Client often ask if they can take Saw Palmetto and Chaste Berry Vitex together.  We do NOT recommend taking these two together, as they serve different hormonal benefits to the body.

Saw Palmetto is used for the following:

• For females when periods are more than 36 days apart

• For females when periods are skipped

• As a substitute for Spironolactone

• For males over 20 that have acne

• Indications of high androgen levels: dark/coarse hair growth on upper lip, chin, naval, areola

• Skin darkening on underarms or back of neck

• PCOS

• Cystic acne

How it Helps:

• Helps regulate testosterone levels

• Decrease the uptake of testosterone in the body by impairing the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone.  Decreases breakouts

• Reduces inflammation

Chaste Berry Vitex is used for the following:

• Client believes their acne is hormonal and it is on the chin or jawline primarily

• Acne acts up just before or during period (7-10 days)

• Periods are less than 28 days apart

• Periods lasting longer than 10 days

• Periods are 34-40 days apart and breakouts appear to be hormonal

• When food is not a major issue and breakouts appear to be hormonal

• Great for PMS, thyroid problems, endometriosis

How it Helps:

• Helps regulate periods after coming off of BC/IUDs

• Helps balance the natural estrogen and progesterone by stimulating the pituitary gland; balance the estrogen so the androgens are also balanced.

Remember that less is more.  If a client would like to take something with additional Vitex or Saw Palmetto, such as tea, let them know that it's best to focus on CH Vitex alone, as it is already in a therapeutic dose for acne prone skin and hormone re-balancing.

They would also want to be aware of other ingredients such as Shatavari and Ashwagandha as these are known to have contradicting effects of testosterone.

Both supplements should decrease excessive facial hair which is caused by excess androgens.  And this is what we are working to decrease to address the client's acne.