I've read in a book that chasteberry tends to promote progesterone and prolactin so after what I suspect was ovulation, I started taking chasteberry since I think I lack progesterone. It's been about six days now and I feel much happier mood wise. Usually during this time (couple weeks before period) I get really anxious and worried about anything all week long and I hated it. I plan on continuing to take it until my period starts. Has anyone else experience mood changes since taking herbs?
What I'm currently taking-
chasteberry 400 mg (hormone regulator and tonic for nervous system)
wild yam 425 mg
saw palmetto 450 mg
I haven't yet taken anything myself, but if you experienced mood changes from taking herbs it would not surprise me in the slightest, especially chasteberry which is said anyway to help with anxiety and depression.
Vitex weakly activates prolactin receptors at 125 mg and below. At 250 mg it floods those receptors, blocks the stronger real prolactin and is actually used for reducing prolactin. Prolactin and dopamine are directly at odds with eachother, so you're probably feeling a dopamine rush. First I'd get a hormone test to make sure you really lack prolactin/progesterone. Next you have to deal with two conflicting goals: prolactin vs. dopamine. You can take up to 2000 mg dong quai which I think increasing progesterone without increasing prolactin. You might take around 5,000-10,000 mg mucuna pruriens (or less if desired) since it contains L-dopa, which converts directly into dopamine. But unlike pure L-dopa, it also improves mood and fights anxiety in other ways such as increasing serotonin. And while it is strongly anti-prolactin, it's much less anti-prolactin than pure L-dopa/dopamine.
I can't say for sure what to do because of the conflicting goals, but you can look into it more at
www.pubmed.gov and use the above herbs and "prolactin" as keywords.
Make sure the saw palmetto is an extract or you may not be getting enough. 425 mg wild yam is almost nothing. You might want to look into other people's programs for ideas on what to take and how much.