Chaste tree

Vitex agnus-castus

Chaste Tree is a large shrub (up to twenty-two feet tall) native to the Mediterranean and southern Europe. Although chaste tree flourishes on moist riverbanks, it is easily grown as an ornamental plant in American gardens, where its attractive blue-violet flowers are appreciated in midsummer. The Greeks and Romans used this plant to encourage chastity and thought of it as capable of warding off evil.  Medieval monks were said to use the dried berries in their food to reduce sexual desire. As a result, it was also referred to as "monk's pepper."

Although Hippocrates used chaste tree for injuries and inflammation, several centuries later Dioscorides recommended it specifically for inflammation of the womb and also used it to encourage milk flow shortly after birth. Current use of chasteberry is almost exclusively for disorders of the female reproductive system. Oddly, the conditions for which it is most commonly recommended, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and peri- or postmenopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, are associated with completely different hormone imbalances. Two authors publishing the results of a survey of medical herbalists were led by this observation to suggest that chaste tree should be considered an adaptogen, possibly affecting the pituitary gland. Usually the dried berries are the part of the plant used. In some Mediterranean countries, leaves flowering tops are also ha vested and dried for use.

No one constituent of chaste tree has been isolated as responsible for its medicinal effects. The berries contain iridoids as glycosides, including aucubin and agnuside. Flavonoid content is highest in the leaves (up to 2.7 percent) and flowers (nearly 1.5 percent). The berries contain almost 1 percent of flavonoids such as casticin, isovitexin, orientin, kaempferol, and quercetagetin. It is perhaps surprising that chaste tree does not contain plant estrogens. Instead, progesterone, hydroxyprogesterone, testosterone, epitestosterone, and androstenedione have been identified in the leaves and flowers. The essential oil of chasteberry may be responsible for its distinctive spicy aroma. It contains monoterpenes cineol and pinene, along with limonene, eucalptol, myrcene, linalool, castine, citronellol, and others, plus several sesquiterpenes. An alkaloid, vitricine, is also an ingredient.

Animal research has shown that extracts of chaste tree berry have an effect on the pituitary gland of rats, reducing prolactin secretion. This has the impact of reducing milk production, exactly the opposite effect suggested by some of the ancient texts. As a result of these studies, chaste tree has been suggested to treat conditions associated with excess prolactin. In a clinical trial of chaste berry for menstrual cycle abnormalities attributed to too much prolactin, the herb normalized both the cycle and the levels of prolactin and progesterone hormones. It is also believed helpful for premenstrual breast tenderness, a condition linked to excess prolactin. Several uncontrolled studies in Germany have shown that chaste tree extracts can reduce symptoms associated with PMS. In one of these studies, the investigators reported higher blood levels of progesterone as a result of treatment.

If chaste tree can normalize hormone levels, it may be helpful for perimenopausal women with unusually short cycles or heavy bleeding. No clinical studies to date have determined the effectiveness of chasteberry for menopausal symptoms, but many medical herbalists in the United Kingdom use it to treat hot flashes. These practitioners also prescribe it for female infertility, but there are no data to indicate if chaste tree is helpful for this problem. Although studies are lacking, the antiandrogenic effect of chaste tree berry is the rationale behind the use of this herb to treat acne in both men and women and its very occasional use to reduce an overactive libido.

Chaste berry has distinct actions, depending on whether it is given to men or women. Commonly used as a woman's herb, it affects the pituitary gland, which sends chemical messages to regulate the hormone balance in the body. Chaste berry is thought to regulate the two main hormones, estrogen and progesterone. Chaste berry is invaluable in treating many disorders in the reproductive system which are due to an imbalance of these hormones, for example, PMS, irregular periods, and infertility. Chaste berry can also be used to treat acne, which is a result of hormonal imbalance at puberty or menopause. For men, chaste berry acts to depress the male androgen hormones, which are responsible for, among other things, the male sex drive. For this reason chaste berry is only rarely given to men.

Other names

• Agnus Castus
• Chaste Berry
• Monk's Pepper
• Vitex

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.
Chaste tree is also used to treat excessive hair, and fibrocystic breast.

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 drugs, 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.

Habitat & cultivation

Chaste tree is native to the Mediterranean region and western Asia. Chaste tree is cultivated in subtropical areas around the world, and has become naturalized in many regions. Chaste tree is grown from seed in spring or autumn. The ripe berries are collected in autumn.

Research

Hormonal properties - Researchers have been investigating chaste tree for over 30 years in the UK and Germany, and it is clear that the berries have a distinct hormonal effect on the body. However, the constituents responsible have not been isolated.
.Male sex hormones - Chaste tree berries are thought to be antiandrogenic, inhibiting the action of male androgens (sex hormones).
Female sex hormones - A research study in Germany in 1988 indicated that the berries have a progesterogenic effect, acting on the pituitary gland, which regulates the menstrual cycle. Some trials have shown chaste tree to be valuable in treating premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and in increasing fertility.

Constituents

lridoid glycosides (including aucibin and agnoside), volatile oil (cineol), fixed oils, alkaloids (viticine), and flavonoids (casticin).

How much to take

Many people take 40 drops (in a glass of water) of the concentrated liquid herbal extract in the morning. Chaste tree is also available in powdered form in tablets and capsules, again to be taken in the morning. With its emphasis on long-term balancing of a woman's hormonal system, chaste tree is not a fast-acting herb. For premenstrual syndrome or frequent or heavy periods, chaste tree can be used continuously for four to six months. Women with amenorrhea and infertility can remain on chaste tree for twelve to eighteen months, unless pregnancy occurs during treatment.

Side effects

Side effects are rare using chaste tree. Minor gastrointestinal upset and a mild skin rash with itching have been reported in less than 2 % of the women monitored while taking chaste tree. Chaste tree is not recommended for use during pregnancy or lactation.

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