Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus, chasteberry) is a shrub native to the Mediterranean and Central Asia; extracts are made from its leaves, stems, flowers and seeds. It is used mainly for premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and cyclic breast pain, and is also promoted for infertility and menopause symptoms.
Also known as: chasteberry, Vitex agnus-castus, vitex, monk's pepper.
There is no intake value or upper limit, and NCCIH gives no standard amount. Trials used different extracts.
It is sold in the US as a dietary supplement. Under the 1994 dietary supplement law (DSHEA), FDA does not approve dietary supplements before they are marketed, and the maker, not FDA, is responsible for safety and labeling.
What studies show: NCCIH says several low-to-moderate quality studies suggest chasteberry might reduce PMS symptoms such as breast pain, but better evidence is needed; there is not enough evidence for sexual function, infertility or menopause. A 2017 meta-analysis of 14 PMS trials found a large pooled effect versus placebo, but high risk of bias, very high variation between trials and signs of publication bias, so the authors said the true effect is likely overestimated and no firm conclusion is possible (Verkaik 2017).
Safety, per NCCIH: generally well tolerated in the short term; the fruit extract has been used safely in studies for up to 3 months. Side effects include nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, headache and itching. It may not be safe for women with hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast, uterine or ovarian cancer, or during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
We could not find a single published half-life or time to peak for chaste tree that applies to a supplement dose, so we do not list one. Herbal products are mixtures of many plant compounds, so no single figure would describe them.
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