[Linn]

Is vitex alone used for breast enlargment, or is it used to regulate the cycle before you start estrogenic herbs?
I have read that it works best when it is taken alone. I have irregular cycle and concider to try vitex first to balance my homones, but i am impatient and want to get started..

[accidental_ booby]

Linn,
There is quite a bit of information available on VItex or Chasteberry and it is worthwhile reading. I'll give you a bit here and suggest a very good link for more
"
The German Commission E has approved the plant for treatment of mastodynia (breast pain) and menstrual irregularities. Chaste tree is primarily used in reproductive medicine for mastalgia, menopausal symptoms, depression, low libido, vaginal dryness, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), hyperprolactinemia, and inadequate luteal phase. 1"

"V. agnus-castus contains substances that competitively bind receptors, making the plant useful in disorders in which progesterone deficiency might be suspected (eg, female infertility, menopause, PMS). 1 , 26
Effects on breast pain or mastalgia"

"After ingestion in women, the berries exert progesterogenic effects, balancing progesterone and estrogen production from the ovaries and regulating menstrual cycles. 9 A randomized, placebo-controlled trial used a V. agnus-castus -containing homeopathic preparation to treat infertility in 67 women, oligomenorrhea in 37 women, and amenorrhea in 30 women. All groups were treated with the preparation or placebo 3 times/day for 3 months (or 3 menstrual cycles). The researchers reported 38 of 67 women achieved spontaneous menstruation and improved progesterone concentration in the luteal phase, and experienced a shortening of the cycle, earlier ovulation, and pregnancy. 1
Effects on hyperprolactinemia and PMS
In vitro and animal data

Chaste tree preparations inhibit basal and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-stimulated prolactin secretion from rat pituitary cells in vitro, suggesting its possible use in the treatment of hyperprolactinemia. 29 In addition, animal studies found an increase in lactation and mammary enlargement, indicating an effect on prolactin release. 9"

A great place to start you research is
http://www.drugs.com
search your herb by name and when the results come up, this display will show
All results For patients Natural products
Internet results
choose "natural products"

and then look at the titles listed and choose "natural product monographs " which is in green type. These are very good information sources backed by scientific data and research papers are listed for follow up.
You can't go wrong with this website.

The othe site would be PUBMED which you can google

[Chelsea_]

Chasteberry did help with PMS when I used it before, and it did increase my breast growth. But from the information you posted; I assume it would be bad to add that (since it adds progesterone) and also take a BCP that has both progesterone and estrogen in it. Right? I don't want to mess up my body chemistry in the NBE field if I take too much. I am not sure if that would be harmful or not.....:s

[accidental_ booby]

Chelsea, while I didn't find any specific interactin between vitex and bcp's, your own conclusion seems best--not to mix these two things. Some herbs have additive effects and there may be something in the bcp that gets an accidentally increased effect. It isn't possible even in the best of labs to try every possible combination. As it is, there are 144 drug interactions with premarin as well as high blood pressure as an illness.

[JoyfulBreasts]

Just wanted to add something quickly. Vitex should not be taken with birth control pills, it will reduce it's effectiveness.