Chasteberry (Vitex Agnus-Castus)

We evaluated 79 human studies on Chasteberry (Vitex agnus-castus), including 27 randomised controlled trials and 15 meta-analyses or systematic reviews; the controlled studies include 1,884 participants in total. As of 5 October 2026.

This page as PDF · Summary

1. What Is Chasteberry (Vitex Agnus-Castus)? Occurrence, Origin and Forms

Chasteberry is a plant in the mint family. Its dried fruits are traditionally used for cyclical complaints in women, such as breast tenderness or symptoms before menstruation. Studies mostly investigate a dry extract of the fruits.

The plant grows in the Mediterranean region and parts of Asia. It is also cultivated in other warm regions. The ripe, dried fruits are used.

Extracts are made from the dried fruits, often as a dry extract with a defined ratio of starting material to extract. Studies mainly use standardised extracts in capsule or tablet form; tea preparations from the fruits are also common, but there are hardly any comparable investigations for them.

Forms and Preparations Studied

• Standardised dry extract of the fruits (capsule or tablet)
• Tea infusion from dried fruits
• Liquid extract or tincture
• Combination products with other plant extracts

Not covered on this page:

• Other mint family plants such as sage or peppermint
• Hormonal medicines that affect the cycle
• Dietary supplements with chasteberry that also contain other substances

2. What Does Chasteberry (Vitex Agnus-Castus) Do? Results by Area

How to read the table: counted are human studies whose results concern the area. “High” means at least one meta-analysis and two controlled studies showing improvement, or at least three controlled studies of which three quarters show improvement, with at least 300 participants in total. “Moderate” means at least two controlled studies showing improvement, as a majority, or one meta-analysis alongside controlled studies. “Low” means one controlled study showing improvement. Where an area has no controlled study, the strength of evidence is at most “low” (result “reviews only” or “observational data only”). Everything else is “unclear”. A study counts as showing improvement when at least half of its outcomes in this area improved. Reviews of combination products do not count as meta-analyses; results that only describe side effects or shares of users do not count as an effect. The same study is counted only once.

3. What the Studies Show in Detail

Chasteberry (Vitex Agnus-Castus) and Menstrual Cycle Disorders: Human Studies

In premenstrual syndrome (PMS), chaste tree extracts relieved the overall complaints more than placebo, according to two meta-analyses and four randomised studies 2616172425. A systematic review found chaste tree more effective than placebo, vitamin B6 or magnesium oxide in seven of eight PMS studies 11. In premenstrual dysphoric disorder, in a randomised study similar numbers of women responded to the extract as to fluoxetine 33. Fluoxetine relieved rather the psychological, the extract rather the physical complaints 33. In women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), menstruation occurred more often with chaste tree than with placebo 28. In corpus luteum weakness due to latent hyperprolactinaemia, an extract compared with placebo lowered prolactin release and normalised luteal phase and progesterone 30. Against increased bleeding due to an IUD, chaste tree was weaker than mefenamic acid in the first three months, with no difference in the fourth month 22. A meta-analysis found no difference in bleeding amount compared with placebo 3. A meta-analysis regards the large pooled effect in PMS as preliminary because of high risk of bias and calls for comparisons with placebo, serotonin reuptake inhibitors and the pill 6. Combination preparations do not allow a statement about chaste tree alone. A mixture of St John's wort and chaste tree relieved PMS-like complaints in late menopause more than placebo, studied in a small subgroup 36.

Further studies in this area: 14 16 17 24 25 28 30 33 40 42 45 46 47 48 49 50 52 53 55 57 58 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 69 72 73 75

Chasteberry (Vitex Agnus-Castus) and Breast Tenderness (Mastalgia): Human Studies

In cyclic breast pain (mastalgia), chaste tree extract relieved the pain in a meta-analysis of six placebo-controlled studies with a moderate effect size 1. In two randomised studies, breast pain decreased more than with placebo, with tablets 18 and with drops 41. A meta-analysis also found a decrease in elevated prolactin levels 1. Premenstrual breast tenderness in PMS also decreased more than with placebo 17 or with vitamin B6 42. Compared with medications such as dopamine agonists, NSAID-type painkillers, serotonin reuptake inhibitors and hormonal contraception, chaste tree was not inferior in seven studies of a meta-analysis 1. A systematic review reports from one study a relief comparable to bromocriptine 11. It is open whether the relief persists beyond the first months; after three cycles, the lead over placebo in one study was only borderline 41.

