![<img src='https://images.vital.ly/monographs/tr:w-800,c-at_max,dpr-2,q-100/Vitex_agnus-castus_vital_ly.png' /> Vitex agnus-castus](https://images.vital.ly/monographs/tr:w-800,c-at_max,dpr-2,q-100/Vitex_agnus-castus_vital_ly.png)
Background
Vitex agnus-castus fruit and seed contain chemicals that seem to affect many hormones involved in the female reproductive cycle.
People use vitex agnus-castus for conditions related to the menstrual cycle such as breast pain and premenstrual syndrome (PMS). It is also used for bone fractures, infertility, menopause symptoms, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.
Safety Safety definitions
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if vitex agnus-castus is safe or what the side effects might be.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Vitex agnus-castus is possibly unsafe. Vitex agnus-castus might make it more difficult to get pregnant and might harm the fetus. Don't use it if you are trying to get pregnant, or are pregnant or breast-feeding.Hormone-sensitive conditions such as endometriosis; uterine fibroids; or cancer of the breast, uterus, or ovaries: Vitex agnus-castus can affect hormones and might affect estrogen levels. Don't use vitex agnus-castus if you have a hormone-sensitive condition.
In vitro fertilization: Vitex agnus-castus can interfere with the effectiveness of in vitro fertilization. Don't use vitex agnus-castus if you are undergoing this procedure.
Parkinson disease. Vitex agnus-castus contains chemicals that affect the brain. These chemicals affect the brain similarly to some medications used for Parkinson disease. Vitex agnus-castus might affect therapy for Parkinson disease.
Schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders. Vitex agnus-castus seems to affect a chemical in the brain called dopamine. Some medications for mental disorders help to decrease dopamine. Taking vitex agnus-castus might affect therapy for certain mental disorders.
Effectiveness
- Breast pain (mastalgia). Taking vitex agnus-castus by mouth seems to relieve breast pain during the menstrual cycle.
- Premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Taking vitex agnus-castus by mouth decreases some symptoms of PMS, especially breast pain or tenderness, moodiness, anxiety, anger, and headache.
- Fractures. Taking vitex agnus-castus extract by mouth does not seem to help broken bones heal.
Dosing & administration
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Birth control pills (Contraceptive drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Vitex agnus-castus seems to change hormone levels in the body. Birth control pills contain hormones. Taking vitex agnus-castus along with birth control pills might decrease the effects of birth control pills and increase the chance of getting pregnant. If you take birth control pills along with vitex agnus-castus, use an additional form of birth control such as a condom.
Estrogens
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Vitex agnus-castus seems to change hormone levels in the body. Taking vitex agnus-castus along with estrogen pills might decrease the effects of estrogen pills.
Medications for mental conditions (Antipsychotic drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Vitex agnus-castus seems to affect a chemical in the brain called dopamine. Some medications for mental disorders help to decrease dopamine. Taking vitex agnus-castus along with these medications might decrease the effects of these medications.
Medications used for Parkinson disease (Dopamine agonists)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Vitex agnus-castus contains chemicals that affect the brain. These chemicals affect the brain similarly to some medications used for Parkinson disease. Taking vitex agnus-castus with these medications might increase the effects and side effects of the medications used for Parkinson disease.
Metoclopramide (Reglan)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Vitex agnus-castus seems to affect a certain brain chemical called dopamine. Metoclopramide also affects dopamine. Taking vitex agnus-castus along with metoclopramide might decrease the effects of metoclopramide.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Interactions with foods
Products
View all products- Vitex agnus-castus (Chasteberry) ext. 100 mg equiv. aucubin 700 μg equiv. agnuside 500 μg
- Magnesium amino acid chelate 250 mg equiv. magnesium 50 mg
- Zinc amino acid chelate 25 mg equiv. zinc 5 mg
- Crocus sativus ext. 15 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 60.78 mg equiv. pyridoxine 50 mg
- Potassium iodide 98.1 μg equiv. iodine 75 μg
- Selenomethionine 186.3 μg equiv. selenium 75 μg
- Vitex agnus-castus (Chasteberry) ext. 1 mL
- Paeonia lactiflora ext. 375 mg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate monohydrate (P5P) 12.5 mg equiv. pyridoxine 7.95 mg
- Matricaria chamomilla ext. 2 mL
- Manganese amino acid chelate 12.5 mg equiv. manganese 2.5 mg
- Potassium iodide 99 µg equiv. iodine 75 µg
- Selenomethionine 188 µg equiv. selenium 75 µg
- Zinc citrate 36.8 mg equiv. zinc 12.5 mg
- Vitex agnus-castus (Chasteberry) ext. 100 mg
- Melissa officinalis ext. 120 mg
- Petroselinum crispum ext. 10 mg
- Perilla frutescens ext. 16.67 mg
