Vitex (chasteberry) supplements with the fewest additives
Vitex may be a useful supplement for boosting progesterone levels, regulating PMS symptoms, and more. However, many vitex brands contain more than just the plant. For example, silica or silicon dioxide are often added to prevent caking, glycerin as an emulsifier, magnesium stearate or stearic acid for easier manufacturing, and alcohol for extracting herbal compounds.
I try to avoid these additives because they may have questionable health effects. If you want to do the same, my recommendations for the purest vitex supplements are:
Recommended as purest vitex capsule:
- hypromellose-free / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-free
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- glycerin-free
- stearic acid-free / magnesium stearate-free
- alcohol-free
Organic Chaste Tree berry (Vitex agnus-castus), vegetarian capsule (pullulan).
When last I checked, a certificate of analysis was available showing non-GMO status, appearance/flavor/aroma checks, and lack of yeast, mold, e.coli, salmonella, and heavy metals.
Recommended as purest alcohol-free vitex liquid:
- hypromellose-free / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-free
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- stearic acid-free / magnesium stearate-free
- alcohol-free
- contains glycerin
Vitex berry extract (1:1), vegetable glycerin, purified water.
Nature's Answer has confirmed to me that the vegetable glycerin is GMO-free. Much of it is from coconut palm, with the remainder from "a mixture of vegetable sources," but without any soy, wheat, or corn residuals in the final product.
Recommended as purest glycerin-free vitex liquid:
- hypromellose-free / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-free
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- glycerin-free
- stearic acid-free / magnesium stearate-free
- grape alcohol instead of the grain alcohol common in other liquid products
- contains alcohol
Dried, wildcrafted Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus castus) berry, organic grape alcohol (75%), filtered water.
Other vitex supplements
The following are other vitex supplements I'm aware of, sorted alphabetically.
| Name | Ingredients |
|---|---|
| California Xtracts Chaste Tree (Liquid) | Organic Chaste Tree Berry (Vitex angus-castus), grain alcohol (55-65% by volume), deionized water. |
| Gaia Herbs Vitex Berry (Veggie Capsules) | Chaste tree berry (vitex agnus-castus), vegetable glycerin, capsule (vegetable cellulose). |
| Gaia Herbs Vitex Elixer (Liquid) | Chaste Tree berry (Vitex agnus-castus), Partridge Berry (mitchella repens), Blend of Sea Vegetation, Cramp Bark (Viburnum opulus), Blue Vervain Herb (Verbena hastata), Rose Hip (Rosa canina), Red Raspberry Leaf (Rubus idaeus), Mugwort Leaf (Artemisia vulgaris), Dandelion root & leaf (Taraxacum officinale), Usnea Lichen (Usnea spp.), syrup of sweet grapes (Vitis vinifera), Prickly Ash bark (Zanthoxylum spp.), water, vegetable glycerin, 34-44% pure grain alcohol USP. |
| Herb Pharm Chaste Tree (Liquid) | Chaste Tree extractives, certified organic grain alcohol (70-75%), distilled water. |
| Integrative Therapeutics Vitex Extract (Veggie Capsules) | Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus) berry extract, vegetable capsule (modified cellulose), cellulose, magnesium stearate, and silicon dioxide. |
| Nature's Answer Vitex Agnus-Castus (Veggie Capsules) | Vitex (Agnus-Castus), rice flour, vegetable cellulose, calcium silicate. |
| Nature's Answer Vitex Berry (Liquid) | Vitex berry fluid extract, purified water, vegetable glycerin, 12-15% certified organic alcohol. |
| Nature's Way Femaprin Vitex Extract (Gelatin Capsules) | Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxine HCl), Vitex Agnus Castus (dried extract, fruit), Vitex Agnus Castus (fruit), millet, gelatin, magnesium stearate. |
| Nature's Way Vitex Fruit (Chasteberry) (Gelatin Capsules) | Vitex agnus-castus (fruit), gelatin (capsule), cellulose, magnesium stearate. |
| Now Foods Vitex (Veggie Capsules) | Chaste Berry Tree (Vitex) Extract (fruit), Dong Quai (Root), cellulose (capsule), maltodextrin, magnesium stearate (vegetable source), silica. |
| Pure Encapsulations Chaste Tree (Vitex) (Veggie Capsules) | Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) extract (fruit), vegetarian capsule (cellulose from pesticide-free Southern pine, probably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, water). |
| Planetary Herbals Vitex (Chaste Berry) Extract (Liquid) | Chaste Tree Berry Extract, grain alcohol (50%), purified water. |
| Solaray Vitex Chaste Berry Extract (Gelatin Capsules) | Vitex (Vitex Agnus-Castus Berry Extract), Vitex (Vitex Agnus-Castus Berry), gelatin (capsule), magnesium stearate. |
| Swanson Chasteberry Fruit (Gelatin Capsules) | Chasteberry Fruit (Vitex agnus-castus), gelatin. May contain magnesium stearate. May contain silica. |
| Vital Nutrients Vitex 750 (Gelatin Capsules) | Chastetree berry extract (Vitex agnus-castus), Chastetree Berry & Leaf Essential Oil (Vitex agnus-castus), gelatin capsule, silica, leucine. |
| Vitanica Chaste Tree Berry (Veggie Capsules) | Chaste Tree Berry extract (Vitex Agnus castus), Chaste Tree Berry (Vitex Agnus castus), vegetable cellulose, water, and L-Leucine. |