Vitex (Vitex agnus-castus) is a plant used in herbal medicine. Also known as chaste tree or chasteberry, it’s often taken as a remedy for women’s health problems. Vitex supplements typically contain extracts of the fruit and/or seed of the plant.
Vitex may influence hormone levels in a number of ways. For example, it’s said to promote the release of luteinizing hormone and, in turn, increase levels of progesterone (a hormone known to play a key role in regulating the menstrual cycle). Vitex is also thought to affect levels of prolactin, which is involved in stimulating breast development and milk production in women.
