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Dietary supplement

Wild Yam & Chaste Tree Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Nature's Sunshine

Capsule Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Wild Yam & Chaste Tree is a dietary supplement by Nature's Sunshine with 2 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for menopausal symptoms, menstrual cramps, hormone balance (popular belief).Based on those ingredients, 121 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Chaste Tree berries concentrate, Wild Yam root extract. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Wild Yam & Chaste Tree by Nature's Sunshine

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Low disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Low

Most active ingredients don't disclose an individual amount — you can't tell how much of each you're getting.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 0 of its 2 active ingredients.
  • “Proprietary Blend” is a proprietary blend — the label gives one combined amount (420 mg) without saying how much of each component you get.

This product contains 2 active ingredients: wild yam root extract and chaste tree berries concentrate, both in a proprietary blend. Wild yam has been used traditionally for women's health, while chaste tree (also called vitex) is included for hormone-related concerns.

The capsules also contain inactive ingredients like cellulose, magnesium stearate, and stearic acid as binders and fillers.

Does it work?

Moderate evidence
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Moderate

Some clinical evidence supports this product's ingredients for its stated purpose, but it isn't conclusive.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: female glandular system and reproductive health support.
  • We looked for evidence on: Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea, Fibrocystic breast disease, Hyperprolactinemia, Infertility, Mastalgia — and 4 related terms.
  • The strongest evidence on file: Vitex Agnus-castus is rated "Possibly Effective" for Mastalgia (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Wild Yam is rated "Possibly Ineffective" for Menopausal symptoms.
  • Also on file: Vitex Agnus-castus is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Amenorrhea, Fibrocystic breast disease, Hyperprolactinemia, Menopausal symptoms, and more.

The evidence for what this product can do is mixed and often limited. For chaste tree, the research is most solid: it's considered possibly effective for premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and breast tenderness (mastalgia).

Wild yam, on the other hand, is rated possibly ineffective for menopausal symptoms—the condition many people think it helps with. For other uses listed here—gallbladder disease, sexual dysfunction, irregular periods, infertility with wild yam, and aging skin or premenstrual dysphoric disorder with chaste tree—the evidence isn't established enough to rate.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about whether this product makes sense for what you're hoping to address.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Wild Yam Vitex Agnus-castus

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 2 of the 2 matched ingredients.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 2 of 2.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 2 of 2.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Both ingredients are generally well tolerated in the short term, though long-term safety data for wild yam is sparse. The most common side effects are mild: wild yam may cause headache, fever, upset stomach, or vomiting, especially at higher doses; chaste tree may cause diarrhea, fatigue, headache, insomnia, nausea, stomach pain, skin irritation, or irregular menstruation.

A rare but serious reaction to wild yam is anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction). Chaste tree can also trigger skin problems like rashes, acne, or itching, and may cause prolonged or heavy menstrual bleeding.

During pregnancy, the safety data advises against both ingredients—wild yam and chaste tree have not been studied enough to know they're safe. The same goes for breastfeeding: there isn't enough data to know either way, and chaste tree may influence hormones related to milk production.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking this product if you're pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning either.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Wild Yam Vitex Agnus-castus

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 2 of the 2 matched ingredients can interact with medications — Vitex Agnus-castus, Wild Yam.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • For scale: 121 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Before taking Wild Yam & Chaste Tree, check with your doctor or pharmacist if you're on estrogen-containing medications—that includes birth control and hormone replacement therapy, since both ingredients may interfere with their effects. Also flag any antipsychotic drugs, dopamine agonists (for Parkinson's or restless legs), or metoclopramide (Reglan), all of which chaste tree may affect.

No interactions are documented in our data for other major medication categories.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFormula with limited ingredient disclosure with some supporting evidence for its stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Wild Yam & Chaste Tree is mainly worth considering if you're dealing with PMS or breast tenderness, since chaste tree has research backing for those. It's not well supported for menopausal symptoms.

The biggest caution is if you're on hormonal birth control, hormone replacement therapy, antipsychotic medications, or dopamine-related drugs—you'll want to check with your doctor or pharmacist first, because this product may interfere with how those work. Pregnant or breastfeeding?

This one's best avoided.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 2 of 2 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Nov 22, 2022.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Wild Yam & Chaste Tree, straight from the product label.

