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Vitex: Hormone Balancer & Use in Preconception

What is Vitex

Vitex agnus-castus, also known as Chaste berry, is an aromatic shrub in the Lamiacae (mint family) formerly of the Verbanacae (vervain family) and is native to the dry, rocky slopes of the Mediterranean.  It has been used as a medicinal plant for over 2000 years and traditional indications of Chaste berry include promoting menstruation and increasing milk flow in new mothers, for which it is still used today.  The parts we use medicinally are the fruits, sometimes called berries, which can be taken in tea, tincture, or capsule form.

Vitex: Hormone Balancer & Use in Preconception

Vitex as an aphrodisiac

One of the traditional uses of Vitex is as an anaphrodisiac. It became known as Monk’s pepper as it was used by medieval monks as food condiment for this purpose.  However, there is debate as to whether vitex actually decreases or increases libido.  One theory is that it has a normalizing or balancing effect on hormone production and therefore will either stimulate or suppress libido depending on the individual.  Another theory that was published in the Pharmacopeia Universalis in 1747 is that vitex is classed as ‘hot and drying’ energetically and therefore repressed (essentially dried up) sexual desire in people who were hot natured but in people with cold constitutions the heat of the fruit stimulated libido and acted as an aphrodisiac. However, Paul Bergner writes that this contradiction is simply down to dosage and that larger doses of the fruit will suppress libido but homeopathic doses of the fruit will stimulate libido in those where sexual appetite is already depressed due to the principal of similars in homeopathic medicine.

Vitex as a hormone balancer

Vitex has a long history of use as an ally for the female reproductive system.  Vitex is often used as a tonic herbal hormone balancer, to promote a regular cycle and to relieve symptoms of PMS.  PMS occurs during last few days of the luteal phase of a woman’s cycle and includes symptoms such as tension, anxiety, depressed mood, irritability, and fatigue as well as physical symptoms such as bloating and breast tenderness. It is said to occur in up to 75% of females during their menstruating years and can symptoms can vary from mild to severe. Several studies suggest that vitex is an effective treatment for mild to moderate symptoms of PMS with few, if any, side effects.   This is believed to be because vitex supports and stimulates the pituitary gland and increases the luteinizing hormone, which has a progesteronic effect and decreases the follicle stimulating hormone thereby helping to create regular cycles and balancing excess estrogen in the body.

Vitex use in pre-conception

It is this increase in progesterone in the body may also help in pre-conception and early pregnancy.  For those who are not up to speed on the female reproductive cycle, here is an excellent rundown.  Vitex appears to not only regulate menstrual cycles but also help those with a short luteal phase. A short luteal phase can result in progesterone levels decreasing in the body before the fertilized egg can implant in the lining of the uterus. By helping to regulate the length of this phase, taking vitex may help the fertilized egg implant and the increase in progesterone can help sustain early pregnancy.

Dosage

For vitex to be effective it should be taken for a minimum of three months on a daily basis with 1-2ml of the tincture taken twice a day or 2 cups of vitex infusion per day using 1 teaspoon of berries for each cup of water.

Contraindications

Avoid use with hormonal birth control, as it may become ineffective.  Vitex may cause changes in the length of the menstrual cycle and may cause changes in libido.  Other less common side effects include headaches, nausea and skin reactions.  Do not use in pregnancy unless working with a healthcare specialist.  Vitex use should be tapered off by the second trimester of pregnancy as it could cause a woman’s breastmilk to come in early.

Other notes

When working with the female reproductive system it is also important to work with the liver to aid hormone excretion.  Helpful herbs in this case include alteratives, such as dandelion root, burdock root and nettles. Lifestyle changes are also important and those hoping to conceive and/or reduce PMS symptoms should research and consider supplements such as Vitamin C, Magnesium, Vitamin B-6, Zinc, Iron and Essential Fatty Acids along with regular exercise and rest.

References

http://www.medherb.com/Therapeutics/Female_-_The_use_of_botanicals_for_menstrual_irregularities.htm

http://www.medherb.com/Therapeutics/Female_-_Premenstrual_Syndrome.htm#_VPID_16

http://www.christopherhobbs.com/library/articles-on-herbs-and-health/herbs-for-pms/

http://www.acupuncturebrooklyn.com/alternative-health/staging-herbal-formulas-to-enhance-fertility

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About Becky Starling

Becky is a mother, herbalist, Reiki practitioner and owner/creator of Cedar Hill Herbs where she creates herbal remedies and organic botanical skincare products from homegrown and ethically wildcrafted ingredients. She is also the founder and coordinator of the One World Herbal Community. Based out of the Okanagan Valley in the interior of British Columbia, she is passionate about organic gardening, inspiring and educating folks about plants and their uses and serving her community.

