Has anyone tried Vitex/Chaste tree to help with symptoms? If so, did you find it helpful? What were your side effects?

I used this for hot flashes when I thought my only symptom was hot flashes and it worked for these.

(Unfortunately, I also had temper symptoms, but I didn't know it. I thought that was just me, alas. This herb did not help there. Had I realized my moods were actually symptoms not just stress-related, I would have dug deeper for other natural help. In the end, though, my symptoms went completely overboard and I had no choice but go on ERT.)

I tried using Oona once and it made me all itchy. I found out later it has chaste tree berry in it and that some people are allergic to it. Guess I'm one of them. I wasn't on it long enough to know if it would have done any good though!

Sorry for the delay. I hope you're still checking this forum for answers to your question. I haven't been out here for awhile.

Yes!!! I have been taking Vitex/Chaste Tree for about a year. I have seen a phenomenal difference. It took a few weeks to notice and then it was BOOM! It happened. I felt more like myself again. I have relied on the Vitex and the progesterone cream the most. I'm still having regular periods (something that mystified my RE last time I visited - he was SURE I was thisclose to stopping..lol) and the thing Vitex has done is make PMS almost nonexistent. I never have any of the signs that its coming until it appears. The thing I noticed initially when I started taking Vitex was that I started to lose some of my peri-belly. Not dramatically but a definite difference. I have told everyone about Vitex. I have one friend who has been taking it for about 6 months and she has noticed fewer and fewer symptoms of PMS as well. For her it was no breast tenderness and when her period came it surprised her as it did me. Another positive side effect was that it also helped my acne. In addition to Vitex I take other vitamins and discovered that Vitex is recommended for acne along with Fish Oil and zinc. The downside to Vitex is that it is also recommended for women with infertility problems, so be very careful if you use it. It makes birth control pills worthless because it forces...or increases the likelyhood that....you will ovulate whereas BCP suppress ovulation.

Vitex helped me immensely. However I found best results after getting some advice from an online retailer (http://thefertilityshop.com), that the most effective format was in liquid tincture drops. Your body absorbs it faster and more efficiently than in capsule format.

They had a hot flash version as well, but vitex alone, seemed to do the trick for me.

Curlyjulie,

I am wondering what brand of Vitex you take and how much, I am confused regarding this as I have read that 400mg a day is enough for PMS however the bottle of Vitex I bought (solarway) 400mg says to take 4 to 6 caps per day.

Hi ladies,
I was thinking about trying this as I heard that it helps to balance hormones & as my peri symptoms are worse when my periods are irregular so I wondered if it would help just by balancing hormones. If it has helped you could you please let me know which symptoms it helped?
Thanks!
Sarah x

hi ladies ....

yes, i was reading about vitex recently ... ok, it was listed on a site to help excessive bleeding, which happened to me this period ... naturally I freaked out, but it has evened out now .... however, I was seriously thinking about taking it...what symptoms did it help with? has anyone used it to stop excessive bleeding? does it make you feel "weird" or "different", or just better?
I also have trouble with the "peri belly", so I'd love something to help wiht that too.

thanks for responding! Sincerely, MyDarling

Back when I was still in perimenopause I tried it to regulate my periods with vitex. I would have to say it was the single worst experience I have ever had with an herb! I had a period where I swear I gave birth to a huge clot..ack gross...I was actually instinctively leaning back on the couch and panting like I was in labor, I was in labor! It was awful. My breasts were swollen, my face broke out..who knows, maybe I'm the oddball...but I never had clotty periods and this was very very unusual...I think it is extremely powerful so be careful!

I have been on vitex/black cohosh (Oona1) for about a month. I still haven't gotten a period. I'm into second month without one, but I'm hoping the Oona will kick in by next month. Most of what I read on the Vitex/Cohosh and most herbs is that it takes a few months to notice if it helps. But, I have to say, my moods are a bit better since being on this. But it may not be the herbs b/c my moods fluctuate a lot. If by the third month I'm on this stuff my moods seem to be the same I'll know its helping.

I'm 47 with one ovary and I think I'm rapidly approaching the end because my symptoms have grown worse as the months have passed. My mother had hyster at age 40 so not sure when she would've gone through this. My sisters are 1 and 2 years older and the oldest said she has no symptoms and is as regular as clockwork. Go figure. But they have all their parts. Since I lost the ovary I have declined slowly and steadily. First the libido went, then the PMDD came, then constant back aches, now I have all those still and the chills, and insomnia at times. Moods much worse and wild.

Hoping the vitex will help.