Brand Nature's Sunshine
Barcode (UPC) 099904011083
Net contents 100 Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Nov 22, 2022
DSLD ID 278317
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Kosher, Adult Female (18 - 50 Years)
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Wild Yam & Chaste Tree by Nature's Sunshine, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
1 Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
2 Capsule(s)
Servings per container
50
UPC/BARCODE
099904011083
IngredientAmount% DV
Proprietary Blend420 mg--
Wild Yam root extract0 NP--
Chaste Tree berries concentrate0 NP--

Other ingredients: Capsules, Cellulose, Vegetable Magnesium Stearate, Stearic Acid

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
FDA Disclaimer Statement

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

General Statements

Bottle made from 100% post consumer recycled material. We are committed to you and our planet. Scan to learn more.

New look! Same great product

Formula

This wild yam and chaste tree combination is unique to Nature's Sunshine. Wild yam root and chaste tree berries have long been used for female health.

Ko Kosher Service Pareve

With herbal extracts

Traditionally used to support women's health

Precautions

Pregnant or lactating women should consult their health care professional prior to taking this supplement.

Do not use if inner seal is missing or damaged.

Seals/Symbols

Ko Kosher Service Pareve

Formulation

Female glandular system support

Guaranteed pure

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Brand IP Statement(s)

Natures Sunshine Herbal experts since 1972

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Recommended use: Take 1 or 2 capsules with a meal twice daily. Drink one glass (8 ounces) of water with the capsules.

See for yourself

Wild Yam & Chaste Tree by Nature's Sunshine label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Wild Yam & Chaste Tree by Nature's Sunshine

These are the 2 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container50 Amounts shown are per serving.

Most supplement products combine several ingredients, and a medication can interact with the product through any one of them. Each ingredient below shows whether it has known drug interactions.

Proprietary Blend

420 mg per serving

Other (inactive) ingredients: Capsules, Cellulose, Vegetable Magnesium Stearate, Stearic Acid. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Wild Yam & Chaste Tree by Nature's Sunshine Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Wild Yam & Chaste Tree?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
121Drugs
121 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Wild Yam & Chaste Tree with known interactions, here are the types of medications they can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Chaste Tree berries concentrate5 drug types · 121 drugs

Antipsychotic Drugs

Theoretically, vitex agnus-castus could interfere with the activity of antipsychotic drugs.
Vitex agnus-castus might interfere with the action of dopamine antagonists such as antipsychotic drugs due to its dopamine agonist effects.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Contraceptive Drugs

Theoretically, vitex agnus-castus could interfere with oral contraceptives.
Vitex agnus-castus might interfere with the efficacy of oral contraceptives due to possible hormone modulating activity.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Dopamine Agonists

Theoretically, vitex agnus-castus could interfere with dopamine agonists.
Vitex agnus-castus might potentiate the actions of dopaminergic agonists due to possible dopaminergic effects.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Estrogens

Theoretically, vitex agnus-castus could interfere with the activity of estrogens.
Vitex agnus-castus has hormone modulating activity that can interfere with the efficacy of hormone replacement therapy.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Metoclopramide (Reglan)

Theoretically, dopaminergic effects of vitex agnus-castus could interfere with metoclopramide.
Vitex agnus-castus might interfere with the action of dopamine antagonists such as metoclopramide due to its possible dopaminergic effects.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Wild Yam root extract1 drug type · 41 drugs

Estrogens

Theoretically, wild yam might increase or decrease the effects of estrogen.
Wild yam root shows estrogenic and anti-estrogenic effects in vitro. Theoretically, wild yam might interfere with hormone therapy.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Wild Yam & Chaste Tree, from the product label.

