Angus Castus

Agnus-castus) – also called Chaste Tree or Chaste berry – Has a long history of use in
herbal medicine, and is primarily used today to alleviate premenstrual syndrome symptoms. Angus
castus is known as nature’s hormonal balancer. While it doesn’t appear to contain any active
hormones it acts via its effect on the pituitary gland (and specifically on the production of
luteinizing hormone, or LH). Angus Castus also keeps prolactin secretion in check and improves
both estrogen and progesterone levels. It promotes ovulation by boosting dopamine and lowering
prolactin.

How Angus Castus is used to Regulate hormone

Typical dosing is 20-40 mg/day,

Dos

• Do use for PMS: Thanks to its prolactin-lowering and calming effects on the nervous system, Angus Castus can relieve premenstrual symptoms such as irritability, fluid retention, and breast pain. It has performed well in several clinical trials for PMS and PMDD. It can also help with perimenopausal mood symptoms.
• Do take in the morning: It works best in the morning because that’s when the pituitary is most responsive to Angus Castus prolactin-lowering effect.
• Do consider for irregular periods, but use caution with PCOS: Angus castus can promote ovulation and menstruation but does not work for everyone and usually does not work for PCOS. In fact, if you have high LH as part of your PCOS diagnosis, by raising luteinizing hormone (LH), It can, in some cases, worsen PCOS. At the same time, Angus Castus can relieve the androgen excess caused by high prolactin. Great article to read by Dr Lara Briden 4 causes of androgen excess in women.
• When trying Angus Castus for hypothalamic amenorrhea, it is essential to also increase food intake to at least 2500 calories per day. Read Are you eating enough to get a period?
• Do take in the follicular phase: Because it works by promoting ovulation,Angus Castus should be started early in the follicular phase and then continued until day 1 of the period.
• Do take a break every month: Taking regular breaks from Angus Castus can prevent attenuation of its effects. If you have regular periods, take five days off from the first day of your period (day 1 to 5). If you don’t have regular periods, take it for 25 days, then stop for five days, then repeat until a regular cycle is established.
• Seek advice from a health practitioner

Don’ts

• Don’t start too soon after stopping the oral contraceptive pill: Upon stopping the pill, the pituitary and ovaries start to communicate with each other for the first time in years (maybe decades). It’s best to allow that communication to proceed for a few months before confusing things with Angus Castus effects on the pituitary gland. For more about coming off the pill, see Period Repair Manual.

• Don’t combine Angus Castus with fertility medication: Combining it with IVF medication can result in side effects such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

• Don’t take for too long: For regulating cycles, Angus Castus is most effective during the first three to six months of use. After that, its effects can attenuate. That’s why I usually recommend a six-month course, followed by a break to see if cycles are maintained. For premenstrual mood symptoms, it’s fine to take Angus Castus long-term.

• Don’t give it to teenagers: Angus Castus should not be used for girls younger than 18 because their hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis is still maturing and it could disturb its function. want to disturb . That said, Angus castus is a gentler option than the pill.

Information from an article written by Dr Lara Briden