Chaste tree Benefits, Usage, Medicinal Properties, Nutrition, Dosage, Preparations, safety, science backed and traditional view

Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus L.) also known as Agnus Castus, Lilac chastetree, Vitex, Chastetree, Niepokalanek mnisi.

A deciduous shrub of free spreading habit, young shoots covered with a fine grey down; leaves opposite, composed of five to seven radiating leaflets borne on a main stalk 1 to 2 1/2 inches long, leaflets linear, lance-shaped, toothed, dark green above, grey beneath with a very close felt; stalks of leaflets 1/4 inch or less long- flowers fragrant, produced in September or October, in whorls on slender racemes 3 to 6 inches long, sometimes branched; the berries somewhat like peppercorns, dark purple, halfcovered by their sage-green calyces, yellowish within, hard, having an aromatic odour; taste warm, peculiar. The seeds were once held in repute for securing chastity, and the Athenian matrons in the sacred rites of Ceres used to string their couches with the leaves.

 

Part used: berry

 

Constituents:  essential oils, iridoid glycosides, flavonoids, and diterpenes. The primary essential oils consist of limonene, cineol, pinene, and sabinene. The primary flavonoids include casticin, kaempferol, quercetagetin, orientin, isovitexin and apigenin. The primary diterpenes include vitexilactone, rotundifuran, and 6-beta,7 beta-diacetoxy-13-hydroxy-labda-8,14-dien. The relevant iridoid glycosides are aucubin, agnuside, and eurostide. Vitex agnus-castus berries also contain several essential fatty acids, including oleic acid, linoleic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid.

 

Flavour/Temps: Pungent, Bitter, somewhat Astringent; Dry, neutral to Warm, Aromatic

Calming, Restoring, Stimulating, Relaxing

 

Tropism: Uterus, Sinews, Urogenital organs, Liver, Intestines, Pituitary

 

Meridians: Lungs, Kidney, Liver, Spleen, dai, chong, ren meridians

Fluid, Air bodies

 

Key actions in western medicine: Anaphrodisiac, Aphrodisiac, Anti-allergy, Anti-cancer, Antihistamine, Antimicrobial, Hormonal balancing, Analgesic, Diuretic, Diaphoretic, Sedative, Stomachic, Fertility, Galactagogue

 

Indications in western medicine: Hyperprolactinemia with Gonadal deficiency inc. Infertility, Amenorrhea; Leucorrhoea; Excessive Lactation; Spermatorrhoea; Vaginal dryness; Frigidity; Impotence; Progesterone deficiency with Pituitary-Gonadal deficiency, incl. irregular cycles, swollen or lumpy breast, thirst, PMS (except type C, with headache, carving for sweets, dizziness and palpitations); Menopausal Syndrome; Overstimulation incl. Satyriasis, Nymphomania, Premature ejaculation; Oedema; Gastroenteritis, Digestive colic; spasmodic Dysmenorrhea; Muscle tension; chronic Bronchitis, Bronchial Asthma; Fibromyalgia, Arthritis; Liver congestion with dyspepsia; Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia; Fibrocystic breast disease; male Acne; Follicular Ovarian cysts; Hypogonadism;

 

Key actions in eastern medicine: Promotes Digestion, Resolves Mucus-Damp and relieve pain; Regulates Uterus Qi and Harmonizes Menstruation; Tonifies Reproductive Qi, treats Infertility and regulates Menstruation; Increases Progesterone, Inhibits Prolactin; Harmonises Menopause, Relieves Frigidity and Harmonises Sexuality; Stops Discharges; Warms the Exterior, Dispels Damp-Cold-Wind relieves Muscle Tension and Pain; Decongest Liver Drains Water and promote Urination.

 

Indications in eastern medicine: Uterus Qi constraint (irregular, painful periods, cramps during or before flow); Liver Qi stagnation (nausea, headache, indigestion, right flank pain); cold-Damp-Wind obstruction (painful muscles and joints, headache, chills); Liver Water congestion (local or general water retention); Uterus Qi and Blood deficiency (long or irregular cycles, amenorrhea, lost of libido), Lower Warm-Damp (seminal or vaginal discharge); Intestines Damp-Mucus, Spleen damp (epigastric or abdominal pain, flatulence,  indigestion); Lung Damp-phlegm ( chest soreness or pain, coughing, expectoration with copious sputum)

 

Grounds: All constitutions, krases and biotypes

 

Preparations: Decoction, Tincture

Note: Compresses and liniments for muscle pain and spasm are very useful and effective, as well as Gargles and mouthwashes for Throat and Mouth sores.

