Chaste tree

Vitex agnus-castus, family Lamiaceae. Part discussed: Fruit.

Identity

Common name: Chaste tree
Botanical name: Vitex agnus-castus
Family: Lamiaceae
Part or material: Fruit
Classification: Botanical
Educational category: Women's Wellness

About

Vitex agnus-castus L. EMA scope is fruit only; NCCIH notes marketplace extracts may also be prepared from leaves, stems, flowers and seeds. Family placement differs by source era, current Lamiaceae and historical Verbenaceae, recorded as a nomenclature note.

Forms and distinctions

Different preparations of the same material are described separately, because what is recorded for one form does not carry to another.

Fruit preparations, dried and powdered or as dry extracts. Regulator conclusions limit use to adult women.

Safety considerations

Generally well tolerated short term with mild side effects including nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, headache and itching; supplementation may not be safe for women with hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast, uterine or ovarian cancer; use during pregnancy or breastfeeding may be unsafe.

References

The authorities this entry draws on, named so you can weigh them yourself.

EMA HMPC Agni casti fructus · European Medicines Agency, herbal medicine monograph
NCCIH "Chasteberry: Usefulness and Safety · US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health

This entry is educational. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not a statement about any Pam Oh Herbs Collection or its contents. It carries no dosage and no claim of effect.