Further studies in this area: 41 42 45 47 50 53 54 61 64 73 75

Chasteberry (Vitex Agnus-Castus) and Fertility: Human Studies

Hypothesis Systematic reviews see preliminary evidence of a benefit in unfulfilled desire to have children 814. The combination preparation FertilityBlend of chaste tree, green tea, L-arginine, vitamins and minerals led to more pregnancies in two placebo-controlled studies 4344. What share chaste tree has in this is open. The homeopathic complex remedy Phyto-Hypophyson L with chaste tree did not increase the birth rate compared with placebo in a randomised study 26. A study with chaste tree alone that measures pregnancy rate as the target is open.

Chasteberry (Vitex Agnus-Castus) and Menopausal Symptoms: Human Studies

In menopausal complaints, a chaste tree extract in a randomised study lowered the total score, anxiety and vasomotor complaints more than placebo 29. Physical complaints, depression and sexual function did not differ 29. A mixture of chaste tree, fennel and carrot seeds improved quality of life and sexual function after menopause more than placebo 21. Chaste tree with soy isoflavones, black cohosh and evening primrose oil relieved hot flushes, sleep problems and depressive mood more than placebo 37. In addition to citalopram, black cumin and chaste tree improved vasomotor, physical and psychosocial complaints more than citalopram with placebo 31. A capsule of black cohosh, soy, potato, chaste tree and burdock lowered night sweats, but not hot flushes 39. St John's wort with chaste tree, by contrast, was not more effective than placebo; both groups improved 20. Larger studies with chaste tree alone are still pending; how much it contributes to the effects of the mixtures is open.

Chasteberry (Vitex Agnus-Castus): Further Outcomes in Studies

In women with polycystic ovary syndrome, standardized chaste tree extract lowered oxidative stress, insulin resistance and LDL compared with placebo and increased HDL 28. A placebo-controlled analysis in PCOS also found lower inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-6) and a reduced anti-Müllerian hormone 34. In women of childbearing age, chaste tree improved the overall score of sexual function more strongly than placebo after four months, but not individual domains 38. After bone fractures, under chaste tree the vascular growth factor VEGF increased only compared with baseline; callus formation did not differ between the groups 27. In PCOS, the Unani combination preparation Picolin made from cinnamon, licorice, flaxseed and chaste tree lowered insulin and prolactin compared with baseline, whereas metformin did not 23. The combination preparation PREMEN-CALM made from γ-aminobutyric acid, rhodiola, chaste tree, vitamin B6 and melatonin improved mood and antioxidant status in PMS only compared with baseline, not compared with placebo 32.

Further studies in this area: 38 40 42 45 47 49 52 53 55 56 58 59 60 61 66 70 71 73

4. How Is Chasteberry (Vitex Agnus-Castus) Dosed? Preparation, Dose and Duration in Studies

Mainly standardised dry extracts from the fruits in capsule or tablet form were studied 161724252830. For cyclic breast pain, a solution with chaste tree extract as drops was also tested 41. As a tea, chaste tree was tested only in a mixture with fennel and horsemint (Mentha longifolia) 35.

5. Is Chasteberry (Vitex Agnus-Castus) Safe? Side Effects in Studies

The studies report mainly mild and temporary adverse events 171113. A systematic review most frequently names nausea, headache, gastrointestinal complaints, cycle disorders, acne, itching and skin rash; interactions were not reported 15. The review advises avoiding chaste tree during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and considers interactions with dopamine antagonists conceivable 15.

6. What Remains Open: Limits of the Evidence

• Many controlled studies are small, and they use different extracts and measurement scales 7.
• The optimal dose and the comparability of different extract forms are open.
• Controlled studies on tea or tincture from chaste tree alone are still pending.
• Whether a benefit persists with longer use is not clarified.

7. Bottom Line: What Is Established About Chasteberry (Vitex Agnus-Castus)

Chaste tree is most frequently studied as a standardised dry extract from the fruits in capsule or tablet form. The best documented is the relief of PMS and cyclic breast pain compared with placebo 12. In menopausal complaints, corpus luteum weakness and polycystic ovary syndrome, individual placebo-controlled studies showed advantages 282930.

Next, larger studies with chaste tree alone are needed, especially on menopause and desire to have children, and longer observation periods.