CHASTEBERRY
Vitex agnus-castus Agnus Castus Chaste Berry Chaste Tree Monk's Pepper Vitex The scientific name for vitex, Vitex agnus-castus, comes from the Greek agnos castus, meaning "chaste," because the ancient Greeks thought the plant calmed the sexual passions. Pliny, the great Greek natural historian (23-79 A.D.), wrote that the plant "checks violent sexual desire". It is reported that medieval monks used the dried chaste tree berries in their meals to reduce sexual desire. That's why chaste tree is also known as "monk's pepper." Chaste tree was valued highly for many different health problems. For instance, a drink made from the seeds of vitex was taken to reduce fevers and headaches, stimulate perspiration, promote menstruation, "purge the uterus," and promote the flow of breast milk in new mothers. Because of their hot nature, vitex seeds were taken to dispel "wind" or flatulence from the bowels, promote urination, check diarrhea, and ameliorate dropsy and splenic diseases. Both the seeds and the leaves were also considered efficacious against the bites of spiders and snakes, and for the latter remedy, two tender leaves of vitex were taken in wine or in a mixture of vinegar and water. After the fall of Rome, Western medicine went into hibernation for a while. Throughout the Middle Ages, medical writers in Europe simply recopied the ancient Greek and Roman sources. However, original medical thought did flourish in Persia during the "Golden Age" of Arabic science, and this heritage has been preserved in the works of several notable authors. Two important works of the time are available in English editions: The Medical Formulary of AI-Samarqu.andi, from about 1200 A.D., and The Medical Formulary of AI-Kindi. These works show that agnus castus was known to the Persians. Both authors say vitex was used with other herbs to cure insanity, madness, and epilepsy. In fact, the fruits of vitex are still sold today in Egyptian bazaars as "a calming agent in hysteria". Gerard, one of the greatest of the Renaissance herbalists, gathered information about the uses of herbs from Greek and Roman sources, as well as from folk remedies and professional herbalists of the time (Gerard and Johnson 1633). His information tends to be both fanciful and practical. For example, on the fanciful side, he thought that vitex would have the same effect whether taken as a powder, tea, or worn on the body. Also, like many before him, Gerard said that vitex is the remedy for those who want to maintain chastity. On a more practical note, however, he extolled vitex as a cure for flatulence and recommended an infusion of the fruits in wine to "cureth the stoppings of the liver and spleen." Significantly, Gerard also encouraged its use as a "female" herb, writing that the seeds and leaves are useful in treating pain and inflammations of the uterus, while the seed drunk with pennyroyal will bring on the menses. After the early 1700s, vitex fell out of popularity in England, where it wasn't rediscovered until it garnered new interest as an herb for female reproductive imbalances in the mid 1900s. The English author Grieve, in her famous A Modern Herbal (1931), gives vitex a scant paragraph or two, saying only that a tincture of the fresh, ripe berries can be used "for the relief of paralysis, pains in the limbs, weakness, etc." However, in countries closer to the Mediterranean, where vitex grows naturally, the herb never entirely lost its popularity and was considered an effective remedy for many ailments, including colic, gas, and other digestive problems. For instance, in France, even through the 1880s, vitex fruits were used to promote good digestion and to remove "visceral obstructions." Cazin, the author of a French herbal treatise from the late 1800s, mentions that the use of vitex to cool the passions was well known, and he also mentions a syrup made from the seeds of vitex that was famous at the time for being "an infallible remedy for maintaining chastity and repressing the ardors of Venus." Cazin goes on to say that this syrup was widely distributed in convents to subdue passion, but he doubted it worked. In fact, he even thought that the vitex syrup had "a very stimulating property." PARTS USED Berries. USES Hormone regulator - Chaste tree is one of the most important herbs for regulating female hormones. By increasing progesterogenic activity, chaste tree can help to balance progesterone and estrogen production by the ovaries throughout the menstrual cycle. Menstrual problems - Chaste tree is prescribed by Western herbalists to treat menstrual problems, ranging from premenstrual syndrome and many of the symptoms that accompany it, to irregular or absent periods. For premenstrual syndrome, the herb should be taken for some months to see the full benefit, which can often be significant with bloating, breast swelling and tenderness, irritability, and depression all reduced. Irregular periods - The herb helps to regulate irregular periods, tending to shorten a long cycle and lengthen a short one.Other menstrual symptoms - Chaste tree is valuable in treating other problems that can be linked to the menstrual cycle, such as migraine and acne. Infertility - Chaste tree can help some women trying to conceive if infertility is due to low progesterone levels. Difficulty in breast-feeding - The berries are taken to increase breast-milk production. Other medical uses - Breast cancer. HOMEOPATHY The twigs of this aromatic shrub are very flexible and are used in basket making, while the red fruits are used as a flavoring. Herbalists still use the berries to increase hormone production during PMS or menopause. The remedy was proved by Hahnemann between 1826 and 1830. This remedy is most effective during menopause and for treating physical breakdown that results from the abuse of alcohol or medications, or from excessive sexual intercourse. It is given for depression, anxiety, and fatigue, with mental dullness and despair. Symptoms include premature ejaculation, particularly in men with a previously high sex drive, and loss of libido in women, for example, around menopause. Agnus castus is also good for loss of breast milk after childbirth and associated postpartum depression.
|
