What is Vitex?

Vitex :A Woman's Herb

Vitex is the common name for the Chaste berry. It has been used for many centuries to treat women with hormonal imbalances. Vitex works on the hypothalamus and pituitary glands. It increases the production of the luteinizing hormone .It also slows the release of the follicle stimulating hormones. This allows for a shift from estrogen to progesterone in the body causing a rise in the progesterone. Vitex is not a hormone .The changes in the progesterone levels are an indirect effect of the Vitex. This herb has been used in treating woman dealing with premenstrual syndrome as well as women that have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). A lot of women with PCOS do not have a period every month and thus do not ovulate. This is caused by a hormonal imbalance .The woman will produce an egg each month but there is not enough progesterone to allow the egg to release. Vitex can be very helpful to these women by allowing the body to produce more of the progesterone needed to cause the egg to be released .If the egg is not released each month it forms a cyst. Women with PCOS also can have a high prolactin level; Vitex can help lower this level as well.