Vitex agnus-castus or CHASTETREE
Vitex agnus-castus (VAC) is a deciduous perennial shrub, occasionally developing into a small tree, characterized by its grayish foliage and aromatic properties. Native to the Mediterranean basin, southern Europe, and parts of western Asia, the plant is now widely cultivated across the world for both medicinal and ornamental purposes. It typically grows between one and six meters tall and is well adapted to a variety of soil conditions, preferring sunny or partially shaded habitats that are dry to moderately moist but not waterlogged.
The medicinal use of VAC has a long historical background, dating back over 2,500 years to classical Greek medicine. Traditionally, it has been utilized to address numerous women’s health issues. In contemporary herbal practice, extracts from the fruits of VAC are commonly used to regulate hormonal balance and to manage conditions such as menstrual irregularities, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), luteal phase defects, hyperprolactinemia, infertility, and disturbances in lactation. It is also reputed to help alleviate cyclic breast discomfort, acne, gastrointestinal upsets, and inflammatory disorders.
Preparations derived from the shoots and fruits of VAC have additionally been employed in traditional medicine to ease headaches, abdominal pain, and even infections such as syphilis. The plant has demonstrated a variety of pharmacological effects, including antioxidant, antihypertensive, tracheorelaxant, anticonvulsant, and antiepileptic activities.
Medicinal actions of VAC include progestognenic, estrogenic, dopaminergic, prolactin reducing, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, osteopenic and anti-inflammatory pathways. In PMS, VAC reduces symptoms via dopaminergic activity which inhibits prolactin secretion from the pituitary gland and increases the secretion of progesterone in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. High levels of prolactin are associated with breast fullness and tenderness, infertility, and premenstrual conditions. VAC also binds to the opioid receptors in the brain which enhance the serotoninergic and GABAergic pathways, and stimulate progestogenic and oestrogenic receptor expression, thereby, modulating hormonal imbalances post-ovulation.
So pop into the clinic if you feel like you need some help managing your PMS, and we can chat about chasteree as a potential treatment for you.
Amy
REFERENCES:
Daniele, C., Thompson Coon, J., Pittler, M. H., & Ernst, E. (2005). Vitex agnus-castus: A systematic review of adverse events. Drug Safety, 28(4), 319–332. https://doi.org/10.2165/00002018-200528040-00004
Dugoua, J. J., Seely, D., Perri, D., Cooley, K., Forelli, T., Mills, E., & Koren, G. (2008). Safety and efficacy of chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) during pregnancy and lactation. Canadian Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 15(1), e74–e79.
European Medicines Agency (EMA). (2010). Assessment report on Vitex agnus-castus L., fructus. Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). https://www.ema.europa.eu
Sliutz, G., Speiser, P., Schultz, A. M., Spona, J., & Zeillinger, R. (1993). Agnus castus extracts inhibit prolactin secretion of rat pituitary cells. Hormone and Metabolic Research, 25(5), 253–255. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2007-1002103
Wuttke, W., Jarry, H., Christoffel, V., Spengler, B., & Seidlová-Wuttke, D. (2003). Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) – pharmacology and clinical indications. Phytomedicine, 10(4), 348–357. https://doi.org/10.1078/094471103322004866
