(1)

Cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional human studies.

Moderate Quality

  • Vitex agnus-castus in premenstrual syndrome: A meta-analysis of double-blind randomised controlled trials.

    Csupor D, Lantos T, Hegyi P, Benkő R, Viola R, Gyöngyi Z · Complementary therapies in medicine · 2019

    Although chasteberry (Vitex agnus-castus, VAC) has been studied in several clinical trials and available as medicine for the alleviation of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms, the efficacy of properly characterised preparations has not been assessed in meta-analyses. The aim of our work was to evaluate the efficacy of VAC in PMS. The meta-analysis was performed following the PRISMA guidelines using the PICOS format, taking into account the CONSORT recommendations. PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Web of Science were searched for studies on VAC. The analysis assessed the efficacy of properly characterised products VAC compared to a placebo for the alleviation of PMS symptoms in terms of responder rate, considering the decrease of Total Symptom Score or PMS Diary score. The random effects model was used to calculate summary relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Only those randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials were inclu

    Observational StudyPubMedLow Quality

Limitations: Most studies are small to moderate in size; long-term safety data beyond 6 months is limited.

This page is educational. Statements use phrases like "may support" and "has been studied for"because no remedy here is approved to cure, treat, or reverse any condition. Discussion happens on the ailment pages — community statistics here are derived from those reports. Always consult a qualified clinician.

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