{"id":4920,"date":"2021-08-21T14:16:10","date_gmt":"2021-08-21T13:16:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/?post_type=herb&p=4920"},"modified":"2025-10-23T11:31:14","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T10:31:14","slug":"agnus-castus","status":"publish","type":"herb","link":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/herb\/agnus-castus\/","title":{"rendered":"Agnus castus"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"featured_media":4928,"parent":0,"menu_order":-200,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","beyondwords_generate_audio":"1","beyondwords_project_id":"47224","beyondwords_content_id":"3ed3c93b-f878-4c80-aba5-45dc7bbbbe5a","beyondwords_preview_token":"dd4356e1-6bd8-45e3-b76a-8f85a0d3a00e","beyondwords_player_content":"","beyondwords_player_style":"","beyondwords_language_code":"","beyondwords_language_id":"","beyondwords_title_voice_id":"","beyondwords_body_voice_id":"","beyondwords_summary_voice_id":"","beyondwords_error_message":"","beyondwords_disabled":"","beyondwords_delete_content":"","beyondwords_podcast_id":"","beyondwords_hash":"","publish_post_to_speechkit":"","speechkit_hash":"","speechkit_generate_audio":"","speechkit_project_id":"","speechkit_podcast_id":"","speechkit_error_message":"","speechkit_disabled":"","speechkit_access_key":"","speechkit_error":"","speechkit_info":"","speechkit_response":"","speechkit_retries":"","speechkit_status":"","speechkit_updated_at":"","_speechkit_link":"","_speechkit_text":""},"tags":[2015,409],"conditions":[702,693,700],"sustainability":[1576],"sense":[18,16],"western_action":[1012,1809,992,997,1023],"chinese_action":[],"ayurvedic_action":[],"energetics_action":[1498,1487,1497,1492,1380,1377],"region":[1893],"class_list":["post-4920","herb","type-herb","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-chasteberry","tag-womens-health","conditions-stages-of-life","conditions-endocrine-system","conditions-skin","sustainability-green-sustainability-status","sense-bitter","sense-hot","western_action-galactagogue","western_action-amphoteric","western_action-anti-inflammatory","western_action-antispasmodic","western_action-uterine-tonic","energetics_action-bitter","energetics_action-dry","energetics_action-pungent","energetics_action-toning","energetics_action-warm","energetics_action-western","region-western-herbs"],"acf":{"last_reviewed":"20210821","herb_author":null,"banner_text":"Agnus castus or chasteberry is the prime women\u2019s remedy","latin_name":"Vitex agnus-castus<\/em>","pseudonym_name":"","family_name":"Lamiaceae","herb_summary":"This is the favourite women's remedy among herbal practitioners in the European tradition with multiple uses for menstrual and premenopausal problems.","key_benefits":"Premenstrual syndrome\r\nMenstrual disturbances\r\nPerimenopausal symptoms\r\nAcne","how_does_it_feel":"The most striking feature of agnus castus in its habitat is the powerful and very evocative pungent, warm, heavy scent that emanates from the trees in the hot sun, and which is also released when crushing the fruits in your hands. From time immemorial, perhaps in reflection of this quality, it has been claimed by women as their own.\r\n\r\nWhen tasted, agnus castus delivers a powerful kick. First up is a hot peppery taste, followed by a bitter taste that persists for some minutes and a subtle sweetness that is transitory. Next up the peppery turns to a tingle which over some hours turns back to a most persistent pepperiness.\r\n\r\nAgnus castus comes across as a strong sensory agent promising some powerful impacts (and probably accounting for the relatively low doses usually recommended). In the old language it is definitely \u2018drying\u2019, appropriate to damp conditions as characterised by congestive, fluid retentive symptoms.","hdif_image_1":5542,"hdif_image_2":4931,"hdif_image_3":4928,"hdif_video":"","sense":[18,16],"what_can_i_use_it_for":"\"\"This ancient Mediterranean women\u2019s remedy has become familiar in modern times, and is particularly well known in Germany, where it was popularised early in the 20th<\/sup>\u00a0century. Its major reputation is in relieving symptoms of tension occurring either before a period or during the menopause, but it has been used for a whole range of gynaecological conditions, including various menstrual disturbances, disrupted periods, swollen breasts and fluid retention around periods and generally for improving fertility where this is linked to such disruptions.\r\n\r\nSpecifically it appears to reduce high levels of the hormone prolactin which can be associated with a wider range of hormonal disruptions, particularly in women. It has also been used successfully in treating acne for anyone.\r\n\r\nAgnus castus has a relaxing and calming quality. It is called on for women suffering premenstrual and menopausal tensions, and has been used more widely by practitioners as a contribution to a soothing herb blend.","into_the_heart_of":"\"\"There is a consistent association of agnus castus with chastity (as referenced by male authors at least) but it was also a remedy that women considered as their own, with strong associations with motherhood and perhaps even to fend off unwanted male attentions.\r\n\r\nIt is worth reflecting on the notion of a women\u2019s remedy. Since prehistory women have often been the community healers, for themselves in the case of childbirth and child rearing, but often taking on the role more widely. The \u2018wise woman\u2019 is more than a turn of phrase. Women chose the remedies that women needed, and they valued those that worked. From time to time exceptional ones emerge into the wider materia medica across a whole culture: shatavari in India, dong quai in China, and helonias root in North America (unfortunately now a threatened species and no longer recommended). Agnus castus is undoubtedly\u00a0the<\/em>\u00a0women\u2019s remedy of southern Europe.","tradtional_uses":"An association with women\u2019s health has been established in European tradition from Graeco-Roman times. Pliny in the first century AD refers to its use to maintain chastity and claimed it checked violent sexual desire. Perhaps the Roman physician Dioscorides was referring to the same quality when he said the remedy might fend off wolves!\r\n
\r\n
\"Chasteberry<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\nThe mediaeval herbalist Parkinson noted that \u201cit also procureth milke in womens breasts, it procureth their courses<\/em>\u00a0(= menstrual flow)\u00a0and the urine stopped<\/em>\u2026\u201d and \u201d\u00a0the decoction of the herbe and seede is very good for women troubled with the paines of the mother, or inflammations of the parts<\/em>\u201c. In reinforcement of its association also with chastity he also noted that it \u201crefraineth also the instigations to Venery in any manner used and taken<\/em>\u201c.\r\n\r\nIts traditional reputation was always intriguingly paradoxical, a point that modern herbal practitioners often take to point to an amphoteric effect. Thus Parkinson takes Galen to task: \u201calthough so famous a writer and Physician contraryeth himselfe in this one place\u2026, for having affirmed before that the seede hereof is hot and dry\u2026, he saith that the seede of Vitex doth refraine Venerous desires, and giveth little nourishment to the body, and that because it is cooling and drying<\/em>.\u201d He himself concludes that of the two positions the temperament of Vitex is \u201ca meane between them both<\/em>\u201c. As we have noted in our taste test this is an appropriate conclusion for a remedy that is both hot and bitter.\r\n\r\nInterestingly in nineteenth century North America the Eclectics, a leading group of doctors who had revived herbal approaches, did recognise the complexity of this remedy and as well as stabilising menstruation, encouraging lactation and \u2018repressing sexual passions\u2019, applied it also to impotence, sexual melancholia, sexual irritability with nervousness, melancholia or mild dementia. This hints at an amphoteric, tonic effect across a range of hormonal disturbances.\r\n\r\nAnother strong strand in the agnus castus story is its use to encourage lactation. This may be associated with its wider link to motherhood although as we see below the evidence for this effect is not clear.\r\n\r\nEarlier there had been other uses recommended. In Galenic medical texts, as noted above, agnus castus is classified as \u201chot and dry in the third degree\u201d (ie among the strongest of this category) suggesting that it was appropriate for any \u2018cold-damp\u2019 condition. Even earlier, in Hippocratic texts from the 4th<\/sup>\u00a0century BC, as well as its use for \u201cissue of the blood\u201d and \u201chelping the afterbirth come away\u201d, agnus castus was recommended for the treatment of wounds, inflammatory conditions, and swellings of the spleen (=liver disease). The latter is a classic damp-heat problem that is consistent with its bitterness.","what_practioners_say":"\"\"<\/strong>\r\n

Women\u2019s health<\/h3>\r\nAgnus castus is perhaps the western herbal practitioner<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s favorite women<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s remedy. It is used in a wide range of <\/span>menstrual<\/span> and also <\/span>perimenopausal<\/span><\/a> indications, now with increasing focus on conditions of high prolactin levels and progesterone deficiency (cystic hyperplasia of the endometrium is one diagnostic finding here). These include <\/span>premenstrual<\/span><\/a> syndromes (PMS), especially with fluid retention and breast swelling (though probably not so much those marked by hypoglycaemic sweet cravings), and other premenstrually- aggravated symptoms like sleeplessness and mouth ulcers.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nIt may help regulate disturbed <\/span>menstrual<\/span> cycles and periods, including lengthened or shortened cycles, loss of periods (where pregnancy and other medical conditions have been ruled out). Here its effects seem to be greater where the <\/span>menstrual<\/span><\/a> disturbances can be linked to corpus luteum deficiency, ie.. where the post-ovulation timing is affected (learning when ovulation occurs with temperature or mucus testing can be a very useful guide).\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nSome cases of bleeding outside the usual periods (metrorrhagia) may also be helped although this is a symptom that needs further investigations. Other menstruation-linked indications for this herb include <\/span>polycystic ovarian syndrome<\/span><\/a> (PCOS - although alongside other remedies to manage the insulin resistance element of this condition), endometriosis and fibroids (in both cases mostly symptom management). It is noteworthy that stress can itself raise prolactin levels and this can be another reason to use agnus castus (which has in general a calming quality).<\/span>\r\n\r\nInfertility is also a traditional indication for agnus castus. In this case it is most appropriate if there are problems with conception linked to disrupted menstrual cycles, for example affecting ovulation or later implantation. Herbal practitioners often note successful pregnancies among their previously infertile patients linked to the use of this herb.<\/span>\r\n\r\nAs women go through the <\/span>menopause<\/span><\/a> they may find that premenstrual patterns merge into a wider and longer sometimes congestive pattern, as though the PMS is taking over. This is definitely a time to consider agnus castus as part of a wider <\/span>menopause <\/span>support strategy.<\/span>\r\n

Skin<\/h3>\r\nAgnus castus has a more recent use in helping to manage <\/span>acne<\/span><\/a> for anyone with that condition.<\/span>\r\n<\/strong>","research":"\"\"<\/b>\r\n

Endocrine<\/h3>\r\nThe research evidence suggests that agnus castus inhibits the hormone prolactin via dopaminergic activity in the anterior pituitary. A decrease of prolactin will affect the levels of follicle- stimulating hormone (FSH), oestrogen in women and testosterone in men. In terms of the menstrual cycle this has the effect of enhancing corpus luteal development (thereby correcting a relative progesterone deficiency) normalising the menstrual cycle, and encouraging ovulation.(1, 3).<\/span><\/b>\r\n\r\nDespite some methodological limitations, in one systematic review the results from randomised, controlled trials suggest benefits for agnus castus extracts in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome, premenstrual dysphoric disorder and latent hyperprolactinaemia (4). In other reviews, benefits in reducing premenstrual mood disorders (5) and infertility were noted (6).\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\r\n\r\nA meta-analysis and systematic review of the clinical evidence for the treatment of menstrual associated breast pain (cyclic mastalgia) also concluded that benefits were demonstrated (7).<\/span>\r\n\r\nOther reviews have been less sure of the strength of evidence, citing heterogeneity and publication bias (8, 9) and other shortcomings in the publications (10).\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\r\n\r\nAmong the challenges in assessing the data is that menstrual problems like premenstrual syndrome are themselves heterogenous and barely medically defined and measurable. In an early study the authors found no benefits versus placebo in premenstrual mood disorders but found a trend to benefits for water retention symptoms, including breast pain \u2013 see recent review above - for which they were not applying measures. They also noted many more unprompted subject reports of notable benefits among the verum versus placebo group. A conclusion was that standard measures are poor at reflecting a wide range of subjective experiences of menstruation (11).<\/span><\/b>\r\n\r\nThere are doubts also about the evidence for the use of agnus castus as a galactogogue, to encourage lactation. Much of this comes from mid-twentieth century clinical studies conducted in less rigorous ways than would be considered today (12).<\/span><\/b>","did_you_know":"\"\"In classical Greece the tree was called\u00a0agnos<\/em>, meaning holy, pure and chaste. They dedicated it to their mother goddess Demeter. At the festival of Thesmophoria held in her honour, Greek women, who aimed to remain chaste for the occasion, strewed their beds with branches of the tree, and wore garlands of it in the day, so that the aroma might subdue the ardour of any would-be suitor.\r\n\r\nIn Roman times the tree they called\u00a0vitex<\/em>\u00a0was dedicated to the goddess Hera, the protector of motherhood and marriage, who was said to have been born under one. Vestal virgins carried twigs of the tree as a symbol of chastity.\r\n\r\nUp to modern times in Italy agnus castus branches were strewn along the processional way taken by novices entering monasteries, where they would all have had to take a vow of chastity. Another common name is \u2018monk\u2019s pepper\u2019. As well as referring to its peppery taste this was said to support its reputation for suppressing \u201cthe lusts of the flesh\u201d in such institutions.\r\n\r\nThe botanical name for the plant reflects an apparent Greek-Latin translation confusion: the taxonomist may have transliterated\u00a0agnos<\/em>as\u00a0agnus<\/em>\u00a0(meaning lamb) and then added\u00a0castus<\/em>\u00a0(meaning chaste in Latin) to maintain that association, and by accident to create the concept of a chaste lamb (the common German word\u00a0Sch\u00e4ffm\u00fclle and French\u00a0agneau chaste<\/em>\u00a0still reflect this association)!","additional_information_right":{"illustration":6033},"additional_information_left":{"botany":"Agnus castus or chasteberry is the fruit (drupe) of a shrubby plant up to 3 to 5m in height producing large dark green leaves radiating from a long, hairy stalk.\r\n\r\nThe shoots terminate in a slender spike and are composed of whorls of violet flowers. The black spherical berries are lignified ovaries of two carpels each containing one seed, roughly ovoid about three by four millimetres, dark-grey in colour, yielding when crushed a dark powder of characteristic aroma and fragrant, slightly acrid and bitter peppery taste.","common_names":"