CHASTEBERRY

VITEX AGNUS-CASTUS

Also commonly referred to as Chastetree or Vitex.

Women’s Health

  • Used to help regulate hormones and the menstrual cycle by acting on the pituitary gland.

  • It’s a slow action herb and may take several months before you start seeing any effects.

  • Can be useful in shrinking lumps.

  • It is known to cause depression. Pay close attention to mood and emotional state when taking this herb. Another wonderful option is Paeonia (will soon be added to the course!)

  • It works on the pituitary gland and helps regulate hormone secretions of the female endocrine system.

  • Helps promote ovulation, use for irregular periods, heavy periods and menstrual cramps

  • In cases of infertility, may help with conception

  • Increases progesterone

  • Lowers prolactin

  • Helps reduce breast pain and tenderness

  • Used to help heal non-cancerous lumps

  • Can support menopause symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness)

“For non-cancerous lumps I love using Castor Oil infused with Poke Root and this would also be the time I would use Chastetree (but still watch the low mood!).” Krista Poulton

Miscarriage

  • Elisabeth Brooke talks about having used Chastetree several times to prevent miscarriage in an otherwise normal pregnancy and to promote ovulation.”

  • “AFter a miscarriage, take 15 drops every half an hour and stay in bed. When the bleeding subsides, take 15 drops six times daily for another two weeks. Miscarriage is most likely in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy, especially at the time when your period would have been due. If you are having amniocentesis and are worried about a miscarriage, take 15 drops of vitex first thing in the morning, for one week beforehand and one week afterwards.“ E. Brooke

Emotional Support

  • Supportive when women feel damaged or distressed about their womb.

  • Helpful after a miscarriage, abortion, surgery, difficult childbirth or the death of a child.

  • Vitex seeds help draw out some of the grief your body is holding.

Bath Ritual For Grief

  • Use 1 tablespoonful of vitex seeds in a organic cotton or muslin bag and tie under the hot water tap. Allow the water to run through the bag. Soak in the bath for 10 -15 min with candlelight allowing the seeds to draw out the grief from the body. Repeat as often as needed

Use

  • Use the tincture first thing in the morning as this is when the pituitary gland is most active

  • Some practitioners recommend 15 drops before breakfast

  • Many herbal remedies take time before you start seeing results. The general rule is to commit to whichever plant your using for 3 months (there are, of course, always exceptions.)

 “Personally, I find Paeonia is such an under used herb in terms of reproductive health. Often times practitioners will offer Vitex agnus-castus, Chastetree as their go to reproductive health herb but I am very careful about this plant as I have seen individuals have negative side-effects from Chastetree.  Often times people are taking Chastetree for the wrong indications, I only use Chastetree to increase progesterone, for tender breasts and to lower prolactin, or I see individuals taking it for a very long time without seeing any results. However the reason I am very careful about this herb is I have seen individuals have very low moods from taking Chastetree, where they don’t even feel like themselves anymore. I have de-prescribed Chastetree often and in those cases I have seen the mood rise and their connection to themselves shift within the week. It’s a very strong herb that needs to be used wisely.”

Krista Poulton