What signs indicate that your Vitex is working? (3+ common signs)

This blog post will answer the question, “What signs indicate that your Vitex is working?”. Vitex is a natural herb which can be used for the treatment of menstrual problems. This blog will cover what signs indicate the efficiency of this herb. 

What signs indicate that your Vitex is working?

The signs which indicate that your Vitex is working include:

• You find relief in symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) 
• Your menstrual cycle becomes regular
• Your breasts seem less bulky, painful or swollen
• Your hormonal levels are more balanced 

You find relief in symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) 

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a well known condition that starts a few days before your menstrual cycle begins. It’s a common condition for almost all of the women, but it can affect some women much more than the others. 

Some women not only suffer from mood disturbances including anger, frustration, anxiety or depression etc, but also suffer from menstrual cramps so bad that they can’t even breathe. 

Some of these women have been using vitex for a while now as the herb seems to tone down these symptoms and makes your journey a bit bearable. 

If you have been taking it and you notice less intense physical and mental symptoms before your menstrual cycle begins, it indicates that vitex is working well for you. 

Your menstrual cycle becomes regular

Vitex is known to balance the disturbed hormones and can help regulate your periods. The entire menstrual cycle is hormone mediated. The rise and fall in the levels of different hormones determine when the menstrual cycle should begin and when you should stop bleeding. 

When these hormones are disturbed or imbalanced for some reason, your entire menstrual cycle is disrupted. Some women experience delayed periods while some don’t bleed at all. 

If you suffer from any such condition and you’ve been taking vitex for it, the normal menstrual cycle or your cycle better than before can indicate that vitex is making positive changes in your system. 

Your breasts seem less bulky, painful or swollen

As we have just discussed hormonal imbalance and how vitex can help manage the levels of such hormones, it can also help with the soreness and swelling of your breasts. It also occurs due to hormonal disturbance, particularly prolactin. 

This hormone plays an important role in the release of milk during breastfeeding. When there is an excess amount of prolactin in your body, it enlarges the size of your breasts, making them bulky, swollen and painful. Vitex decreases the levels of prolactin and helps provide some relief. 

Your hormonal levels are more balanced 

If you’ve been taking Vitex because of an overall disturbance in the amounts of different female hormones in your body and your hormonal assay comes more balanced than the previous one, it indicates that vitex is working for you. 

Although it is a herb and herbal medicines are considered safer in terms of side effects, it is still recommended to ask for your doctor’s advice before starting to use this medication. 

It may interact with any other prescription medication that you might be taking or it may interact with any underlying health condition present in your body. It is impossible to predict how your body will react once it is exposed to this herbal med. 

What important things should you know about Vitex? 

Vitex is a big-sized shrub, or more like a tree which is commonly found in Asia. It is known for several different names including chaste berry, chaste tree or monk pepper. This herb has been used for decades by people, especially women.

It can be used to balance hormonal levels in females which can be associated with menstrual abnormalities. Earlier, it was also used by people, especially monks, in order to tone down their secual desires and they believed the herb helped them from committing any sin. 

Vitex can be used in several different ways, some of which include:

• Tincture: It can be prepared by soaking vitex in alcohol for a while until all the beneficial components are dissolved in the solvent. 
• Extract: An extract can be prepared by soaking vitex in water, vinegar, glycerine or any other suitable solvent in which the herb can easily release its active ingredients.
• Tablet or capsule form: Vitex can either be dried down and is grinded into powder form which can later be compressed into a tablet, or the powder can be filled in a hard gelatin casing in order to make a capsule. 
• Tea: Vitex can also be grinded or dried and can be prepared in the form of teabags. 
• Powder: It can also be used as a powder that can be added to your foods or drinks. 

What are the benefits of taking Vitex? 

Vitex, as it is a plant material, contains a lot of different components like glycosides, volatile oils, essential oils or flavonoids. These are actually responsible for possessing the said medicinal properties of Vitex. 

Experts believe that Vitex can increase the levels of dopamine in the brain in order to decrease the production of prolactin. Vitex can:

• Decrease the level of estrogen and prolactin
• Reduce the swelling and pain in breasts
• Regulate your periods 
• Control excessive sexual desire 
• Help relieve the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome 

Make sure you ask your healthcare provider before using this herb, especially if you’re on any other prescription medication. Drug interactions should be an important consideration before taking two or more medicines together. 

Yes, drugs in combination are often used to achieve better therapeutic response but this is not the case with every interaction. Some drugs are highly incompatible with one another. 

They often cancel out each other’s effects or antagonise them. Some drugs are so incompatible that they end up changing the entire chemical composition of one another. 

