Herbal Fact Sheet; Chasteberry

Background

• Chasteberry is the fruit of the chaste tree, which is native to Central Asia and the Mediterranean region.
• The plant was believed to promote chastity (hence its name). Monks in the Middle Ages reportedly used it to decrease sexual desire.
• Chasteberry was also used for reproductive disorders.
• Today, chasteberry is used as a dietary supplement for menstrual problems, menopause symptoms, infertility, and other conditions.
• Chasteberry is available as a liquid extract, capsules, tablets, and an essential oil.

How Much Do We Know?

• There’s not a lot of strong research on the effectiveness of chasteberry for any condition. We do have some clear safety information on the herb.

What Have We Learned?

• A few preliminary studies found that chasteberry may improve some symptoms of premenstrual syndrome but the evidence isn’t firm.
• Researchers have studied chasteberry for breast pain and infertility, but there isn’t enough reliable scientific evidence to know if it helps.
• There’s no evidence that chasteberry helps with menopausal symptoms.

What Do We Know About Safety?

• When used in limited amounts, chasteberry appears to be generally well tolerated. Few side effects have been reported.
• Women on birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy, or who have a hormone-sensitive condition (such as breast cancer) should not use chasteberry.
• People taking dopamine-related medications, such as certain antipsychotic drugs and Parkinson’s disease medications should avoid using chasteberry.

Keep in Mind

• Tell all your health care providers about any complementary or integrative health approaches you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.