Should i take vitex while on my period

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Related Articles. Menopause Supplements for Managing Symptoms. What Exactly Is Progesterone? In two preliminary trials, infants have been shown to nurse longer when their mothers ate garlic than when their mothers took placebos. However, some infants may develop colic if they consume garlic in breast milk. Clinical reports from Germany have suggested that vitex may help relieve different menstrual abnormalities associated with premenstrual syndrome, including dysmenorrhea.

These studies used 40 drops of a liquid preparation that delivers the equivalent of 40 mg of the dried berries of the plant. Vitex is recommended either alone or in combination with other herbs, such as dandelion root , prickly ash , and motherwort , by some doctors to treat the symptoms of endometriosis. Although vitex affects hormones that in turn affect the severity of endometriosis, and it may be effective for premenstrual syndrome , no research has tested the effect of vitex supplementation on women with endometriosis.

Similarly, no other botanical medicines have been scientifically researched for treating this disease. Among women taking vitex , menorrhagia has reportedly improved after taking the herb for several months.

With its emphasis on long-term balancing of a woman's hormonal system, vitex is not a fast-acting herb. For frequent or heavy periods, vitex can be used continuously for six to nine months.

Forty drops of the concentrated liquid herbal extract of vitex can be added to a glass of water and drunk in the morning. Vitex is also available in powdered form in tablets and capsules. Thirty-five to forty milligrams may be taken in the morning. Numerous herbs, known as galactagogues, are used in traditional herbal medicine systems around the world to promote production of breast milk. These are known as galactagogues.

Vitex is one of the best recognized herbs in Europe for promoting lactation. An older German clinical trial found that 15 drops of a vitex tincture three times per day could increase the amount of milk produced by mothers with or without pregnancy complications, as compared with mothers given vitamin B1 or nothing.

However, vitex should not be taken during pregnancy. Hippocrates, Dioscorides, and Theophrastus mention the use of vitex for a wide variety of conditions, including hemorrhage following childbirth and assisting with the "passing of afterbirth. In addition, vitex was believed to suppress libido and inspire chastity, which explains one of its common names, chaste tree.

Vitex contains several different constituents, including flavonoids, iridoid glycosides, and terpenoids. The whole fruit extract, rather than one of its individual constituents, appears to be necessary for the medicinal activity of vitex. The benefits of vitex stem from its actions upon the pituitary gland—specifically on the production of a hormone called luteinizing hormone LH. This indirectly increases progesterone production and helps regulate the menstrual cycle.

Vitex also keeps prolactin secretion in check. A controlled clinical trial found that women taking 20 mg per day of a concentrated vitex extract for three menstrual cycles had a significant reduction in symptoms of PMS, including irritability, mood swings, headache, and breast tenderness. A review of other trials and case reports suggests there is at least preliminary support that vitex should be considered for women with irregular periods, infertility, and mildly elevated prolactin levels.

Caution: Agnus castus should not be taken during pregnancy. The German Commission E monograph recommends a daily intake—30—40 mg of the dried herb—in capsules or in liquid preparations. With its emphasis on long-term balancing of a woman's hormonal system, vitex is not a fast-acting herb and is unlikely to give immediate relief to the discomfort associated with PMS.

For premenstrual syndrome , frequent or heavy periods, vitex can be used continuously for four to six months.

Infertile women with amenorrhea lack of menstruation can remain on vitex for 12 to 18 months, unless pregnancy occurs during treatment. Side effects may include minor stomach upset and a mild skin rash with itching. Vitex is not recommended for use during pregnancy and should not be used concurrently with hormone therapy e. Agnus castus extracts inhibit prolactin secretion of rat pituitary cells.

Horm Metab Res ; The use of Vitex agnus castus for hyperprolactinemia. Quart Rev Nat Med ;Spring Schellenberg R. Treatment for the premenstrual syndrome with agnus castus fruit extract: prospective, randomized, placebo controlled study. BMJ ; Treatment of premenstrual tension syndrome with Vitex agnus-castus. Controlled, double-blind study versus pyridoxine. Phytomedicine ; Premenstrual syndrome: Treatment with a phytopharmaceutical. Treatment of premenstrual syndrome with a phytopharmaceutical formulation containing Vitex agnus castus.

Treatment of cyclical mastalgia with a solution containing Vitex agnus extract: results of a placebo-controlled double-blind study. The Breast ; Bone K. Vitex agnus-castus: Scientific studies and clinical applications. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that affects many bodily processes, including alertness 22 and hormone release Agnus-castus binds to dopamine receptors in the hypothalamus and pituitary gland 1.

This can lead to a decrease in the release of the hormone prolactin 9—11 , among other hormones. Prolactin is the primary hormone responsible for promoting lactation, or the creation of milk in pregnant and postpartum people Your body releases this hormone during the luteal phase in order to prepare your body for pregnancy if one should occur during your cycle 2.

Prolactin release is one of the reasons people may experience enlarged, swollen or tender breasts approaching menstruation 2. When prolactin levels are especially high, a person may be diagnosed with hyperprolactinaemia 5. Hyperprolactinaemia is associated with decreased progesterone, another important reproductive hormone. Some people may experience infertility due to decreased progesterone because progesterone is important for fetal development 2.

When agnus-castus stimulates dopamine receptors, this, theoretically, decreases the amount of prolactin produced, leading to a decrease in premenstrual syndromes and possible changes to progesterone levels 9— These changes to progesterone levels may also affect the length of the luteal phase and affect cycle irregularity Because of this dopaminergic effect, people using dopamine antagonists, or drugs that are meant to reduce dopamine stimulation, should talk to a healthcare provider before using agnus-castus to make sure there are no interactions.

If you decide to try agnus-castus extract in some form, you can use Clue to track if and how agnus-castus affects your menstrual-cycle experience. Download Clue to track both positive and negative changes throughout your menstrual cycle. Are vaginal fluids really all that different? In this article, we explain how to identify vaginal discharge, arousal fluid, and cervical fluid.

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