Some interfere with metabolism or bioavailability (the rate and extent at which the active drug moiety enters systemic circulation/blood). This can lead to drug accumulation in different parts of the body. 

It is always advised to inform your healthcare provider of any medicine you take before getting a new prescription. Your doctor will make sure not to prescribe any such drug which might interfere with those you are already taking. 

What are the side effects associated with the use of Vitex? 

Vitex may not cause side effects in some women, whereas it may cause some mild ones in other women. It totally depends on how your body reacts to the presence of this herbal medicine. Common side effects include:

• Abdominal pain
• Gastrointestinal disturbances 
• Nausea with or without vomiting 
• Skin allergy or rash
• Headache 
• Heavy and prolonged menstrual bleeding 

When should vitex not be used? 

Vitex, although it is a safe herb, should not be used by every other individual. Some people who are living with some underlying health conditions should not take this herb or it might exacerbate the symptoms associated with their disease. Some of these conditions, which are contraindicated with the use of Vitex, include:

Parkinson’s disease 

Vitex should not be used in people who are suffering from Parkinson’s disease. As we have already discussed, vitex can increase the levels of dopamine in your brain. This increased amount of dopamine can make your Parkinson’s medications ineffective and this will result in therapeutic failure. 

Hormonal cancers

Some cancer cells rely on the amount of certain hormones in our body and vitex may disturb the levels of these hormones. This can lead to cancer progression and can make the condition of the patient much worse. 

Breastfeeding 

Mothers who are breastfeeding should not use this herb because of its effects on the levels of prolactin. This hormone plays a huge role in the release of milk to help feed the newborn. Vitex can significantly lower down the level of prolactin which can reduce the amount of milk released from the breasts. 

Pregnancy

Pregnant women should not take vitex because of its ability to alter the levels of certain hormones in a woman’s body. Hormones play a major role in maintaining pregnancy. 

Hormonal disturbance can be extremely dangerous for the growing fetus and it can result in a miscarriage. Make sure you do not use vitex if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. 

Oral Contraceptives 

Vitex should also not be used by women who are on oral contraceptives or birth control pills. This is because the herb can make these drugs ineffective because it increases the levels of progesterone and you may get pregnant. 

Conclusion 

In this blog post, we have discussed the signs that indicate the efficiency of Vitex. Vitex is a tree which is commonly found in Asia. It can be used to balance hormonal levels in females which can be associated with menstrual abnormalities. 

Earlier, it was also used by people, especially monks, in order to tone down their secual desires. Make sure you don’t use this herb if you have any health condition that we have discussed. 

FAQs: signs vitex is working 

How long does it take for vitex to work?

The time taken by Vitex to work can vary from person to person. Some women have experienced positive changes just after a month or two. However, vitex is a herb and it can take upto 6 months to produce noticeable changes in some individuals. 

What happens when you take vitex?

Vitex, as it is a plant material, contains a lot of different components like glycosides, volatile oils, essential oils or flavonoids. These are actually responsible for possessing the said medicinal properties of Vitex. Experts believe that Vitex can increase the levels of dopamine in the brain in order to decrease the production of prolactin. Vitex can:

• Decrease the level of estrogen and prolactin
• Reduce the swelling and pain in breasts
• Regulate your periods 
• Control excessive sexual desire 
• Help relieve the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome 

Will vitex delay my period?

Vitex is known to balance the disturbed hormones and can help regulate your periods. The entire menstrual cycle is hormone mediated. The rise and fall in the levels of different hormones determine when the menstrual cycle should begin and when you should stop bleeding. 

When these hormones are disturbed or imbalanced for some reason, your entire menstrual cycle is disrupted. Some women experience delayed periods while some don’t bleed at all. 

Does Vitex cause any side effects? 

Vitex may not cause side effects in some women, whereas it may cause some mild ones in other women. It totally depends on how your body reacts to the presence of this herbal medicine. Common side effects include:

• Abdominal pain
• Gastrointestinal disturbances 
• Nausea with or without vomiting 
• Skin allergy or rash
• Headache 
• Heavy and prolonged menstrual bleeding 

Can a pregnant woman use vitex? 

Pregnant women should not take vitex because of its ability to alter the levels of certain hormones in a woman’s body. Hormones play a major role in maintaining pregnancy. Hormonal disturbance can be extremely dangerous for the growing fetus and it can result in a miscarriage. Make sure you do not use vitex if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. 

References 

• What to Know About Vitex https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/what-to-know-about-vitex
• Claudia Daniele et al. Drug Saf. (2005) – Vitex agnus castus: a systematic review of adverse events https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15783241/
• Vitex https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/vitex