Balance by Ortho Molecular Products

If PMS symptoms like breast tenderness, mood swing days before bleeding, or short luteal phases are your pattern, a chaste berry for PMS blend is a reasonable first step. It’s also useful if your labs show high-normal Prolactin or low mid‑luteal Progesterone (the hormone that stabilizes the second half of the cycle). Those with androgen-leaning labs—higher DHEA‑S or free testosterone with adult acne—may benefit from the white peony and licorice pairing. If cycles are very heavy, absent, or highly painful, start with a clinician workup.

Chaste berry (vitex) nudges the pituitary’s prolactin output down by gently stimulating dopamine receptors, which can improve luteal-phase progesterone and lessen PMS breast tenderness. White peony is used for its anti-spasmodic effect on uterine muscle and its tendency to temper androgens (male-pattern hormones) by boosting aromatase, the enzyme that converts testosterone to estradiol. Licorice slows cortisol breakdown, smoothing stress signaling, but it can also raise blood pressure and lower potassium in sensitive people.

Take 1 capsule daily, ideally in the morning; consistency matters more than timing. With or without food is fine—use food if you’re prone to nausea. Expect a timeline of 2 to 3 cycles (8 to 12 weeks) before judging results. Track symptoms alongside labs when relevant: Prolactin, mid‑luteal Progesterone, DHEA‑S, and free Testosterone. If your Prolactin is clearly elevated, work with a clinician rather than self-titrating.

Skip this if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or using hormonal contraception (pill, patch, ring, hormonal IUD); chaste berry can counteract or confuse those signals. Avoid if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, low potassium, kidney disease, or take drugs affected by licorice: diuretics, digoxin, corticosteroids, or antihypertensives. If you’re on dopamine-active meds (cabergoline, bromocriptine, antipsychotics), or in fertility treatment, use only with clinician guidance. For hormone‑sensitive cancers, discuss with your oncology team first.