Question for those who take Vitex

kristensmom · 03-18-2006, 04:26 AM

Hi Ladies

If I were too try Vitex, does this herb have too be takin with something else for it too work, or can it be takin alone?

TIA

forgot too ask....... What form is better.. Tincture, or Capsules ?

relle · 03-18-2006, 05:17 AM

I started taking vitex 3 weeks ago and today i have started AF!! I haven't had a real AF in 8 months, but had a miscarriage three months ago. I used to take it before i had my little boy and i think it helped me to conceive him! It can take 3-6 months for it to work on some people but on others it works really quickly. i have heard that it is mother nature's answer for clomid and they both work in the same way. It certainly has fine tuned my hormone, as i no longer get the huge mood swings that i was getting. I am also taking EPO for skin and hair, and a vitamin. It's just so amazing what natural therapies can do for you!!! I'm just hoping that i ovulate this month!!
I take the capsule form as i have tried tinctures before and although they are fast acting they taste nasty!!!!

kristensmom · 03-18-2006, 05:47 AM

I am SO DARN CONFUSED.. Ok I was just reading this HUGE thread on another site about Vitex, and it said that it may not be good for us PCOS'ers.... Is this true?

I just have NO IDEA what too think

If this is true, can someone PLEASE explain too me why..

Also just too establish a bit here. I got some recent lab results back.

They did an LH/FSH, and a Prolactin *note*.. These tests were done randomly..Not the normal CYCLE time. If that matters..

My LH is 10.0

FSH is 4.7

Prolactin is 2.0

I am guessing these are normal ranges? The labs do not say they are out of whack..Although I have no idea what these ranges mean... I'm just so confused now...

Thank you So much Relle! Your story at least gives me an ounce of hope!
I really do not want too ask for Clomid..

Can I take Dong Quai and Licorice with Vitex?

oohmercyme · 03-18-2006, 02:24 PM

I took Vitex for about 6 weeks, from mid-January to February and I wish I hadn't. I get AF about every 5-6 weeks ( a vast improvement since being on met) and I had read about many cysters great sucess with Vitex so I thought it might help things get more regular.

I got af three weeks after my last af and again 2 weeks later. The second af was 9 days long (normally 3-4) and I experienced terrible pain, unlike I have in years. In addition, my hair regrowth on my face has increased tremendously.

I stopped taking vitex a few weeks ago and really wish I hadn't started at all. I don't know how long it will take for things to get "back to normal".

A lot of cysters have had great success with Vitex, jsut bear in mind that it doesn't work for everyone and you may regret having taken it.

Good luck in your research!

relle · 03-19-2006, 09:47 AM

Definitely i will will agree with you on that one, that vitex doesn't work for everyone. The last time i took vitex, which was about 18 months ago, i took it for about 3-4 months and only had one af, but spotted off and on a bit. This time around i hope it works as i'm going to stick with it and be persistent for at least 6 months, or until i can get pregnant, which i hope is this month!!

i also have a question totally unrelated, but how does everyone get all those cute little pictures and the mood monitor that is in the left hand column of everyone's posts?

Shell26 · 03-20-2006, 04:51 PM

I've been taking Vitext for about 2 1/2 months and think that I"ve officially decided to stop. I know it takes 3-6 months to kick in. But, for the past 2 weeks I've been VERY cranky, and had lots of uterine pulling and tugging--like PMS stuff. I'm just afraid it's doing more harm than good. Then again I'm afraid to stop it after reading so many positive stories from people who it worked for. I guess mainly, I"m just tired of thinking about it and trying to figure it out-I tend to stress out easily anyways. Good luck to all of you who stick with it though--I hope it works!

BuBu · 03-20-2006, 05:41 PM

Shell26,

Your Vitex symptoms (cramps/pulling), sound like the vitex is working and targeting your ovaries and uterus. If I were you I would wait another 2 weeks or so to see what transpires (af-wise). I too had these cramps and I say that it is a positive sign.

Whatever you choose to do, I wish you luck.

Shell26 · 03-20-2006, 08:03 PM

Oh, wow, really?!? What's your history before the Vitex--if you don't mind me asking. I'm just trying to compare it to me. I was married before and when I stopped the pill-I didn't have af for a year without the provera to induce. I got divorced and since then remarried-so I just stopped taking the pill 5 weeks ago. But, have been on Vitex for 10 weeks. Ok, so maybe I'll take it a while longer. UGH! I just wish I didn't have to think about all of this crap!

BuBu · 03-20-2006, 09:14 PM

Shell26,

Here is my history:
I went off the birth control pill (Diane-35) in August 2004 at the age of 30 and after being on it for 5 years (I developed awful side-effects, but didn't think the pill was the culprit after so many side-effect free years). By January 2005, I still hadn't got my period back and was suffering from severe hormonal ups and downs, anger/rage, PMS like symptoms only 10x worse - definately did not feel like myself. I have always been treated for my PCOS by traditional doctors (for 10 years, since my diagnosis). After all the horrible side-effects of Diane-35, I felt like I was finished with all their prescriptions and easy fixes. So, I sought out answers on this website and others like it for alternative therapies. I was overwhelmed at the prospect of a whole new approach to treating my disease, so my next step was to find an expert that could fine tune a plan for my specific needs and issues. This is where my naturopath came in.

She started me on this is the brand of Vitex and it is fabulous :
http://www.metagenics.com/products/c...ail.asp?pid=90 It is a blend of vitex, ashwaganda, and black cohosh.
She also has told me that since vitex is a gentle, slow working herb, to take it everyday as she feels that it is important to send my body a clear messages about having monthly cycle (before AF was very irregular- more so being off the pill). This means that I don't stop after ovulation, I take it straight through my cycle. She also said not to worry if I were to get pregnant (were aren't actively trying - but not preventing either). Vitex is not an abortagenic or going to cause harm if it is taken for a few days before pregnacy is detected. Alternatively, you would want to stop as soon as pregnancy is detected.
I started on Vitex in February of 2005, it took about 3 months for my period to return in May, but I noticed changes in my mood swings (or lack there of) about 2 weeks after starting. I also started to feel my ovaries and had random cramps/twinges on and off a few weeks before I got af (about 2 1/2 months after starting vitex).
It has now been just over 1 year since started on vitex. The only months I skipped af (I skipped 3 months between May2005 - February 2006) and that was due to stress (moving, family death and illness). Vitex certainly has been my wonder herb. I hope it is yours too. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

Shell26 · 03-20-2006, 10:24 PM

Sold! I didn't take it this morning, but headed back upstairs to take my dose today. Thanks for the info! I know everybody is different and herbs work differently in everybody, but I had planned on taking it for 6 months and if nothing happened then go from there. I guess I was just in "give up" mode this weekend. I'll let ya know when/if something good happens. thanks again!

Br@ndy · 03-21-2006, 03:00 AM

I take vitex, dong quai and epo for the first part of my cycle and then vitex, dong quai, and black cohosh for the second half. You should check out the book the infertility cure. Very helpful!

BuBu · 03-21-2006, 06:22 PM

Shell26,

I'm glad I could be of some encouragement. Definately keep us posted on how things are going.