Angus Castus

I used Agnus Castus to regulate periods (pcos) and went on to conceive about 5 months later, sadly lost that one but conceived again 5 months later and had DD back in 2008.

Great believer in it.

I use agnus castus and evening primrose oil as I read that both are good for regulating your cycle and improving the chances of ovulation. I've used AC for years for period pain anyway and I find it's the only thing that really works for the cramps (though it works best when I haven't taken it for a while). It certainly isn't doing me any harm, though whether it's helping remains to be seen, but it helps me to think that I'm doing everything I can to help me conceive....

I've just had a MC at 4/5 weeks, but I'm assured that that's probably because there was something wrong with it, like a third copy of a chromosome, rather than because of anything I've done. The agnus castus and evening primrose oil may have helped me to conceive quicker: I was pregnant (we presume) only days after a D&C. Obviously it hasn't ended happily this time, but hopefully next time it will.

I started taking agnus cactus 5/6 days ago after coming off the depo in April. Today I have had extremely sore breasts and lower abdominal pains, do you think this is to do with the AC?

Oh, you have to take it twice a day (full table spoon of the tincture) every day. I was told by my endocrinologist that it is safe in pregnancy, but stopped taking it as soon as I found out I was pregnant.

Hi, I used to take a German herbal tincture Mastodynon which is primarily derived from Agnus Castus. I had PCOS and fibroids which did get slightly smaller afterwards. I took AC for almost a year. I believe AC definitely works for stabilising gyneacological disorders - the downside is that one has to take it for a long time, consistently and in fairly large quantities (as any herb) to see any meaningful progress. I am pregnant now -- conceived after 2 months of trying... I hope it works for you! Wishing you much luck!

I am taking aC now, and started feeling worried, as I read at Zita Wests book that it increases LH and decreases FSH, and its already the case with me. I have pcos, irregular periods, and had 4 rounds of clomid, but didnt ov.I wonder whether or not I should be taking AC?

what is the reason for not taking agnus castus the same timeas clomid- is it too many eggs

thought this was a name thread - doh!

Funkey I am trying accupuncture now to see if that helps, actually I am cd1 today (34 day cycle) but my LP has gone back to 14 days which is good, I can only imagine that the accupucnture is helping..going to give it another couple of months and see how it goes...it's not cheap but worth a try before we think of iui or ivf (which my consultant suggested) ....
I had my lap and dye done Sept 07 - all clear, and yes clomid side effects were awful!! I was awful!

Hi minxi i know how you feel my last depo was march 05 periods returned quickly. lap and dye was done aug 07 that and all other tests come back ok. Took clomid for 5mth but the side effects were terrible. Its very frustrating when we have already conceived naturally. My heart goes out to them trying for the first time. Due to all those people saying relax an it will happen try not to think about it ( yeh right!!!) i have stopped all charting so i dont know when i ovulate now, but i am told by experts angus castus can be taken all way thru stop when preg. I am very frustrated at the mo coz i have had af signs from cd15 of 26/28 day cycle, pains in tummy 8 days past suspected ovulation, and now i am cd 23 all syptoms have gone away its so confusing i dont do where to turn! DD 13 DD 10 and DS 7 now.

Meant to say have 2 DS both conceived naturally, DS 2 is nearly 5 now...

Funky I was on depo for only 15 months, had the last Nov 2004 - body seemed to get back to normal July 2006, and have been trying since then - had all the tests done too and all clear - clomid didnt' work either...its very frustrating!!!

You should stop at Ovulation if you are TTC and it shouldn't be taken with Clomid at all.

Hey all
New to all this so pls bear wiv me. I have 3 kids all conceived naturally. I was on Depo Provera injection for 5 years. I am now ttc again and 3 yrs later still nothing. We both had all checks (lap & dye, sperm count blah blah) doc said nothing at all wrong. Have used clomid for 5 months to no avail. I have been using angus castus 400mg x2 twice daily from Holland and Barratts. According to my research it can be taken all through the month but stop if you lucky enuff to get pregnant. If anyone has experience of angus castus i would love to hear from you.

Baby Dust to all x x x

thanks nimies thought it was not going to take it any more.

hello!
think it could be the AC, i took it when trying for DD and i definitely had sore boobs straight after ov until af. tried to take it last month to prepare for ttc no.2 but had to stop as it made my AF really really horrendously heavy
anyone else had this?
xx

im going to resurrect this thread as i could do with an answer please as im taking angus castus im on cd16 and my boobs are hurting me v unusual; for this time of the month is it something to do with the tabs do you think ??

Just to let you know, I have just found out I'm pregnant, after trying for 5 months. I took Agnus Castus AND Royal Jelly, which I read in the Gillian McKeith book You Are What You Eat are suposed to be good for TTC. Hope that helps!

MeerkatsUnite, I've read the article from your link now. Thanks very much!

i have had this response to my question about using agnus castus for my irregular cycles (from a fully qualified herbalist/homeopath)

The Agnus Castus is used throughout cycle, except for days of the
menstrual period. It actually aids in preparing the body for pregnancy, and
should not be a problem even if pregnancy is not discovered right away;
after which its use is usually stopped, mainly as it is no longer needed.
The BLACK HAW extract is also good for the condition you
mention, and is actually a preventer of miscarriage.

Sweetfudge,

Re: LH levels

Have a read of this page:-

www.dpcweb.com/medical/reproductive_endocrinology/lh.html

HTH

I take it by tablet, 4 a day, two at breckie, and two at night, the dose... is... 400mg, i'm assuming that's each tablet, not sure of the side effects, apart form AF is one day early, but that could be to do with the starflower i'm also taking (thins CM)

I've spoke to one herbalist and holland and barrets, both said that angus catcus will increase Prog. levels. which is good, there is an artical on Angus catcus in this months mag from holland and barrets if you can get it

Meerkasuntie, will increasing LH levels in women without PCOS be detremental to conception success as well? Are there any articles you can point me to on the subject? I'm been trawling the web and have little success.

Thanks.

{grin] Coddy!

This is such a useful thread! I am horrified that it may be worse than useless for people with regular cycles - I've been taking it in a half-hearted kind of way and have a pretty regular 28 day cycle. I'm going to stop immediately!

Just goes to show that they're right when they advise you to consult expert advice on all these things. I, of course, prefer to self-medicate till I rattle, and goodness knows how all my supplements are interacting inside of me. I'd probably have six kids by now if I could just stop trying to 'help things along'!