Vitex

Species name: Chaste Tree.

Also known as: Agnus Castus, Cloister Pepper, Monk's Berry, Monk's Pepper, Vitex agnus-castus.

Vitex, sometimes called Chasteberry, is used as a natural way to ease your PMS or other menstrual related discomforts. Vitex should also not be taken with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) because Vitex is believed to actually contain female hormones so it can interact with your HRT.

What is Vitex?: Vitex contains several possibly active chemicals - most notably, some that affect dopamine levels in the body. It has medicinal uses that have been around for many generations in different cultures of people. It is the fruit (dried ripe berries) of the chaste tree that contains a mixture of iridoid glycosides (agnoside and aucubin), fatty oils, and flavonoids which are used in Vitex medicines. Vitex agnus castus is one of the oldest phytomedicines. The ancient Greek physicians Hypocrates, Theophrast, and Dioscorides all made reference to it so it has been used in medicine since the birth of medicine itself. Vitex is not found in the wild but is often grown in factories and even home frown for use as an herbal treatment.

Home Remedies using Vitex:

Benefits of Vitex:

Why do people use Vitex? The most common benefit to Vitex is in treatment of female menstrual problems and discomforts. Studies have shown it relieves discomforts of menstruation, sore breasts, irritability, PMS, cramps and more. Vitex is sometimes used after discontinuing use of birth control pills to restore normal ovulation. Many women claim it helps them get back on their monthly schedule when stopping birth control or if they became irregular. It is also believed that Vitex might help with conditions such as Parkinson’s Disease.

The key to getting benefit from the chaste berry herb is to continue taking it. When taking continuously Vitex over a course of time, you will start to notice better results with each menstrual cycle. By your fourth cycle, you should see a noticeable improvement. Some women notice their menstrual-related symptoms go away completely after they have been using Vitex for some time.

Uses of Vitex:

  • Ease menstrual related discomforts
  • Breast pain
  • PMS
  • Regulate menstuation
  • Tea form
  • Tincture

Side Effects of Vitex:

Rare side effects (fewer than 2% of those taking it) include itching, rashes, gastrointestinal distress, and early menstruation.