Treating Health Problems with Chaste Tree Berry

By Susannah Singer

In ancient times, it was called Monk's pepper. This is because chaste tree berry (also known as Vitex and by the trade name Femaprin) was said to have an anaphrodisiac quality, that is, its ability to decrease sexual drives. Other sources indicate it was used as an aphrodisiac, in other words, for the opposite effect. How can both be true?

Though it grows to a height of twenty-two feet, chaste tree is just a large shrub native to the Mediterranean and southern Europe. Naturally it grows on moist riverbanks, but it can be grown in ornamental gardens in America as well. Look for its blue-violet flowers to blossom in midsummer. Chaste tree berries are only used to treat female problems today.

The above seeming contradiction isn't the only one related to this herb. In history it has been used to inhibit excessive milk flow after birth, and to encourage it. It is used to treat post menopausal symptoms by some, and others say it exacerbates them. Some have used it to encourage conception, but others say that it does nothing for infertility.

The reason for contradictory results from chaste tree berry is that it is an adaptogen. This means it works through the adrenal glands, in this case the pituitary, to produce adjustments in the body that normalize hormone imbalance. In other words, it constrains hormonal excesses and encourages deficiencies. Other herbal examples of adaptogens are garlic, ginseng, echinacea, ginkgo, goldenseal, and taheebo.

To accomplish this balancing act for the body, chaste tree berry increases the production of certain hormones which reducing the production of others. In this way it may help overcome infertility by shifting the body's hormonal balance in favor of the gestagens which are used by the body to condition it for pregnancy.

Chaste tree berry encourages production of progesterone. This is why the herb is especially effective in balancing the female reproductive system. It is taken to help restore menstruation, to regulate heavy periods, and, as mentioned above, to restore fertility caused by hormonal imbalance. Some using it have found relief from PMS tension, and eased the changes during menopause. Premenstrual breast tenderness, linked to excess prolactin, is helped with chaste tree berry.

Other uses include relief of paralysis, pains in the limbs, and neuropathic muscular weakness, all treated with chaste berry tincture. Chaste berries are even used to treat acne in men and women. The berries can be ground in a pepper mill and used as a mild substitute for black pepper. The spicy aroma of the leaves and flowers are used for flavoring.

Dose: Take 20 to 40 mg of the herb, or its equivalent daily. If using a tincture, 20 drops one or two times a day is normal. Capsules or tea (one cup) may also be used. Taking chaste berry shortly before bedtime may improve sleep. Chaste tree berry is slow acting and it may take two or three months to know if it is helping.

Warnings will vary but some say pregnant women and nursing mothers should not take chaste tree berry. Also women with hormone-sensitive cancers (e.g. breast, uterus, pituitary, etc.) should avoid it. Chaste tree berry should not be taken with exogenous hormones such as oral contraceptives or menopausal hormone replacement therapies. Some experience an itchy allergic rash, mild nausea, or headaches from taking it. A few women have complained that the length of their cycle changed.

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But there are more benefits of whole Chaste Tree Berry to be discovered. Visit More Than Alive, a trusted online source about bulk herbs where you can also learn the benefits of Chaste Tree Berries for horses.

Menopause Relief - Is There A Natural Cure?

Menopause relief - Unfortunately, like the common cold, there is no cure for menopause. There are however, ways to reduce the symptoms and bring about relief for those who suffer from the hot flashes, moodiness, insomnia, and irritability that most women experience going through menopause.

For those just beginning to experience menopause, think puberty. Along with some of the symptoms mentioned above, most women experience the same hormonal imbalance now as they did when they were young girls.

Menopause timeline

In most cases, women begin menopause at about 45 to 47 years of age, and depending on the individual, you can count on it lasting anywhere from seven to ten years! Some people experience menopause earlier or later, but 45 is a good age to start looking for the signs if you haven't already.

Menopause relief

Researchers have studied menopause in all parts of the world to determine what if any social, environmental, or psychological differences effect menopause and its symptoms and what menopause relief other countries may have found to be useful.

This research found that Asian women often suffered less from hot flashes when going through menopause and many researchers believe this is due to the regular consumption of soy in their diets. So, for those women who believe in natural remedies soy may be a great choice. You can find soy and hopefully some menopause relief in soy nuts or tofu. These foods contain phytoestrogen, which mimics that used to be produced by women prior to the onset of menopause.

Finding the right solution for menopause relief

Like snowflakes, every woman's experience with menopause is going to be a bit different; some may even show very few if any signs that they are going through the change. However, for those experiencing a tougher time with menopause, you can look for the following ingredients in your foods as these are a great resource of phytoestrogens.

1. Alfalfa

2. Red clover

3. Black cohosh

There are other natural remedies for menopause relief that target specific symptoms like irritability and restlessness. Herbal teas are an excellent way to help provide you with a calming state of mind. Another fantastic method for minimizing menopause symptoms is aromatherapy.

Aromatherapy has been used to target aggressiveness and irritability because of its specific targeting ability. Aromatherapy has also been used to successfully treat those suffering from mild to severe cases of menopausal depression.

Once you've been able to determine that you're beginning menopause, you're going to want to take a look at your existing diet. Your body is going to react to the foods that you eat now differently now, causing you to gain weight more easily. You're going to want to increase your intake of foods rich in calcium in order to prevent osteoporosis. You are really going to want to limit the amounts of sugars and fats you eat on a daily basis as well.

You may want to consider joining a group or seeking out a forum online of women going through the same things as you are. The association with others can be very comforting and it will remind you that menopause isn't an illness, rather a natural evolution of you!

Educating yourself on what to look for and how to react to menopause will make the transition much easier. It normally takes women a year or two to realize that menopause has started and then seek confirmation from her doctor who can test to determine hormonal levels.

Also knowing that there is menopause relief available is comforting and all you have to do is find out what works best for you. Enjoy you, enjoy your body, enjoy life!

Author Resource: Tess Barksdale is your average new century woman, author, mother, daughter, friend, and businesswoman. Tess writes on many topics but loves discussing all things women. Find out more ways to find menopause relief by visiting Tess at her website at http://womenshealthreport.org.

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