Vitex agnus-castus

Vitex agnus-castus
Vitex agnus-castus flowers with halictid bee, Hemingway, South Carolina Vitex agnus-castus flowers with halictid bee, Hemingway, South Carolina
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Lamiales Family: Lamiaceae Genus: Vitex Species: V. agnus-castus

Vitex agnus-castus — commonly called just Vitex, but also called Chaste Tree, Chasteberry, or Monk's Pepper — is a native of the Mediterranean region. Refer to Vitex for other species in the genus.

Cultivation and Uses

Vitex agnus-castus is widely cultivated in warm temperate and subtropical regions for its aromatic foliage and flowers. It grows to a height of 1-5 metres. It requires full sun or partial shade along with well-drained soil.

It is called monk's pepper because it was originally used as anti-libido medicine by monk to aid their attempts to remain celibate.

It is sometimes used for the treatment of PMS. It is believed to be an anaphrodisiac, hence the name "chaste tree", and is used as a medicinal plant by many herbalists. The parts used include the leaves, flowers, and berries. The berries are considered a tonic herb for both the male and female reproductive systems. The leaves have the same effect, but to a somewhat lesser degree. It is used in some supplements for male bodybuilders as a secondary component, as some studies suggested that it may decrease the prolactin levels [1], which, in turn, increases LH (luteinizing hormone)and testosterone levels [2]. It has been assumed to not have the same effect on the female hormonal balance, but recent studies contradict this.

Vitex Agnus-Castus is a herb used by natural health practitioners for treating female menstrual hormone imbalances, both minor and major ones - such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Women with menstrual cycle irregularities often do not produce enough progesterone during the second phase of their menstrual cycle (luteal phase). This means that estrogen, the dominant female hormone in the first phase, continues to dominate in the second phase leading to menstrual cycle abnormalities.

Vitex works on the pituitary gland, which is responsible for signaling the body to make the appropriate amounts of each hormone. This helps regulate menstrual cycles and relieve unpleasant mentrual symptoms, including headaches. Although vitex may take six to twelve weeks of use to before its results are noticeable, it gets to the root of menstrual cycle regulation problems. It is also used in the treatment of menopausal symptoms.

The leaves and tender stem growth of the upper 10 cm (4 inches), along with the flowers and ripening seeds, may be harvested for medicinal purposes. The berries are harvested by gently rubbing the berries loose from the stem. The leaves, flowers, and/or berries may be consumed as a decotion, traditional tincture, cider vinegar tincture, syrup, elixir, or simply eaten straight off the plant as a medicinal food.

References

• Hartung, T., 2000. Growing 101 Herbs That Heal. Storey Books. ISBN 1-58017-215-6
• Chevallier, A., 2000. Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine. Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 0-7894-6783-6