- Retinyl palmitate 1.37 mg equiv. vitamin A 750 μgRE
- Riboflavin 5-phosphate sodium (Activated B2) 25 mg equiv. riboflavin 19 mg
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 50 mg
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 55 mg equiv. pantothenic acid 50.6 mg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate monohydrate (P5P) 50 mg equiv. pyridoxine 31.9 mg
- Quercetin 125 mg
- Vitex agnus-castus (Chasteberry) ext. 100 mg
- Bupleurum falcatum ext. 150 mg
- Rhodiola rosea ext. 75 mg
- Withania somnifera ext. 208.3 mg
- Tocopherols concentrate - mixed (low-alpha type) 75 mg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate monohydrate (P5P) 23.5 mg equiv. pyridoxine 15 mg
- Zinc citrate dihydrate 46.58 mg equiv. zinc 15 mg
- Potassium iodide 194.9 µg equiv. iodine 149 µg
- Selenomethionine 187.5 µg equiv. selenium 75 µg
- Vitex agnus-castus (Chasteberry) ext. 100 mg
- Withania somnifera ext. 75 mg
- Silybum marianum ext. 2.86 mg
- Paeonia lactiflora ext. 750 μg
- Melissa officinalis ext. 10 mg
- Brassica oleracea var. italica ext. 10 mg
- Asparagus racemosus ext. 150 mg
- Angelica polymorpha ext. 125 mg
- Zinc glycinate 26.6 mg equiv. zinc 7.5 mg
- Selenomethionine 93.1 μg equiv. selenium 37.5 μg
- Potassium iodide 98.1 μg equiv. iodine 75 μg
- Chromium picolinate 201.1 μg equiv. chromium 25 μg
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 3.28 mg equiv. pantothenic acid 3 mg
- Vitex agnus-castus (Chasteberry) ext. 70 mg
- Angelica polymorpha ext. 70 mg
- Paeonia lactiflora ext. 55 mg
- Glycyrrhiza uralensis ext. 55 mg
- Tetradium ruticarpum ext. 70 mg
- Ligusticum striatum ext. 55 mg
- Cinnamomum cassia ext. 55 mg
- Epimedium sagittatum ext. 55 mg
- Zingiber officinale ext. 55 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 10 mg equiv. pyridoxine 8.23 mg
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 5 mg
- Vitex agnus-castus (Chasteberry) ext. 50 mg
- Angelica polymorpha ext. 250 mg
- Paeonia lactiflora ext. 71.43 mg
- Brassica oleracea var. italica ext. 20 mg
- Viburnum opulus ext. 30 mg
- Asparagus racemosus ext. 50 mg
- Zingiber officinale ext. 22.75 mg
- Withania somnifera ext. 20 mg
- Curcuma longa ext. 10 mg
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 15 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 10 mg equiv. pyridoxine 8.2 mg
- Magnesium citrate anhydrous 308.6 mg equiv. magnesium 47.7 mg
- Corydalis ambigua ext. 30 mg
- Vitex agnus-castus (Chasteberry) ext. 44 mg
- Withania somnifera ext. 180 mg
- Zingiber officinale ext. 25 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 50 mg equiv. pyridoxine 41.14 mg
- Tocopherols concentrate - mixed (low-alpha type) 50 mg
- Lutein 5 mg
- Potassium iodide 196 μg equiv. iodine 150 μg
- Selenomethionine 250 μg equiv. selenium 100 μg
- Zinc bisglycinate (Zinc amino acid chelate) 125 mg equiv. zinc 25 mg
- Vitex agnus-castus (Chasteberry) ext. 25 mg
- Reynoutria japonica ext. 20 mg
- Asparagus racemosus ext. 70.58 mg
- Retinol acetate 354 μg equiv. vitamin A 300 μg RE
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1) 50 mg
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 30 mg
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 50 mg
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 50 mg equiv. pantothenic acid 45.8 mg
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) 150 μg
- Folic acid 500 μg
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) 100 mg
- Cholecalciferol 25 μg equiv. vitamin D3 1000 IU
- d-alpha-Tocopheryl acid succinate 41.3 mg equiv. vitamin E 50 IU
- Tocopherols concentrate - mixed (low-alpha type) 20 mg
- Biotin 150 μg
- Phytomenadione (Vitamin K1) 30 μg
- Choline bitartrate 25 mg
- Inositol 25 mg
- Calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate 258.2 mg equiv. calcium 60 mg equiv. phosphorous 46.47 mg
- Magnesium amino acid chelate 150 mg equiv. magnesium 30 mg
- Iron amino acid chelate 50 mg equiv. iron 5 mg
- Borax 26.5 mg equiv. boron 3 mg
- Zinc amino acid chelate 25 mg equiv. zinc 5 mg
- Manganese amino acid chelate 20 mg equiv. manganese 2 mg
- Chromium chloride hexahydrate 1.28 mg equiv. chromium 250 μg
- Potassium iodide (Iodine) 391 μg equiv. iodine 299 μg equiv. potassium 92 μg
- Molybdenum trioxide 150 μg equiv. molybdenum 100 μg
- Selenomethionine 124.2 μg equiv. selenium 50 μg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 50 mg equiv. pyridoxine 41 mg
- Vitex agnus-castus (Chasteberry) ext. 25 mg
- Asparagus racemosus ext. 133.33 mg
- Angelica polymorpha ext. 50 mg
- Anemarrhena asphodeloides ext. 85 mg
- Epimedium sagittatum ext. 43.33 mg
- Curculigo orchioides ext. 71.43 mg
- Actaea racemosa ext. 100 mg
- Vitex agnus-castus (Chasteberry) ext. 25 mg
- Actaea racemosa ext. 20 mg
- Asparagus racemosus ext. 10 mg
- Brassica oleracea var. italica ext. 10 mg
- Salvia officinalis ext. 167 mg
- Trifolium pratense ext. 250 mg
- Ziziphus jujuba ext. 60 mg
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) 50 mg
- Cholecalciferol 2.5 µg equiv. vitamin D3 100 IU
- d-alpha-Tocopheryl acid succinate 20.66 mg equiv. vitamin E 25 IU
- Menaquinone 7 (Vitamin K2) 90 µg
- Passiflora incarnata ext. 30 mg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate (P5P) 3.91 mg equiv. pyridoxine 2.5 mg
- Rehmannia glutinosa ext. 20 mg