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Chasteberry dosage for menstrual cycle?
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Posted by thorndncr 6 (My Page) on Sat, Sep 1, 07 at 18:52
| In doing some research into herbs to regulate menstrual cycles, chasteberry (vitex, monk's pepper) has come up. According to the articles I've seen, it seems to impact hormone levels, particularly progesterone. As low progesterone is associated with certain irregularities and heavy and/or long-term bleeding, I suspect that the effects of vitex might be helpful to my particular problems. Birth control pills, which I recently stopped after several years, did correct both bloodflow and irregularity, so the adjustment of hormones attributed to chasteberry is appealing. Just to clarify: although chasteberry is associated with increased fertility, presumably through regulation, I am seeking only to normalize highly irregular cycles.
(Apologies if anyone finds remarks about bleeding to be too graphic -- then again, "menstrual" WAS in the subject line.) :)
There is enough information out there that vitex seems worth trying; however, I am curious to know more about proper doses. Most of the more scientific articles I've come across have indicated that 20-40mg daily is an appropriate dosage, while the commercially distributed supplements seem to have upwards of 400mg. Teas also exist, but I have not found anything to show the amount present in a prepared cup. Is anyone familiar with this herb and its appropriate application?
Many thanks for any advice! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Chasteberry dosage for menstrual cycle?
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| As long as you're aware that Vitex IS very toxic (look up Vitus agnes), and be very careful whose version you use. I imagine some of the ones you see out there may be full of filler ingredients of various kinds, which could explain why they seem to be larger doses (vs the amount of the Vitex alone that you want) but people also probably take them for other reasons that call for more. This is the trouble with these kind of meds - people first 'diagnose' themselves (take a totally unscientific guess), then find wildly differing answers as to what to take for their problems, and wonder why it's so hard to find how much of which supplement to take (in what form) for what they have decided is wrong with them! After all, you can't call a regular doctor to ask about them, or a pharmacist, and anyone else you might find somewhere who took the substance sometime for who knows what reason, may not remember correctly how much they took, or be aware whether or not it was the supp. that in fact made them feel better (given that a huge percentage of ills do improve on their own regardless of what you do or not), etc. And what was the right amount for one friend, may be all wrong for another, but who will decide that (knowing nothing of either's true all round medical state)? |
RE: Chasteberry dosage for menstrual cycle?
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| I don't remember what doses my wife used (it was a few years ago). One thing I do remember is that it takes a few months/cycles to reach full effect. There is a link to an monograph below that mentions anywhere from 30 mg to 600 mg of the berry has been used in various studies. Gee, Lucy, I didn't know that Vitex is "Very Toxic." Neither did the Physician's Desk Reference. (http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/nmdrugprofiles/herbaldrugs/102870.shtml) The doctors in the German Commission E also seem to think it is pretty safe. One study from an MD reported the following: "Potentially toxic compounds in vitex: None known"
"Acute toxicity: Side effects are rare" Oh, wait, this must be what you are talking about - I found a study where the leaf extract (herbalists use the seed) of Vitex negundo (a completely different species) is very toxic - if you are a mosquito larvae!! |
Here is a link that might be useful: Vitex Monograph
RE: Chasteberry dosage for menstrual cycle?
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| Hmmm - I was repeating what I'd heard a long time ago, and should know better! I have no excuse :-) unless it's that I was possibly thinking of a S. American plant that has really poisonous berries, often used in making 'folk' jewellery, which if chewed can kill, and for some reason mixed them up in my mind. |
RE: Chasteberry dosage for menstrual cycle?
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| This thread is positively ancient but I wanted to add my own experience with this so others interested in trying Vitex can have a more varied view of the whole thing. I started taking Vitex on the recommendation of my naturopathic doctor. The reason it was prescribed was to combat symptoms of PMS which have been getting worse for me as I age. I purchased the product from her as she sells a purportedly high quality line of supplements only available to practitioners. The brand is Medi Herb and is 500 mg Vitex agnus-costus. I was "prescribed" 2 tablets daily in the morning. I started taking it in October, 2009 as prescribed. I didn't expect much to change during the first 2 months because it evidently takes time for the supplement to show results. Four months in I still didn't notice a difference. Bloating, cramping and headaches, not to mention plenty of crankiness still about the same level. About 5 months in, I started noticing that my skin has become very dry, I have a patch of ecxema on my eyelid, my throat is really dry, but slowly over the weeks my heart rate has been increasing right up until today where it's high enough to scare me. As I think about it, when I wake up in the morning, my heart rate seems normal, then I go take 2 vitex and by noon, my heart is pounding. By evening, it's slowed down some, the longer I have taken the vitex, the higher my heart rate climbs. Naturally, you have to consider if there have been any other changes in your life that might cause this but there aren't any. I work out 2 hours per day, am lucky enough not to have to work, and my days are my own. I don't have particularly stressful days. The only difference I can think of is this Vitex. The research I see on the net says that there are relatively few side effects but it depends where you look. A lot don't mention higher heart rate but some do and have more comprehensive lists of potential problems. I am a very active person who has been healthy up to this point. I exercise a lot and I eat pretty well too. My heart rate today at noon was 94 as I was trying to have a nap. I'm just saying - be careful and make sure if you take it that you ask for some advice from someone knowledgeable. I am sincerely freaked out about a 94 heart rate when I am supposedly so fit. |
RE: Chasteberry dosage for menstrual cycle?
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| I recently purchased the chasteberry (vitex) Extract 0.05% agnusides and would like to know what would be the correct dosage? |
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