What are the benefits of chasteberry?

What is chasteberry?

Chasteberry (Vitex agnus-castus), also known as Abraham’s balm or monk’s pepper, is a Mediterranean plant from the Verbenaceae family. Reaching a height of up to 5 metres, this deciduous shrub bears palmate leaves and violet flower panicles which produce berries in autumn.

It has been highly-prized for its medicinal benefits (particularly for women’s health) since the time of the Ancient Greeks. In Homer’s Iliad, chasteberry symbolised “chastity that could ward off evil” (1). It’s no coincidence, then, that monks used to grow it in monastery gardens and chew its peppercorn-like berries to help them resist temptations of the flesh (hence its other name monk’s pepper).

Biochemically, chaste berries contain iridoids (agnuside), flavonoids (vitexin, casticin…), alkaloids, steroids, essential oils with cineole and labdane-type diterpenes (such as rotundifuran) (2).

What are chasteberry’s health benefits?

Recognised support for premenstrual problems

Chasteberry is thought to provide valuable premenstrual support (3). Several studies refer to its benefits in the management of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), which is characterised by physical and emotional symptoms that appear a few hours or days before the arrival of a period: tenderness in the breasts, back or lower abdomen, headaches, digestive problems, fatigue, irritability, low mood…

Indeed chasteberry’s traditional use is recognised by the European Medicines Agency, the German Commission E and ESCOP.

It seems the plant’s diterpenes react with the pituitary gland, the ‘master gland’ of the endocrine system located at the base of the brain, stimulating dopamine receptors.

In a cascade effect, they are believed to inhibit the release of prolactin following ovulation (which is responsible for premenstrual breast pain) and promote the production of progesterone by the ovaries (insufficient production of which during the luteal phase (second half of the cycle) is believed to maintain PMS) (4-5).

A hormone regulator

Chasteberry supports female hormonal balance and physiological well-being more broadly during the menstrual cycle.

Its ability to regularise hormonal secretions, primarily through its progesterone-like action, means it is often recommended in phytotherapy for irregular or absent periods, as well as for premenstrual outbreaks of acne (counterbalancing the effects of oestrogen and testosterone which increase sebum production) (6-7).

It’s also notable that chasteberry is currently being studied in the context of male and female infertility (8).

A helping hand for menopausal women

Chasteberry also helps to relieve symptoms of the menopause. A double-blind clinical trial showed that compared with a placebo group, menopausal women supplemented with Vitex agnus-castus extract had less anxiety and vasomotor dysfunction (hot flushes) (9).

A shield against oxidative processes

Last but not least, chasteberry also helps to maintain joint mobility and flexibility, protect cells and tissues against oxidative damage and improve the body’s physiological resistance. An analysis of decoctions of Vitex-agnus castus dried berries showed it to have a high concentration of polyphenols and flavonoids as well as significant iron-chelating power (10).

Are there any risks associated with taking chasteberry?

The few side-effects reported are rare and disappear when supplementation ceases. They mainly consist of headaches, nausea, gastrointestinal problems, itching and rashes. However, it is still advisable to consult your doctor before starting to supplement with chasteberry, given its hormone interactions.

This plant is not recommended for children, women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or have a family or personal history of breast cancer, or anyone with a pituitary condition. It may also interfere with certain types of hormone therapy or treatments prescribed for Parkinson’s disease (11).

How and when should chasteberry be taken?

For premenstrual syndrome, the usual advice is to supplement in the second half of the cycle, ideally during the week before a period. However, supplementation needs to be continued for several consecutive cycles (between 3 and 6 on average) to see significant results.

While chasteberry supplements offer proven efficacy, be aware too that there are synergistic combinations which maximise the plant’s effects against premenstrual discomfort. For example, chasteberry is available in combination with:

• calcium, which supports normal neurotransmission and therefore the release of serotonin, which plays a major role in regulating mood (12-13);
• magnesium, which helps reduce fatigue and supports normal psychological function (better control of agitation and mood swings) (14);
• vitamin B6 which is involved in regulating hormone activity, especially steroid hormones (oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone …) (15).

For optimal efficacy, be sure to check the individual bioavailability of a supplement’s ingredients and their content of active principles (the all-in-one formulation PreMenstrual Comfort combines a chasteberry extract standardised to 0.5% vitexin, with vitamin B6, as well as calcium citrate and magnesium bisglycinate, two forms that offer high absorption and excellent digestive tolerance) (16-17).