Vitex: this herbal remedy may repel a wide range of everyday nuisances, from menstrual cramps to insects

AKA: Vitex agnus castus, chaste berry, vitex, monk's pepper

PART USED: Ripe dried berries from the chaste tree

WHAT IT DOES BEST: May help to relieve premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms such as water retention, breast swelling and tenderness, acne and irritability.

THE BACKGROUND: Vitex has been used as an herbal remedy for over 2,000 years for a wide range of conditions including menstrual cramps, irregular periods, fevers, constipation, flatulence and hangovers, according to Germany's Commission E, the committee that evaluates the safety and efficacy of herbal preparations sold in that country.

RECENT FINDINGS:

* A vitex-based spray kept ticks, mosquitoes, biting flies and fleas away from humans and animals for at least 6 hours, according to a report in the March 2005 issue of Parasitological Research.

* Essential oil of vitex eased common menopausal symptoms in a clinical trial of 52 women, according to a report in the August 2003 issue of Complementary Therapies in Nursing and Midwifery.

WHAT'S THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT? Most published research uses standardized preparations, which are tested for potency based on their content of agnuside, the active component. But vitex has several beneficial constituents, so many practitioners recommend a good quality extract rather than one that's standardized just for agnuside. Still, in reviewing the recent research, there's much to be said about agnuside. For this reason, some companies provide a combo of standardized vitex with a non-standardized extract.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS: Side effects are mild and reversible, according to a 2005 report in the journal Drug Safety. These include nausea, headaches and skin rashes.

IS IT SAFE TO TAKE WHILE PREGNANT? Don't take vitex when pregnant or lactating.

WHICH TYPE AND HOW MUCH? Vitex is available as a standardized extract in dry (capsules) and liquid (drops) form, in concentrations of 0.5% agnuside. It's also available in blends combining standardized extract with powdered or liquid chaste tree berries. According to manufacturers, the blends are more likely to provide a full range of active constituents. Some vitex formulas are fortified with nutrients such as vitamin B6 or herbs that are thought to relieve PMS.

* As a liquid, take 40 drops once in the morning.

* As a dry extract, take one to two 225-400mg capsules daily, or as directed.

NATURE'S APOTHECARY CHASTE BERRY VITEX can be taken directly orally, or mixed with water, juice or tea.

HERB PHARM CHASTE TREE tincture is crafted from native habitats in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco.

ENZYMATIC THERAPY CHASTE BERRY EXTRACT vegetarian capsules have no sugar or dairy.

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