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| Chaste Tree Berry Inhibits and Promotes Lactation? |
By:
Thelma Oliver |
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The ancients called it Monk’s pepper. This is because chaste tree berry (also known as Vitex and by he trade name Femaprin) supposedly had the ability to decrease sexual desire. However, others say it is an aphrodisiac, in other words, it has the opposite effect. Can both be true?
Chaste tree is a large shrub (up to twenty-two feet tall) native to the Mediterranean and southern Europe. Although it flourishes on moist riverbanks, it is easily grown as an ornamental plant in American gardens, where its pretty blue-violet flowers blossom in midsummer. Today it is almost exclusively used for female problems.
Its effect on sex drive is not the only seeming contradiction in its use. Some have used it to treat infertility, while others claim it, at best, has no affect. Some use it to treat post menopausal symptoms, while other say it makes them worse. It has been used to both encourage lactation and discourage excessive lactation.
The explanation for the contradictory results of the chaste tree berry herb is that it is an adaptogen. This means it helps the body adapt to changes by working through the adrenal glands (in this case the pituitary) to normalize hormone imbalance. In other words, it encourages hormonal deficiencies and constrains excesses. Other herbs that are adaptogens are taheebo, ginkgo, garlic, ginseng, echinacea, and goldenseal.
Because of its ability to balance the body, chaste tree berry reduces the production of certain hormones and increases the production of others. The reason it is used to treat infertility is that it tends to shift the balance in favor of the gestagens which hormones condition the body for pregnancy.
Bulk herbs like chaste tree berries are not miracle medicines. Herbs are natural ways to deal with the complex needs of the human body. Start taking herbs and make your body healthier, naturally.
Because it encourages production of progesterone, the herb is especially effective in balancing the female reproductive system. This has helped restore menstruation, regulate heavy periods, and restore fertility which is caused by hormonal imbalance. It has also relieved PMS tension and eased the changes of menopause. Some believe it is helpful for premenstrual breast tenderness, a condition linked to excess prolactin.
Chaste tree berry is also used, in tincture form, to relieve pains in the limbs, to relief pain of paralysis, and to treat neuropathic muscular weakness. Some even use them to treat acne. The berries can be ground and used as a substitute for black pepper, the flowers and leaves, with their spicy aroma, used in flavoring.
Take 20 to 40 mg of the herb as a normal daily dose; 20 drops of tincture one or two times a day is normal. One cup of the tea, or one capsule may also be used. Some take it shortly before bedtime and find it improves their sleep. Don’t be impatient. Chaste tree berry is slow acting; it may take two or three months to evaluate its effectiveness.
Though not universally held, some say pregnant women and nursing mothers should not take chaste tree berry. A woman suffering from a hormone-sensitive cancer (e.g. uterus, breast, pituitary, etc.) should not take it. Nor should a woman taking hormone drugs such as oral contraceptives or menopausal hormone replacement therapies. Some react to it with an itchy allergic rash, some with mild nausea, and some with headaches. A few women have said that their cycle length changes.
Chaste tree berry and other bulk herbs are not miracle medicines. Herbs are natural ways to deal with the complex needs of the human body. So start taking herbs and make your body healthier, naturally. |
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