A guide to vitex for hormone balance 〰
Vitex (also known as chaste berry) is often touted as a hormone-balancing cure-all amongst the insta herbalists & women’s health crowd.
It has a long history of traditional use as a hormone-balancing remedy, and lots of modern research to back it up. I’ve personally had a good experience using it for PMS, and I recommend it to clients in certain circumstances.
That said, it’s a powerful medicine & it’s not for everyone. Let’s break it down 〰
Vitex helps to regulate our ovulatory cycles. It’s a hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian regulator that acts directly on the pituitary gland (the part of our brain responsible for hormone regulation) to normalizes the our reproductive hormones and support ovulation.
Lots of people will say that vitex gives you more progesterone, but that’s not exactly true. However, vitex supports ovulation, and because ovulation is how we produce progesterone, vitex can help promote progesterone production.
Vitex really shines when it comes to PMS and PMDD, and has performed quite well in several clinical trials. In Germany, it’s commonly used to treat PMS. Specifically useful for PMS that manifests with mood swings, fluid retention, and breast tenderness.
Because it can be so effective at remedying hormonal mood shifts, it can be really useful for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. One study found that Vitex outperformed antidepressants for PMDD. That said, a very small percentage of women find that their mood worsens with vitex — however, in most cases it seems to be temporary.
Vitex is especially indicated for…
PMS with mood swings and water retention
Cyclical breast tenderness
PMDD
Hormonal acne
Hormonal headaches & migraines
Menstrual irregularities like dysmenorrhea (period pain), amenorrhea (lack of period), and menorrhagia (frequent or heavy periods)
Low progesterone (if your luteal phase is less than 11 days, it could be a sign that your progesterone is low)
Fertility support
You might not want to take it if…
You tend to run hot and dry
You’re under 18
You have a history of severe depression or bipolar disorder
You have a history of estrogen-receptive positive cancers
You’re pregnant
Dosing is important, and patience is needed. Typically, you’ll start to see results within 1-3 cycles.
It’s best as a tincture or extract capsules (my favorite are the Gaia Herbs capsules)
The typical dose is 20-40 mg/day
Best taken daily in the morning
Take a break while you’re bleeding
You can take it for up to 6 months, then give your body a break for at least a couple cycles
This post is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. If you’re experiencing sudden or irregular vaginal pain or discharge, or have any concerns about your vaginal health, it’s best to consult your doctor or a trusted healthcare professional.
