I read about the role of vitex-agnus castus in alleniating PMS and meno syndrome in the recomendation section of this wonderful site.I bought some and tried for three months.All went well but I noticed my cycle, which has begun to go crazy ,normalized to regular 24 days. I also noticed that I now have pre period acne,ovulation pain and all symptoms of meno actually subsided-no insomnia,headache,palps, etc.
Going by the instruction on the label,I cut down from 2 x400mg daily to 1x400mg after 12 weeks.

However,two weeks into the change,I had a period that lasted 16 days.After that I stopped the vitex completely and did not have a period for 60 days! All the nasty symptoms are also back with a vengeance!!!
My questions:
Has anyone of us had any experience using vitex?
Is Vitex a hormone- If so which one of them?
I truly enjoyed the first 12 weeks on vitex but I am afraid it will put back the hands of the clock in my journey through meno-I would like to go through naturally and if vitex tampers with the process then I think it will be unsafe to continue as it might well be another form of HRT??

Hi there!
I started on natural progesterone cream in September and was feeling pretty good. My doctor/naturopath changed me over to Vitex and I felt that I was taking a step backwards. My saliva test results haven't come back yet but I'm back on progesterone cream and am starting to feel better again. It's confusing isn't it? I have two friends on Vitex to assist with PMS which they find helpful but neither of them are in peri. I don't believe that Vitex is a form of HRT. Is the Vitex you're taking blended with other herbs? Do you have a naturopath who might be able to guide you?
Let me know how you're getting on.
Hugs
Gabby

Hi. I've been using Vitex as a tincture since late October. Haven't noticed too much of a difference, but was also put on a lower dosage. It certainly hasn't made things worse, but again, not as much relief as I had hoped, and not sure how much longer I'll stay on it.

I was told Vitex is an herb that affects the hormones by the pituitary rather than the ovaries. And, just helps to balance and not actually change the levels.

On a side note... with any medication or things medicinal, because of some prior bad experiences, no matter what I'm taking, I always step down (which it sounds like you tried to do). I never know how my system is going to react anymore!! But that's probably easier in this case with liquid than capsules (I hope!).

Hope you feel better. Happy Holidays.

When I researched taking Vitex last year, I ran into a forum somewhere on the web where a lot of women post their negative experiences while taking it. I looked for the same site recently but wasn't able to find it. If I come across it, I will email you the link.

vitex is an herbal supplement not a hormone.
I took it for quite a while but had no results at all and gave up.

I tried Vitex about 3 years ago when the insomnia, headaches, aches and pains, got real bad. My periods at the time were pretty normal. After about 3 months of taking it I noticed my headaches were gone (not just better, but gone...) but I also noticed my periods were heavier and would last an extra day or two. I used to give classes on herbs a while back and what I read about Vitex is that it evens your hormones out (if you have high estrogen it will lessen it, high progesterone it will do the same) I took it for about a year but then stopped (just got tired of the heavy periods.) However it really got rid of my migraines. To this day I did not get them back. Now that I am more into perimenopause my periods have gotten heavy on their own.....so no more Vitex for me. But I will be eternally grateful for the migraine relief which was a life saver for me.