Chaste berry contains several different constituents, including flavonoids, iridoid glycosides, and terpenoids. it does not contain hormones. The benefits of chaste berry stem from its actions upon the pituitary gland. It keeps prolactin secretion in check. The ability to decrease mildly elevated prolactin levels may benefit some women with breast tenderness associated with PMS. This natural herb may also be helpful in menopause.

Enzymatic Therapy - buy Chaste Berry Extract

Supplement Facts
Serving Size 1 capsule

Chaste berry Tree 225 mg
    (Vitex agnus-castus) Berry Extract
    Standardized to contain a minimum of 0.5% agnuside
    (1,130 mcg per capsule)

You can buy Chaste Berry here and a product called Hot Flash.
Recommendations:  One capsule Chasteberry extract two times daily.

Benefits of the herb and extract
The benefits of chaste berry stem from its actions upon the pituitary gland. The herbal remedy keeps prolactin secretion in check. The ability to decrease mildly elevated prolactin levels may benefit some women with breast tenderness associated with PMS. It may also be helpful in menopause.

Estrogen effect
Evaluation of estrogenic activity of plant extracts for the potential treatment of menopausal symptoms.
J Agric Food Chem 2001.
Eight botanical preparations that are commonly used for the treatment of menopausal symptoms were tested for estrogenic activity. Methanol extracts of red clover (Trifolium pratense), chaste berry (Vitex agnus-castus), and hops (Humulus lupulus) showed significant competitive binding to estrogen receptors alpha (ER alpha) and beta (ER beta). With cultured Ishikawa (endometrial) cells, red clover and hops exhibited estrogenic activity as indicated by induction of alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity and up-regulation of progesterone receptor (PR) mRNA. Chasteberry also stimulated PR expression, but no induction of AP activity was observed. In S30 breast cancer cells, pS2 (presenelin-2), another estrogen-inducible gene, was up-regulated in the presence of red clover, hops, and chasteberry. Interestingly, extracts of Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) and North American ginseng induced pS2 mRNA expression in S30 cells, but no significant ER binding affinity, AP induction, or PR expression was noted in Ishikawa cells. Dong quai Angelica sinensis and licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) showed only weak ER binding and PR and pS2 mRNA induction. Black cohosh showed no activity in any of the above in vitro assays. Bioassay-guided isolation utilizing ER competitive binding as a monitor and screening using ultrafiltration LC-MS revealed that genistein was the most active component of red clover. Consistent with this observation, genistein was found to be the most effective of four red clover isoflavones tested in the above in vitro assays. These data suggest a potential use for some dietary supplements, ingested by human beings, in the treatment of menopausal symptoms.

The PMS relief herb
Premenstrual syndrome is the name of a group of symptoms that start 7 to 14 days before a period and stop soon after the period begins. Most women feel some discomfort before their periods but those with PMS may feel so anxious, depressed or uncomfortable that they can't cope at home or at work. Some of the symptoms include a bloated abdomen, feeling tired and tense, headache, tender and swollen breasts, and wanting to be alone.
   PMS seems to be linked in part to changes in hormone levels during the menstrual cycle, and perhaps partly due to elevated levels of a pituitary hormone called prolactin. Several studies over the past few years have indicated that extracts from chaste berry (the fruit of a small Eurasian tree, also called Vitex agnus) help with symptoms of PMS. In a study done in Germany, 86 patients with PMS were treated daily with one tablet (20 mg chaste berry extract) during three menstrual cycles. At the end of the study, many PMS-related symptoms were significantly reduced by treatment in the majority of the participants. No serious adverse effects were reported. The researchers say, "Extract of chaste berry  is an effective and well tolerated treatment for the relief of symptoms of the premenstrual syndrome."
   How chaste berry works is not clear, but one possibility is that it may reduce the release of prolactin from the pituitary gland. At least two previous studies have also shown the beneficial effects of chaste berry in relation to PMS. Other natural therapies that could be helpful include exercise, yoga, B vitamins, calcium supplements, and reduction of simple sugars, alcohol and caffeine.

Fluoxetine versus Vitex agnus castus extract in the treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
Hum Psychopharmacol. 2003.
Clinical trials have demonstrated that serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) and the extract of chaste berry are effective for the treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy of fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), with that of the chaste berry extract, a natural choice. After a period of 2 screening months to screen the patients for suitability, 41 patients with PMDD according to DSM-IV were recruited into the study. The patients were randomized to fluoxetine or chaste berry for 2 months of single-blind, rater- blinded and prospective treatment period. The outcome measures included the Penn daily symptom report (DSR), the Hamilton depression rating scale (HAM-D), and the clinical global impression-severity of illness (CGI-SI) and -improvement (CGI-I) scales. At endpoint, using the clinical criterion for improvement, a similar percentage of patients responded to fluoxetine (68%) and chaste berry (57). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups with respect to the rate of responders. This preliminary study suggests that patients with PMDD respond well to treatment with both fluoxetine and chaste berry. However, fluoxetine was more effective for psychological symptoms while the extract diminished the physical symptoms.

How long should one take chasteberry supplement for PMS or menopause alternative therapy before deciding if it is not working?
    We would suggest trying this herb for two months.

Menopause
Studies indicate that long term replacement with Premarin (horse derived estrogens) and synthetic progesterone increases the risk for heart disease, cancer, blood clots and gallbladder disease. The field of hormone or herbal therapy during or after menopause is complicated and there is no consensus within the medical community regarding the best option for long term therapy. The medical community seems to be shifting its viewpoint on hormone replacement. It appears that most traditional doctors now prefer using low doses of hormones for a brief period of time to treat menopausal symptoms, but prefer not to continue hormone replacement therapy indefinitely as in the past.

I take chaste berry herb for menopause symptoms and would like to supplement with tongkat ali as an aphrodisiac and was wondering if there were obvious side effects with the combination.
   Chaste berry extract is mild in its effects compared to the aphrodisiac herb but we don't foresee any problems from the chaste berry itself.

Is chaste berry herb safe to take long term for several years for menopause symptoms?
   We often suggest to take a day off a week from a particular herb, and a week of each month or every other month. This way, any long term problems could be minimized. Many of these herbs, including chaste berry, have not been studied long term.

Availability by herbal suppliers
Chaste berry extract is sold in a number of concentrations and extract potencies including 0.5 percent agnuside and 0.4 percent aucubin. It can be used together with a calcium supplement.

Side effects and safety, adverse reactions
Chaste berry has no major known side effects and is generally safe.

Interactions with dietary supplements
Can a chaste berry supplement be taken the same day as a 5-HTP supplement?
   Probably, especially in low dosages, but each person may react differently.