What Are Some of the Best Chasteberry Benefits for Women’s Health?

Women, are you looking for more natural ways to deal with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) discomfort or generally support your reproductive health?

You’re not alone.

Herbal formulations for PMS are a growing trend among nutritional supplement manufacturers, according to a recent article by trend predictor Nutraingredients.com, which is a great news source for women.

Among these new formulations for women’s health is a star ingredient: Chasteberry.

Chasteberry (also called chaste berry, chaste tree, or Vitex) has a long history of use in traditional medicine, dating back millennia. Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome valued chasteberry as a women’s health tonic to support a number of gynecological health issues. In the last 50 years, chasteberry has been studied scientifically, primarily for alleviating unwanted symptoms associated with PMS.

Here’s what’s been revealed about chasteberry so far and how it may be helpful to women wanting PMS, menopausal, or fertility support.

What Is Chasteberry?

Chasteberry (Latin name Vitex agnus-castus) is a deciduous shrub native to Central Asia and Mediterranean Europe. Today, it also grows throughout the southeastern region of the U.S. The dried violet flowers and peppercorn-sized berries are typically the parts of the plant used for medicinal purposes.

The Vitex name originated from the Latin word “vieo,” which means to weave or to tie-up – a fitting name as the plant was once used in making basketry.

But its common name comes from its use in Medieval Europe among clergymen. It’s believed that monks chewed on the chaste berries to calm libido – hence the common names chasteberry and monk’s pepper. However, there’s no scientific evidence indicating it has any impact on quelling libido.

Today, chasteberry is widely used in Europe for gynecological support. The Commission E, a respected advisory organization that evaluates the efficacy and safety of herbal medicine, approves the use of chasteberry for helping to alleviate symptoms associated with PMS and cyclical breast discomfort, and to support regular menstrual cycles and uterine health, the American Family Physician reports. Its use as an herbal supplement in the U.S for women’s health is relatively new and on the rise.

Here Are Some of the Best Chasteberry Benefits for Women

Although the scientific community recommends that larger studies need to be conducted on chasteberry to conclusively verify its health benefits, a small but growing body of research suggests the following women’s health benefits:

May Help Lessen PMS Symptoms

Several studies suggest that chasteberry may be a helpful natural remedy for symptoms associated with PMS. These symptoms may include:

• Irritability
• Low mood and feelings of anxiousness
• Headaches
• Breast pain and tenderness
• Constipation

Researchers believe that chasteberry has a rebalancing effect on hormones, including progesterone and estrogen, which may help to lessen PMS symptoms. It’s thought that this occurs due to chasteberry’s affinity for binding to dopamine receptors, which may have a prolactin-lowering effect. Yet, more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms at play.

That said, a review study published in 2017 analyzed 43 research articles and found that supplementing with chasteberry may improve symptoms related to PMS and a more severe type of premenstrual syndrome called premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

Additionally, in a 2013 systematic review of clinical trials, 5 of 6 studies evaluating the effects of chasteberry extracts taken for PMS found the extracts to be superior to placebo in lessening symptoms. The study concluded that the results from the randomized, controlled trials evaluated suggest benefits for Vitex extracts in helping to alleviate normal to severe PMS issues.

May Help with Menopausal Symptoms

In additional to supporting women with PMS, chasteberry’s hormone-balancing properties may help to support women in menopause.

Menopause is defined as a time of major hormonal shifts when a woman has gone a full year or longer without a period. In menopause, women often experience a host of unpleasant associated symptoms such as hot flashes, mood changes, weight gain, sleep problems, and more.

Some initial research shows that chasteberry holds promise in lessening these symptoms. A small, published study from 2019 involved a cohort of 52 healthy women in menopause. The women were administered either a chasteberry extract supplement every morning or placebo for 8 weeks. The women who took the chasteberry supplement showed more improvement in menopausal symptoms (fewer hot flashes and less feelings of anxiousness) than those who took placebo.

May Support Enhanced Fertility

Due to chasteberry’s hormone-balancing effects, it may have a beneficial influence on fertility by helping to support regular, healthy periods and healthy androgen levels, some research indicates. Irregular periods and high androgen levels are often associated with ovary health issues that impact fertility.

Supplementing With Chasteberry

The initial research on this herbal extract shows that chasteberry may offer some much-needed natural support for women’s health. When used in limited amounts such as a regular herbal supplement dose, health experts report that chasteberry appears to be generally safe – although it may cause mild side effects such as upset stomach, headache, or itching.

Of course, be sure to talk to your medical doctor about any concerns before taking it!

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