It's a deciduous shrub native to Asia & the Mediterranean. The vitex plant family includes 250 different species. The Vitex agnus-castus is the one most commonly used. Its been used for over 2,000 years since the middle ages. The berry is about the size of a peppercorn & its used to treat a variety of ailments. It's also used in Greek & Turkish medicines. This berry is also called Abraham's balm, lilac chaste tree & monk's pepper.
Vitex is mainly used to improve women's reproductive systems as well as a variety of symptoms of PMS & menopause. It helps the body raise it's own levels of progesterone. Researchers believe vitex works by decreasing levels of the hormone prolactin from the pituitary gland which helps rebalance the other two main ones, estrogen and progesterone, which in turn reduces PMS symptoms.
It also appears to help with "cyclic mastalgia", a type of breast pain linked to menstruation. Vitex can be as effective as the common drug treatment. It also may help improve fertility and stabilize menstruation.
Chaste tree berry can also help with constipation, irritability, irregular periods, depression, cramps, migraines, anxiety and cravings where PMS is concerned. With menopause, it can help with many symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings & more. It can also help reduce uterine fibroids. A key way to help reduce these is to maintain a proper balance of hormones.
It can also help reduce acne, treat endometriosis, can treat amenorrhea (sudden stoppage of periods), treats enlarged prostates & it's also believed to decrease libido.
Do NOT use if pregnant.
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