Nature's Sunshine

See all Nature's Sunshine products
Name
Nature's Sunshine Products, Inc.
City
Spanish Fork
State
UT
ZipCode
84660
Phone Number
(800) 223-8225
Web Address
www.naturessunshine.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Wild Yam & Chaste Tree by Nature's Sunshine: Common Questions

Does Wild Yam & Chaste Tree by Nature's Sunshine interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Wild Yam & Chaste Tree has a known interaction with 121 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Wild Yam & Chaste Tree contains 2 active ingredients, and an interaction can come from any of them. We check every ingredient, combine the results into one list per medication, and show which ingredient and mechanism is responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Is Wild Yam & Chaste Tree safe if I'm trying to get pregnant?
There isn't enough safety data to know either way. Both wild yam and chaste tree have not been adequately studied in pregnancy, so the advice is to avoid them while you're trying or if you find out you're pregnant. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about what's safe for your situation.
Will this help my hot flashes?
Not likely. Wild yam is rated possibly ineffective for menopausal symptoms, which is what hot flashes are. Chaste tree isn't used for that either. You'd want to discuss other options with your doctor if hot flashes are what you're dealing with.
What's the most common side effect I might notice?
With wild yam, headache and fever are most common, especially at higher doses. With chaste tree, you might see diarrhea, fatigue, headache, or irregular periods. Most people don't have problems, but it's good to know what to watch for.
Can I take this with my birth control?
Not without checking first. Both ingredients in this product may interfere with how hormonal birth control works, which could affect its effectiveness. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before combining them.
What exactly is chaste tree, and why is it in this product?
Chaste tree (vitex) is a plant berry traditionally used for hormone-related concerns. It's included because research shows it's possibly effective for PMS and breast tenderness. That's likely the main reason it's paired with wild yam in this product.
Is this safe to take long-term?
The evidence for long-term safety is limited for both ingredients. Wild yam's long-term safety hasn't been well studied, and chaste tree may affect hormones—so these are best used under guidance if you're planning to take them for months on end. Check in with your doctor or pharmacist about how long is right for you.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Wild Yam & Chaste Tree is safe with your meds?

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Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Wild Yam & Chaste Tree label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Wild Yam & Chaste Tree's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 30 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Wild Yam 7 references
  1. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
  2. Eagon PK, Elm MS, Hunter DS, et al. Medicinal herbs: modulation of estrogen action. Era of Hope Mtg, Dept Defense; Breast Cancer Res Prog, Atlanta, GA 2000;Jun 8-11.
  3. Cheong JL, Bucknall R. Retinal vein thrombosis associated with a herbal phytoestrogen preparation in a susceptible patient. Postgrad Med J 2005;81:266-7.. PubMed
  4. Rosenberg Zand, R. S., Jenkins, D. J., and Diamandis, E. P. Effects of natural products and nutraceuticals on steroid hormone-regulated gene expression. Clin Chim.Acta 2001;312(1-2):213-219. PubMed
  5. Araghiniknam M, Chung S, Nelson-White T, and et al. Antioxidant activity of Dioscorea and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in older humans. Life Sciences 1996;59:L147-L157.
  6. Zeng M, Zhang L, Li M, et al. Estrogenic effects of the extracts from the Chinese Yam (Dioscorea opposite Thunb.) and its effective compounds in vitro and in vivo. Molecules. 2018 Jan 23;23(2). Pii: E11. PubMed
  7. Lu J, Wong RN, Zhang L, et al. Comparative analysis of proteins with stimulating activity on ovarian estradiol biosynthesis from four different Dioscorea species in vitro using both phenotypic and target-based approaches: implication for treating menopaus

