Vitex
Vitex is a hormone-modulating berry that acts on the pituitary gland to support progesterone balance, regulate menstrual cycles, reduce PMS symptoms, and treat estrogen-dominant conditions. It lowers elevated prolactin, strengthens the luteal phase, supports fertility, and offers benefits for menopausal symptoms. It is also useful for certain male reproductive conditions.
Vitex comes from Latin vitis (“to weave”), referencing its flexible branches once used for plaited fencing. Agnus means “lamb” and castus means “chaste,” referring to its long association with chastity and its historic use as an anaphrodisiac.
Vitex modulates pituitary hormone secretion by increasing luteinizing hormone (LH), mildly reducing follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and lowering elevated prolactin by dopamine-agonist activity. It strengthens the progesterone-producing luteal phase and restores estrogen-to-progesterone balance. These actions support corpus luteum insufficiency and estrogen-dominant patterns presenting as PMS, crampy slow-starting menses, uterine congestion, cystic hyperplasia, inflammation around ovulation, long cycles, or irregular cycles. Vitex helps reestablish ovulation, regulate cycles after discontinuing birth control, and restore balance after miscarriage or abortion.
Long-term use alleviates PMS, hormonal headaches, migraines, dysmenorrhea, joint pain, mood swings, bloating, acne flareups, and eczema. Beneficial for uterine and ovarian cysts, fibroids, and discomfort from endometriosis. Supports fertility when progesterone deficiency is involved. In menopause, it may reduce hot flashes, night sweats, depression, dizziness, and vaginal dryness related to corpus luteum insufficiency.
In lactating individuals with insufficient milk production, vitex can increase prolactin. At higher doses, however, it can lower abnormally elevated prolactin caused by stress. It may support benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), male infertility, and hormonal acne in adolescents.
Vitex has been used since the 6th century BCE as a relaxant and analgesic. Hippocrates recommended it to staunch postpartum bleeding and help pass the afterbirth. Leaves were used to treat spider bites and snake bites. In ancient Greece, vitex was considered an anaphrodisiac and was strewn before novice monks during initiation ceremonies; monasteries used the berries as a libido-lowering condiment, giving rise to the name “monk’s pepper.” Persian sources claimed it treated madness and epilepsy, and it continued to be used as a calming agent.
A large shrub or small tree reaching 4–12 m with glossy evergreen foliage. Young twigs may be angular with small axillary spines. Leaves are alternate, elliptic to ovate (6–13 cm), leathery, with entire or finely crenulate margins and numerous translucent oil glands. Flowers occur in fragrant axillary clusters with 4–5 white petals, numerous stamens, and a superior multi-locular ovary. Fruit is a small aromatic berry (hesperidium-like), divided into multiple juicy segments with several seeds.
Contraindicated with hormonal birth control, hormone replacement therapy, and progesterone drugs. Avoid with antipsychotic medications (dopamine-2 receptor–acting drugs) due to potential interaction. May cause headache, nausea, diarrhea, itching, or urticaria in rare cases. Restricted in boh pregnancy and lactation.
Tincture:
Tea:
Hot infusion or decoction; note that key constituents are not fully water-soluble.
Capsules:
Used clinically; dosage varies by extract concentration.
Christina Sinadinos, David Hoffman, Bryan Bowen, all relevant CHSHS lectures.