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✨ NEW POST✨ Everyone is talking about microdo ✨ NEW POST✨  Everyone is talking about microdosing psychedelics lately!!
Check out our take on this emerging trend in our latest article on the One World Herbal Community Blog (link in bio) 🍄❤️✨ #herbalism #herbalist #plantmedicine #magicmushrooms #psilocybin #microdosingpsilocybin #microdosingpsychedelics #microdosing #mycology #medicinalmushrooms #mushroommedicine #herbalmedicine #herbalistblog
GIVEAWAY!!! Yarrow Willard and the good folks over GIVEAWAY!!! Yarrow Willard and the good folks over at Wild Rose College of Natural Healing are hosting an on-line Intro to Medicinal Mushrooms course starting Monday, Oct 21st, and we're giving away a free registration to 1 of the folks in our One World Herbal Community. ***Want to win??*** To enter, do this:
1- Tag *2* friends who would love to take this course
AND
2- Like both the @one_world_herbal_community and @wildrosecollege accounts -One entry counts for every 2 tags-so tag away! Winner will be chosen Friday at 12pm pacific!

Course Details for the Curious:

Who wants to dive into Medicinal Mushroom Mysteries? Join Yarrow Willard at Wild Rose College starting this October for a virtual Intro to Medicinal Mushroom course. You'll meet wild, edible and medicinal mushrooms such as west coast resihi, chanterelle, oysters (and many more!) through your inbox this fall.

Receive a new video lesson in your inbox every 2 days from ) Oct 21st-Nov 21st. Learn more about mushroom mysteries: mushroom intelligence, lore, ethnobotany, chemistry, extraction techniques, ethical harvesting along with foraging and ID tips and nature connection.

Register By: Enrolment ends Sunday, Oct 20, 2019 at midnight: https://wildrosecollege.com/intro-to-medicinal-mushrooms/
Start date: Oct 21, 2019
End date: Nov 21, 2019 (with access to video lessons for 1 year-watch & read at your own pace!)
Where: Online...on the Wood Wide Web--available to anyone with an internet connection!
Investment: $47 CDN...that’s less than 3$ per lesson!
#herbalist #herbalism #medicinalmushrooms #fungi #mycology #herbalmedicine #mushrooms #herbschool #wildrosecollege
NEW POST 🌿✨ Farrah aka @carlisle.integrative. NEW POST 🌿✨ Farrah aka @carlisle.integrative.wellness discusses her top natural anti-inflammatories - go check it out!! #herbalist #herbalism #herbalismblog #herbalistblog #naturalhealth #naturalhealing #antiinflammatory #medicinalherbs #herbalremedies #plantmedicine
NEW POST 🌿🍃🌸 @cedarhillherbs talks about NEW POST 🌿🍃🌸 @cedarhillherbs talks about her 5 favourite medicinal plants to grow in a shady garden!! Grab yourself a cup of tea and go check it out! #gardening #herbgardening #organicgardening #herbalist #herbalism #medicinalplants #medicinalherbs #herbalremedies #herbgrower #shadygarden #gardener #plantmedicine #herbblog #herbalistblog #herbalismblog
We are dreaming of warm sun and flowers here at On We are dreaming of warm sun and flowers here at One World and @radical.alchemy has written another fantastic flower-filled recipe roundup! This time is for the wonderful chamomile! Go check it out!! #chamomile #recipes #reciperoundup #herbalist #herbalism #naturalhealth #herbs #medicinalherbs #plantmedicine #herbblogger #herbalistblogger
We welcome in the New Year with a new post from @c We welcome in the New Year with a new post from @cedarhillherbs 🎉 Herb screens are one of her most used pieces of equipment in her workspace! Learn how to make one in this step by step guide! Link in profile!! #herbalist #herbalism #howtoguide #herbgrower #herbfarmer #gardening #herbscreen #herbprocessing #cuttingandsifting #herbalmedicine #herbalremedies #plantmedicine #herbalistblog #herbalistblogger #herbblog #herbblogger
October’s recipe roundup from @radical.alchemy f October’s recipe roundup from @radical.alchemy features the mystical mugwort! Click the link in our profile to read!! #recipes #reciperoundup #mugwort #artemisia #artemisiavulgaris #herbalist #herbalism #naturalhealth #naturalhealing#herbblog #herbalistblog #plantfolk
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