See these in context on the Wild Yam monograph →

Vitex Agnus-castus 23 references
  1. Wuttke W. Dopaminergic action of extracts of Agnus Castus. Forschende Komplementarmedizen 1996;3:329-30.
  2. Jarry H, Leonhardt S., Gorkow C, Wuttke W. In vitro prolactin but not LH and FSH release is inhibited by compounds in extracts of Agnus Castus: direct evidence for a dopaminergic principle by the dopamine receptor assay. Exp Clin Endocrinol 1994;102:448- PubMed
  3. Schellenberg R. Treatment for the premenstrual syndrome with agnus castus fruit extract: prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled study. BMJ 2001;322:134-7. PubMed
  4. Lauritzen CH, Reuter HD, Repges R, et al. Treatment of premenstrual tension syndrome with Vitex agnus castus: Controlled-double blind versus pyridoxine. Phytomedicine 1997;4:183-9.
  5. Berger D, Schaffner W, Schrader E, et al. Efficacy of Vitex agnus castus L. extract Ze 440 in patients with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Arch Gynecol Obstet 2000;264:150-3.
  6. Loch EG, Selle H, Boblitz N. Treatment of premenstrual syndrome with a phytopharmaceutical formulation containing Vitex agnus castus. J Womens Health Gend Based Med 2000;9:315-20. PubMed
  7. Meier B, Berger D, Hoberg E, et al. Pharmacological activities of Vitex agnus-castus extracts in vitro. Phytomedicine 2000;7:373-81. PubMed
  8. Liu J, Burdette JE, Xu H, et al. Evaluation of estrogenic activity of plant extracts for the potential treatment of menopausal symptoms. J Agric Food Chem 2001;49:2472-9.. PubMed
  9. Wuttke W, Jarry H, Christoffel V, et al. Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus)--pharmacology and clinical indications. Phytomedicine 2003;10:348-57. PubMed
  10. Atmaca M, Kumru S, Tezcan E. Fluoxetine versus Vitex agnus castus extract in the treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Hum Psychopharmacol 2003;18:191-5..
  11. Daniele C, Thompson Coon J, Pittler MH, Ernst E. Vitex agnus castus: a systematic review of adverse events. Drug Saf 2005;28:319-32..
  12. Halaska M, Beles P, Gorkow C, Sieder C. Treatment of cyclical mastalgia with a solution containing a Vitex agnus castus extract: results of a placebo-controlled double-blind study. Breast 1999;8:175-81. PubMed
  13. Prilepskaya VN, Ledina AV, Tagiyeva AV, Revazova FS. Vitex agnus castus: Successful treatment of moderate to severe premenstrual syndrome. Maturitas 2006;55 Suppl 1:S55-63. DOI
  14. Ma, L., Lin, S., Chen, R., and Wang, X. Treatment of moderate to severe premenstrual syndrome with Vitex agnus castus (BNO 1095) in Chinese women. Gynecol.Endocrinol. 2010;26(8):612-616. PubMed
  15. Ma, L., Lin, S., Chen, R., Zhang, Y., Chen, F., and Wang, X. Evaluating therapeutic effect in symptoms of moderate-to-severe premenstrual syndrome with Vitex agnus castus (BNO 1095) in Chinese women. Aust.N.Z.J Obstet.Gynaecol. 2010;50(2):189-193. PubMed
  16. Dinç T, Coskun F. Comparison of fructus agni casti and flurbiprofen in the treatment of cyclic mastalgia in premenopausal women. Ulus Cerrahi Derg. 2014 Mar 1;30(1):34-8 PubMed
  17. Momoeda M, Sasaki H, Tagashira E, Ogishima M, Takano Y, Ochiai K. Efficacy and safety of Vitex agnus-castus extract for treatment of premenstrual syndrome in Japanese patients: a prospective, open-label study. Adv Ther. 2014 Mar;31(3):362-73. PubMed
  18. Yavarikia P, Shahnazi M, Hadavand Mirzaie S, Javadzadeh Y, Lutfi R. Comparing the effect of mefenamic Acid and vitex agnus on intrauterine device induced bleeding. J Caring Sci. 2013 Aug 31;2(3):245-54.
  19. Van Die MD, Burger HC, Teede HG, Bone KM. Vitex agnus castus extracts for female reproductive disorders: a systematic review of clinical trials. Planta Med 2013:79:562-575. PubMed
  20. Ooi SL, Watts S, McClean R, Pak SC. Vitex agnus-castus for the treatment of cyclic mastalgia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2020;29(2):262-278. PubMed
  21. Mollazadeh S, Mirghafourvand M, Abdollahi NG. The effects of Vitex agnus-castus on menstrual bleeding: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Complement Integr Med. 2019;17(1). pii: /j/jcim.2019.17.issue-1/jcim-2018-0053/jcim-2018-0053.xml.
  22. Najib FS, Poordast T, Mahmudi MS, Shiravani Z, Namazi N, Omrani GR. Does Vitex Agnus-Castus L. Have Deleterious Effect on Fertility and Pregnancy Outcome? An Experimental Study on Rats for Prediction of Its Safety. J Pharmacopuncture 2022;25(2):106-113. PubMed
  23. Somuncu E, Solak IHA. Colonic Obstruction Secondary to Phytobezoar Caused by Vitex Agnus-Castus Seeds: A Case Report. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak 2022;32(8):S115-S117. PubMed

See these in context on the Vitex Agnus-castus monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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