Chasteberry is well tolerated; reported adverse effects are minor and may include gastrointestinal complaints, dizziness, and dry mouth. No herb-drug interactions have been reported, but caution is advised for its concomitant use with dopamine agonists or antagonists.
– Am Fam Physician. 2005 Sep 1;72(5):821-4. — Chasteberry. — Roemheld-Hamm B.

Adverse drug reactions were suspected by physicians in 1.2% of patients, but there were no serious adverse drug reactions.


– J Womens Health Gend Based Med 2000 Apr;9(3):315-20 — Treatment of premenstrual syndrome with a phytopharmaceutical formulation containing Vitex agnus castus. — Loch EG, Selle H, Boblitz N.

Our results indicate a dopaminergic effect of Vitex agnus-castus extracts and suggest additional pharmacological actions via opioid receptors.

– Phytomedicine 2000 Oct;7(5):373-81 — Pharmacological activities of Vitex agnus-castus extracts in vitro. — Meier B, Berger D, Hoberg E, Sticher O, Schaffner W.

After three endocrinologically normal cycles while undergoing unstimulated in-vitro fertilization treatment, a woman took a herbal medicine (Vitex agnus castus) at the beginning of a fourth unstimulated IVF treatment cycle. In this fourth cycle, her serum gonadotrophin and ovarian hormone measurements were disordered. One embryo resulted from the three eggs collected but a pregnancy did not ensue. She had symptoms suggestive of mild ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in the luteal phase. Two subsequent cycles were endocrinologically normal. We do not advocate the use of this herbal medicine to promote normal ovarian function.

– Hum Reprod 1994 Aug;9(8):1469-70 — Multiple follicular development associated with herbal medicine. — Cahill DJ, Fox R, Wardle PG, Harlow CR.