Bulk Herbs: Chaste Tree berry - powder

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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.