The Power of Vitex

Long before there were gynecologists, people used Vitex to treat female reproductive problems.  Vitex is a natural remedy that women through the centuries  have depended on to relieve symptoms of PMS, irregular menstrual cycles, heavy bleeding and menopause.  Many believe  it helps promote fertility.  Today it is one of the most widely used botanicals employed  by herbalists in America and Europe.  So what is this powerful plant and how can it help you?

Vitex, also known as the chaste tree or monk’s pepper,  grows in tropical and subtropical regions.  It’s leaf  looks similar to a marijuana leaf and it produces long spires of pale lavender or rose colored flowers followed by small, hard fruits.  The fruit is the part most often used for medicines.

Vitex is considered a regulator of reproductive hormones.   When there’s an overabundance of estrogen and too little progesterone in your body, things quickly get out of whack.  Vitex  helps return your system to a more balanced state and eliminates many of your troublesome symptoms.  Not because Vitex itself is a hormone, but because it stimulates the production of progesterone.  Having sufficient progesterone is vital to conception and the ability to carry a baby.  It is also necessary to keep other hormonal symptoms in check.

Many women have found that using vitex to promote a healthy hormonal balance has made a vast difference in their lives.  They report a reduction of breast tenderness, mood swings, hot flashes and irritability.  Their periods have become more regular and cramping is decreased.  And yes, several studies show that some women who had failed to conceive before were able to become pregnant after using vitex.

Vitex is being promoted as a ‘miracle maker’.  Of course, it will not solve everyone’s problems.  It will not help you get pregnant if the cause of your infertility is something other than a hormonal imbalance. There are a few side effects, the most common being mild digestive upset and skin rashes.  Other side effects include headache, rapid heartbeat, dry mouth, hair loss, nausea, bleeding between periods and itching.

Drug interaction is also a possibility with certain medications.  It may decrease the effectiveness of  oral contraceptives and hormone replacement thereapy. Vitex might also interfere with drugs that control levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter.  If you have schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease or other conditions where dopamine levels are a concern, consult your physician before beginning vitex.  You should not take vitex if you are pregnant.

The amount of vitex that should be taken varies with each person, but the general guidelines for daily dosage are:

• 60 drops of vitex tincture, standardized to contain 0.6% agusides.
• 175 mg. or more of standardized vitex extract, standardized to contain 0.6% agusides

Vitex is not an overnight cure.  You could take vitex for 3-6 months before seeing results.

For many women, vitex truly does seem to be a potent gift from nature.  Whether they use it to improve their chances of becoming pregnant, to ease the woes of PMS or to ease the symptoms of menopause, vitex  helps many women live healthier happier lives.

Related posts:

1. When to use Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy