Agnus Castus, 30ml

Agnus castus – officially called Vitex agnus castus – is a shrub that grows in Mediterranean countries and central Asia. It is also known as chaste-berry, as eating the seeds was originally believed to reduce libido.1

The plant has been used for centuries to tackle female gynaecological issues and is still taken as a traditional herbal medicine to help relieve symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), such as irritability, mood swings, headaches, bloating and breast tenderness.2

Agnus castus berries are usually dried out, then made into either a powder (taken as capsules) or a tincture. It can also be used as an essential oil.

It’s not yet fully understood how agnus castus works, but it’s thought it has an impact on hormone-producing areas of the brain, such as the pituitary gland, which then leads to a reduction in prolactin, a hormone that may be involved in PMS.3

Benefits of agnus castus

Agnus castus is most often taken for PMS, but research shows it may also be helpful for other hormonal conditions4 including menopause and female fertility issues:

PMS – a 2012 Iranian study found that agnus castus could offer relief from mild to moderate PMS symptoms, including headaches, depression and bloating,5 while German researchers reported in 2000 that the herb could reduce – and in some cases, entirely stop – PMS symptoms.6

Menopausal symptoms – according to a study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in 2009, there is enough ‘emerging pharmacological evidence’ to recommend agnus castus as a way to manage menopause symptoms, particularly the PMS-like symptoms that occur during the perimenopause.7

An earlier 2003 study concluded that applying agnus castus essential oil to the skin could ease symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, sleep patterns and irregular periods.8

Fertility problems – thanks to its effect on prolactin, agnus castus could improve female fertility, particularly in women who have a shortened second-half of their menstrual cycle.9 Several studies have found that agnus castus can rebalance hormones and lengthen menstrual cycles, regulate periods and even lead to successful pregnancies.10

However, most of the research involved supplements that combined agnus castus with other vitamins or herbs, so further studies are needed to isolate its effects.