Bulk Herbs: Chaste Tree / Vitex berry - powder

Excerpts from Practical Herbalism

Vitex (Chaste tree) has been used for thousands of years for its beneficial affect on the female glandular system, and its restraining effect on male hormones. Modern research has confirmed at least one of these uses, and the berries are now widely used to restore balance and function to the female reproductive system, by stimulating the natural production of progesterone.

Some of the old herbals classify the berries as anaphrodisiac, accounting for the name Monk's pepper, and the tradition of using the kernels to lessen the urges of the flesh. Other sources list the Vitex fruit as aphrodisiac, implying the opposite tendency. The truth is that the Vitex, like many other herbs, exerts a normalizing influence on the body restoring that which is absent, and constraining excessive tendencies.

Vitex acts upon the pituitary gland, reducing the production of certain hormones and increasing the production of other, shifting the balance in favor of the gestagens, hormones that normally condition the body for pregnancy. It has found a wide following of users for imbalances of the female reproductive system, especially when they are related to excessive estrogen or xen-estrogen influence, and has been used with great effect in restoring absent menstruation, regulating heavy periods, restoring fertility when caused by hormonal imbalance, relieve PMS tension, and easing the changes of menopause.

A tincture of the berries has also been used externally for the relief of paralysis, pains in the limbs, and neuropathic muscular weakness.

Internal Indicated Usages:

Amenorrhea	Infertility
Menopausal discomfort	Menstrual cramps
Nursing (to initiate - short term use only)	PMS

External Indicated Usages

Nerve Deficiency

Special Considerations:

Large does of Vitex has been known to cause a nervous disorder known as formication, which manifests as a tingling sensation like insects crawling over the skin.

Notes:

Vitex berries can be used as a mild substitute for black pepper, and can even be ground in a pepper mill. Not only will the safrole in the pepper be avoided, but the libido may get an attitude adjustment.

susan auster
October 1, 2010 at 6:25 pm    reply?

This is a wonderful product to help mares . I use 1/2 oz. two times a day. I use up the bag and then give them one week off the product. This is usually the way to make the herbs work better. I am so glad that I found this site. Maybe I shouldn't say this but I was paying so much more with another company. This is so affordable and I thank you so much for that. Since my horses say on this product for life, I will always be a customer.

Sue
November 9, 2010 at 12:09 pm    reply?

I am going to try this product for my 4yr old gelding. I have a question for others who have used this product. I have my horse at a boarding stable and I am required to put supplements into individual baggies. My horse also gets MSM and I am wondering if I can put the MSM and the Chaste Tree Berry together in the same baggie or if there will be some kind of reaction between them?

Maureen
December 9, 2010 at 9:23 pm    reply?

I have been using Chaste Tree Berry Powder for one of my horses who has Cushings disease. I have read many stories & research about it and all I can say is It works wonders. I didn't want to use the Rx prescribed by my vet after reading all the side effects. This is awesome! Just remember IF you decide to use this on your horse, do your research first.

kathy
June 26, 2011 at 10:42 pm    reply?

Hello,
I am starting my mares on chaste tree berry powder and am not sure the best way to give it. do I just sprinkle the powder over the food, make a tea? can some one help me out.

Emily Cates
July 20, 2011 at 8:46 am    reply?

This stuff really works for Cushings. I own a 26 yr old Morgan mare, diagnosed with Cushings about 4 yrs ago. She also has Thyroid troubles. She was on Pergolide for about a year and a half. It didn't do anything for her. I heard about Chaste tree berries from another horse friend, looked it up on line and did some research . She has been on the CTB powder for a year and a half now and this spring she shed her very long(4") coat along with the rest of my horses. She has been over weight for a no. of years also and now is at the proper wt. Herbs are not a quick fix like pharmaceuticals but they do work, you just have to be patient and give them time. I give my mare 1 Tbs. AM and PM for three weeks in her grain, then she gets one week off. She is also on Thyro-L for her thyroid. Good luck

Dawn
August 12, 2011 at 8:00 pm    reply?

I have a 1500+ lb PRE (Spanish Andalusian) mare that we have had no luck in getting pregnant although she has had 2 previous foals. She is not IR but I put her on an IR protocol of flax, probiotics & 4oz of whole oats per feeding to try and shed some weight - no luck (She is not ridden but exercised half hour a day). Today's vet check for pregnancy (NOT IN FOAL), my vet suggest a cushings screening which to me is just grasping at straws since she has no other signs. I will have it done though. Cresty necks are common in this breed and she does have that and is fat with fat depsoits, she is also on thyroid med. Has anyone used chasteberry for fertility? Vet says she is acting like a maiden mare, I have noticed that she does not show strong heats as before. Any suggestions? Thanks

Cheryl Hopkins
August 31, 2011 at 1:21 pm    reply?

I LOVE THIS STUFF. I was told by a vet to use the chaste tree berry for my aging pony to help shed his winter coat. I started in the winter and it worked like a charm. Then as I researched it I decided to try it on my Cushings mare. Worked like a charm again. She is also on HEIRO to treat insolin resistance so I now have her off the pergolide. I also use CTB for my dog who would get terrible skin in the summer and after I had her spade at 8 yrs old it got really bad. She is now so much healthier. Her skin is good and her nose is wet. I can't remember it ever being wet and I've had her her whole life. She is ten yrs old and healthier than she has ever been. I also started using it for myself for my hot flashes, again, works like a charm. I still get hot flashes but they are few and far between and not as strong and only last a couple minutes.

Janet
September 13, 2011 at 6:54 pm    reply?

I also have a mare diagnosed with Cushings last year. She has been on pergolide since then, it seemed to helped at first then not so much. She had shed her winter coat this spring, then started growing it back again. After doing research and reading the many positive comments about Chaste Tree Berries, I ordered a small package (very reasonable price). As many others have said, it worked like a charm. She shed her heavy coat in about 3 weeks, and has her beautiful, glossy coat back. I am very happy with this product, and am placing another order today - thank you!

Judy
October 25, 2011 at 4:08 pm    reply?

I have a 26yr old mule who 2 years ago was diagnosed with Cushings. She started loosing weight this spring and has lost 200# +. I had her to Michigan State large animal and they can't find anything wrong as far as they could test... I can't afford $1000's. I had her on chaseberry liquid a few years ago but was so expensive $155 a gal I can't afford it. My vet put her on Pergloid but she stopped eating all together with it. I have taken her off the Purina Low Starch and she is back on Purina equine sr. MSU said to give her up to 10# a day. She doesn't seem to eat much hay. I have 3rd cutting grass mix for her and she wastes much of it. I did buy a compressed bale of alfalfa which is cut into small pieces and she seems to eat that better except for the fines...(which the other horses get). MSU said she doesn't have cushing as she was tested this year and it came back negitive... but she has the symptoms. Not insulin restience or dibedic. She has dental work done regular by a top dentist. I am currently giving her 9# or sr feed, 3 servings of a 40% fat supplment, Arthogin by uckele for arthritis. I want to put her back on the Chasteberry as she did very well with it however with the loose stuff how can I be sure I'm giving her the same dosage each time? That is a concern for me. It won't be constant.

Any suggestions?
Thank you,
Judy