Note: Tincture is most effective remedy and only tincture will achieve effects described above.

 

Dosage: Decoction 4-10g

Tincture 1:3, 45% ethanol 1-4ml

Tincture 1:5, 45% ethanol 1-5 ml

 

Note: To treat reproductive conditions by hormonal regulation, dose 1-2 ml tincture should be taken after waking once a day.

Note: In severe cases higher doses could be used short term, but prolonged use needs to be avoided.

Note: Tincture can be used long time if recommended therapeutic dose range is not exceed. However Chaste should be discontinued if menstrual cycle excessive changed.

 

Synergy examples: Combined with Raspberry leaf, Wild Yam, Cramp bark, Liquorice root and Fennel seed for miscarriage prevention.

 

Cautions: Use carefully in pregnancy and only in early stages to help with insufficient corpus luteal function.

Dopaminergic activity of chaste may suggest that should be avoided in lactation, however some clinical trials demonstrated its positive actions, albeit at low doses.

Vitex is thought to be beneficial in low doses during breastfeeding and will likely aid milk production but, at least in theory, this might turn the other way with higher doses, so it may need to be used moderately at this time. Vitex is certainly considered safe in the early stages of pregnancy (Herbalists believe it to help prevent miscarriage) but it is not usually advised to take it after the first trimester.

 

Contradictions: Chaste preferably should not be taken with conjunction with HRT, progesterone drugs, contraceptive pill.

Chaste may aggravate pure spasmodic dysmenorrhea not associated with PMS. It could be due to priming effect of progesterone on endometrial prostaglandin release initial stages of menstruation. However chaste is usually beneficial for congestive dysmenorrhea and PMS with spasmodic dysmenorrhea. In simple words It may help women who get painful periods and symptoms of the premenstrual syndrome, but it might make things worse for a woman who gets a painful period but does not get PMS.

 

Interactions with drugs: None known, however chaste may interact antagonistically with dopamine receptor antagonists.

 

Side effects: Orally, vitex agnus-castus is generally well tolerated.

Most Common Adverse Effects:

Orally very rare: Diarrhea, fatigue, headache, insomnia, irregular menstruation, nausea, skin irritation, stomach pain, vomiting.

 

 

History and Folklore:

 

Vitex was described over 2,500 years ago in Homer's epic, the Iliad, as a symbol of chastity that was capable of warding off evil and, being native to the Mediterranean region, it would certainly have been used in Egyptian medicine, if only we had some written records from that time!

Nearly 2000 years ago, Dioscorides wrote in his Materia Medica that its use brings on menstruation, helps childbirth, increases milk production and that larger doses of it can bring on sleep.

The old names Monk’s Pepper and Chasteberry give an appreciation of at least part of how it was understood to work. The Monks of the Middle Ages would liberally use ground Vitex as a pepper on their food (it has a distinct but not unpleasant peppery taste) they were using it partly for the taste, but mostly because if they took enough of it that it would decrease their sexual urges!

Vitex is nearly always used for women today though it can sometimes be very helpful to men with cystic acne or as a treatment for intractable insomnia.

Thomas Bartram describes Vitex as “acting on the anterior pituitary gland, reducing FSH (follicle-stimulating-hormone) and increasing LSH (luteum-stimulating-hormone)”.

He says it “stimulates production of progesterone but reduces that of oestrogen. Alternative to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) "Has a corpus luteum hormone effect”

Bartram suggests uses such as “symptoms caused by excess FSH and low progesterone output, used as substitution therapy for primary and secondary corpus luteum deficiency. Pre-menstrual symptoms, especially nervous tension, irritability, mood-swings, depression, anxiety, crying, forgetfulness, insomnia. Amenorrhoea (absent periods) by regulating hormones. Pain in breasts. To promote breast milk in nursing mothers. Acne vulgaris (to restore hormone balance). Water retention (pre-menstrual) caused by oestrogen excess or progesterone deficiency. Regular bleeding between periods decreased following temporary increase"

Dr W Amann “By opposing excess oestrogen it lessens the risk, however small, of endometrial carcinoma. For symptoms of the menopause and of withdrawal on giving up the Pill”

 

David Hoffmann describes Vitex as a “hormonal normaliser and uterine tonic” He says that “Vitex has the effect of stimulating and normalising pituitary gland function, especially as it relates to relative progesterone levels. Vitex may be called an amphoteric remedy, as it can produce apparently opposite effects, though in truth it is simply normalising. For instance, Vitex has a reputation for being both an aphrodisiac and an anaphrodisiac!”

