The effects of vitex agnus-castus on the menstrual cycle

Vitex (known as gattilier in French) is a plant that influences hormonal balance without containing any hormones. It may be helpful in cases of hormonal imbalance. By acting on the pituitary gland, that small gland in the brain that conducts our hormonal system, it is able to influence the production of LH, the essential hormone for triggering ovulation, and to restore oestrogen and progesterone secretions whilst regulating prolactin.

As is often the case with hormones, the action of vitex is not immediate and it is common to notice effects only after 3 months of use. In naturopathy, it is said that "function creates the organ". It can therefore sometimes be useful to give the body a helping hand, while always allowing it to work on its own as well. This is why it is generally recommended to observe therapeutic windows, that is, breaks between supplementation periods, as here with vitex.

For best results, it is recommended to take it in the morning on an empty stomach, as this is when the pituitary gland is most receptive.

Relieving PMS

Premenstrual syndrome is a broad category grouping together certain physical and psychological symptoms that occur before menstruation, such as mood disturbances, a feeling of breast tension, migraines and/or abdominal pain.

By acting in a similar way to certain opioids, it calms the nervous system and helps to relieve pain by releasing endorphins — those well-known neurotransmitters involved in the sensation of pleasure which, like our hormones, drop towards the end of the cycle. There is no need to worry, though: chasteberry is of course not a drug!

Chasteberry also helps to regulate prolactin secretion[1], which can both interfere with ovulation, with progesterone secretion, and contribute to premenstrual breast discomfort[2]. By supporting a healthy oestrogen/progesterone balance, we can address the root cause of PMS — namely an excess of oestrogen dominance in the second half of the cycle.

A German study also examined the very positive results of chasteberry in relieving various aspects of PMS such as irritability, depression, migraines, abdominal pain, and breast tenderness[3].

A food supplement for premenstrual syndrome based on chasteberry may be of interest.

Helps to facilitate ovulation

Chasteberry can help to facilitate ovulation, which is particularly important in cases of long cycles related to PCOS, for example, or in amenorrhoea.

When prolactin, the hormone involved in breastfeeding, is too high (whether or not you are breastfeeding), the body is unable to ovulate, which results in the absence of periods. By acting on the pituitary gland, the gland responsible for prolactin secretion, chasteberry helps to regulate prolactin levels and support the return of regular cycles.

Regulating by calming the nervous system

The other action of chasteberry is to calm the nervous system[4], helping it to return to balance and resolve amenorrhoea linked to stress, for example.

Improving fertility

Many cases of infertility or miscarriage are linked to an insufficient luteal phase, meaning a post-ovulatory phase that is too short, where exposure to progesterone is insufficient to allow the fertilised egg to implant properly.

A study observed the effects of chasteberry in women over 3 months, and demonstrated a reduction in prolactin release, a shortening of luteal phases back towards normal, and also that deficits in luteal progesterone synthesis were eliminated. These changes were significant and occurred only in the treated group[5].

But chasteberry can also help women who do not have hyperprolactinaemia, since following supplementation with chasteberry, maca, B vitamins and omega-3, the number of ovulations was observed to increase from 10 to nearly 43% over 18 months[6].

Finally, due to its ability to occupy certain oestrogen receptors, chasteberry helps to reduce excess oestrogen that can interfere with follicle maturation and ovulation in women, and may improve fertility issues[7].

Chasteberry can be taken alongside our food supplement to support conception. 

Better managing certain symptoms of PCOS

The Polycystic ovary syndrome is a combination of factors often involving an excess of androgen hormones, insulin resistance, and long cycles linked to difficulties with ovulation.

While the main approach to relieving its symptoms is adopting an appropriate lifestyle, chasteberry may have a positive effect on hirsutism and excess male hormones when these are linked to overproduction of prolactin.

Furthermore, chasteberry may have an effect on the length of the menstrual cycle. In one study, women with irregular menstrual cycles who took a herbal preparation containing chasteberry showed a statistically significant improvement in menstrual cyclicity compared with those who took a placebo[8].

Please be aware, however, that if your PCOS is linked to a poor ratio between your LH and FSH hormones, it is better to look towards another PCOS supplement.

Reducing the risk of fibroids

Chasteberry can notably help to improve the balance between oestrogen and progesterone[9]. Yet one of the main causes of fibroids is precisely this oestrogen dominance. Acting on the root cause of the problem could therefore help to limit the risk of developing them.

Easing period pain in cases of endometriosis

Excess oestrogen is one of the main factors inendometriosis. By improving the capacity for ovulation, chasteberry helps to rebalance the progesterone/oestrogen ratio.

Thanks to the progesterone secreted after ovulation, the nervous system is more settled and muscles are more relaxed. Yet the main cause of pain is in fact the lack of oxygen in the uterine muscle due to excessively repeated contractions. The soothing action of progesterone on tissues is therefore particularly useful for relieving period pain, whether or not it is related to endometriosis.