Vitex Helps Reduce Symptoms of PMS Vitex agnus-castus is a fascinating herb recommended 2500 years ago Vitex, or chaste berry, as it is also known because of its ancient reputation for damping excessive sexual desire, is a shrub or small tree that grows in the Mediteranian area of southern Europe. I saw the bush growing wild on a small Greek island, Kithera, and enjoyed smelling its fragrant 5-parted leaves. The purpleflowers appear late in the summer in long dense spikes of purple or purple and white, which are attractive to bees and butterflies. I've always felt that vitex makes a great border plant in the garden, even not considering its healing properties. The small brown seeds will develop in warm or hot climates only. We couldn't get it to fruit in Portland, Oregon, and it was irregular in foggy, coastal Santa Cruz, but fruits well in any climate with a hot summer, and the plant will stand temperatures down into the high teens. The fruit is harvested in the fall and ground up into a menstruum (solvent) of pure ethyl alcohol (clear spring). One hundred proof vodka will work, but it is not as effective as a solvent, so the resulting tincture will be a bit weaker. After 2 weeks, squeeze or press the liquid from the marc (spent herb mass), and store in amber bottles away from heat and light. The tincture should be good for up to 2 or 3 years. The dose is ¼ to ½ teaspoon in the morning for mild to moderate symptoms, or up to ½ tsp morning and evening for stronger symptoms. Of course vitex is available in ready-made tinctures, as well as a standardized extract (usually to the flavonoid casticin) in capsules or tablets. If you prefer capsules or tablets, take 1 or 2 in the morning, or for more severe symptoms, 2 in the morning, 1 in the evening. A number of clinical trials have been performed with vitex, not all of them well-designed or controlled. The new Schellenberg study adds new and compelling evidence that vitex, when used regularly, can reduce symptoms of PMS such as irritability, headache, mood swings and breast tenderness. Other trials show that vitex can help reduce symptoms especially of breast tenderness. Schellenberg, R. 2001. Treatment for the premenstrual syndrome with agnus castus fruit extract: prospective, randomised, placebo controlled study. British Medical Journal 322:134-7. For more information on vitex, see my book, Vitex, the Women's Herb, or my upcoming complete review of the literature in HerbalGram. C. Hobbs other health news
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by the father of natural healing, Hippocrates, for promoting a good flow of mother's milk. A German herbal company founded by Gerhard Madaus created one of the first modern products and began testing the product in the 1930s. They found that vitex had a variety of effects on sexual hormone balance, especially for increasing progesterone levels, and began to recommend it for symptoms often associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or premenstrual tension (PMT).