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vitex

Vitex

Vitex grows naturally in areas of Central Asia and the Mediterranean. It can even be found in areas of the United States, stretching from Maryland, down to Florida, and west to Texas. It is a shrub that produces small, reddish-black fruits, where the active ingredients are found. The ripe dried fruits resemble black peppercorns in appearance, smell, and flavor. The use of Vitex dates all the way back to the 4th century B.C., when Hippocrates spoke of its effectiveness in delivering the placenta after labor, but now it is regarded for its ability to alleviate PMS by regulating hormones, enhancing fertility, and “cleansing” the mind and liver.

 

Claimed Health Benefits

  • Relieves symptoms of PMS

  • Helps alleviate symptoms experienced during menopause

  • Enhances female fertility

  • Helps reduce acne outbreaks

 

Food Sources

None

 

Dose

Currently, there is no established recommended dose, but Vitex capsules generally contain about 150 – 500 mg per dose. One capsule taken in the morning is suggested, although clinical studies have demonstrated that a dose as small as 4mg of Vitex per day is effective.

Evidence for Health Benefits

  • A well-controlled study, involving 52 women, looked at the effects of Vitex as a regulator of abnormal levels of menstrual hormones. The results of the study showed that taking 20mg/day for 3 months normalized their hormone levels and reduced PMS symptoms significantly.

  • A non-controlled study, involving 18 women, looked at Vitex’s ability to stimulate fertility. All 18 women were infertile with high progesterone levels, which is a primary menstrual hormone. The women were given Agnolyt, a particular Vitex product, for three months. Seven out of the 18 experienced normalization in their progesterone levels, and 2 women even became pregnant.

  • In another well-controlled study, 105 women were given either 4 mg of Vitex or 100 mg pyridoxine (Vitamin B-6) to evaluate the difference in their affects on premenstrual tension syndrome (PMTS). After 3 months of supplementation, Vitex was 77.1% effective and pyridoxine was 60.6% effective. Overall, the women rated Vitex as alleviating more symptoms of PMTS than pyridoxine and the investigators of this study determined that Vitex was twice more effective than pyridoxine.

  • A study looking at acne problems reported that individuals treated with Vitex experienced more rapid healing of acne than with conventional treatment.

 

Cautions

When taking Vitex, individuals may experience headache, nausea, stomach and intestinal upset, and skin rash. No serious health effects have been documented from taking Vitex. However, consulting a physician before taking Vitex is recommended since its mechanism of action remains unclear. Also, it is always important to consult a physician if pregnant, breast feeding, on medications, or have existing medical conditions.

 

Reference

1. SupplementWatch, Inc. (2002) Supplement Decisions Made Easy. http://www.supplementwatch.com/supatoz/supplement.asp?supplementId=322 Accessed October 10, 2003.