The most important therapeutic application for Vitex comes from its ability to normalise the female sex hormones. It is thus indicated for dysmenorrhoea (painful periods) premenstrual syndrome and other disorders related to hormone function. It is especially beneficial during menopause. Similarly, it may help the body regain a natural balance after discontinuation of oral contraceptives.

Vitex not only eases symptoms of PMS, but also, over time, may cure the disorder. PMS has been linked to abnormally high levels of oestrogen, and Vitex has proved especially helpful for cases in which symptoms tend to disappear when menstruation begins. Positive results may be perceived as early as the second menstrual cycle, but permanent improvement may take up to one year or longer.

Vitex is also effective for irregular menstruation, especially when related to endometriosis. In addition, because progesterone production declines at menopause. Vitex may reduce some of the undesirable symptoms associated with the 'change'.

Several studies show that Vitex can help control acne in teenagers, both young women and men. The herb is also useful for stabilising the menstrual cycle after withdrawal from progesterone containing birth control pills. It may help with fibroid cysts that occur in smooth muscle or in subserous areas but is less likely to help with submucous cysts.

For women who are trying to get pregnant, Vitex may effectively regulate the ovulatory cycle. Clinical research shows that Vitex may start correcting imbalances in as little as 10 days, but for full benefit, it should be taken for three cycles or longer.

Vitex extracts improved PMS symptoms of irritability, mood alteration, anger, headache, breast fullness and bloating in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Vitex has been particularly indicated for patients with a deficient corpus luteum function. In two studies women who had pathologically low levels of progesterone at day 20 of their cycle were shown to have normalised in 39 out of 45 cases after three months of treatment with a daily low dose of Vitex (36mg). 7 women became pregnant, 25 had normal progesterone levels at day 20 and another 7 women were tending back towards normal levels

93% of 1634 patients with PMS reported a decrease in, or cessation of, symptoms of PMS from using Vitex extracts over a period of three menstrual cycles.

A favourable action of milk production in nursing mothers was observed in an early controlled study using a low dose (40mg daily) of Vitex. Milk production was approximately three times higher in the group using Vitex compared to the control group after 20 days of treatment.

A controlled trial of 161 male and female patients with acne for at least 3 months using Vitex extract resulted in an improvement in 70% of cases. The mechanism for this action is not clear but is thought to be due to a mild anti-androgen effect

Observation by 153 gynaecologists of 551 patients with symptoms of cyclic disorders or PMS using Vitex over several menstrual cycles showed that over 80% were relieved of symptoms or stated that their condition had improved

Laboratory research suggests that vitex agnus-castus might inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells and other cancer cells including ovarian, cervical, gastric, colon, and lung. However, due to the possible estrogenic effect of vitex agnus-castus, its safety in estrogen-sensitive conditions is unknown.

The therapeutic effects of vitex agnus-castus have primarily been attributed to its indirect effects on various neurotransmitters and hormones. In females with hyperprolactinemia, vitex agnus-castus seems to suppress prolactin release. This may normalize luteal phase defects in the menstrual cycle. In healthy men, the hormonal effects of vitex agnus-castus seem to be dose dependent. At doses around 120 mg of extract per day seem to increase prolactin release. Higher doses seem to suppress prolactin release. Vitex agnus-castus does not appear to affect testosterone. Preliminary research suggests that vitex agnus-castus might have estrogen and progestin activity. The linoleic acid constituent of vitex agnus-castus appears to have estrogenic effects. Vitex agnus-castus appears to be selective for beta estrogen receptors. The beta estrogen receptor predominates in the heart, vasculature, bone, and bladder but not the uterus.

There is also interest in using vitex agnus-castus to treat hormonal changes from diabetes. Animal research in rats with chemically-induced diabetes shows that taking vitex agnus-castus fruit extract 100-400 mg/kg daily for 7 days normalizes diabetes-induced changes in body weight, as well as serum levels of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, estrogen, and progesterone.

The therapeutic effects of vitex agnus-castus have primarily been attributed to its indirect effects on various neurotransmitters and hormones. Vitex agnus-castus seems to affect dopamine, and possibly acetylcholine and opioid receptors. Vitex agnus-castus extracts contain multiple active constituents that seem to have agonistic effects at pituitary dopamine (D2) receptors when used in higher doses. This dopaminergic activity inhibits basal and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-stimulated prolactin release.

 

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