Sorry this is coming a bit late - it got lost in vacumn-land.....
Dear Norma -

Taking chasteberry or Vitex for 2 weeks is not likely to do anything for this
woman's PMS - German gynecologists have reported that in trials involving
totals of over several thousand women, it takes most women 1-3 months of daily
use of this herb to see improvement in PMS symptoms ( response before 1 month
rare), although efficacy after 3 months very high ( 78-90s% improvement). In
non-lactating women, Vitex increases LH, slightly decreases FSH and indirectly
increases progesterone as the increased LH release sustains normal corpus
luteum development in each menstrual cycle.

Recent in vitro and in vivo rat studies exist showing Vitex to be a D2
dopamine agonist/anti-prolactin agent, working at the hypthalamar-pituitary
axis level.  Vitex does lower hyperprolactinemic states in non-lactating
women.  For lactating women, there is no information.

Being a dopamine agonist may explain an apparent anti-lactation effect seen in
a study of lactating rats in early postpartum period (pups with lack of milk-
spots, increased mortality due to starvation?- this was researcher's
suggestion, as Vitex not particularily toxic -see below ).

 Not at all clear what impact chasteberry will have on lactation at 15 months.
The German company that carried out the 1950's lactation studies reported
anecdotally, that women who continued to take Vitex post partum beyond 2-3
weeks saw an "early" return to menses ( early was not defined).   That study
did not report on whether these women continued to breastfeed.  This woman
apparently already  mentruating, so for her, this wouldn't be an issue.

The reputed galactogogue effect has not been scientifically established in
humans, as old studies seem very very bad.  Have heard that German midwives
consider chasteberry to decrease milk supply - anyone have details here?
Things get even more murky predicting effect on lactation, if any, at 15
months.

Dose information - is this liquid or concentrated extract form?   One company
(in common use in Germany ) provides  175 mg. dried Vitex 1:5 alcoholic
extract/capsule, 1 capsule/day dose.  Liquid form: 100 g of solution
containing 9 g. tincture(1:5) of fruits.  40 drops/day; sometimes divided, 15
drops TID, given after meals, rarely 20 drops/TID.

Side effects: indicates nausea, allergic rash, diarrhea, GI upset, weight gain
and headache to occur rarely ( < 3%).  Serious side effects not observed.
Toxicity: female rats given doses at 1400-fold human doses showed no toxicity
after 5 weeks).


Sheila Humphrey
BSc(Botany)  RN  IBCLC
[log in to unmask]
PS if anyone can tell me about milk-spots are on rats, would truly appreciate
it!
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Norma had posted:  "A mother is considering taking chasteberry, 200mg daily,
for two weeks, to help her
pms symtoms. Does anyone know how it would affect her milk or the nursling?
Her
baby is now 15 months old, weighs 32lbs, and nurses 2 or 3 times during a 24
hr
period."
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