PMS and Menopausal Relief (Agnus Castus)

Member Name: Shekera

Product:	Agnus Castus
Date:	15/01/02 (3555 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Enables you to treat PMS and Menopausal problems yourself.

Disadvantages: It is important to keep to the stated recommended dose, however seek professional herbalist advice before taking in conjunction with prescribed hormone drugs.

Agnus Castus Berries (Vitex agnus-castus)

The Agnus Castus is very pretty, half-hardy Mediterranean shrub with long pointed green leaves. Vitex agnus-castus is also known as Chaste tree and can be found growing in damp places, especially by streams.

The berries of this plant have a range of medicinal actions but possibly the most important is its ability to rectify hormonal imbalances caused by an excess of oestrogen and an insufficiency of progesterone. It does this by acting upon the pituitary gland, where it reduces the production of certain hormones and increases the production of others, shifting the balance in favour of the gestagens.

It has a wide application of uses in malfunctions of the feminine reproductive system and has been used with great effect in restoring absent menstruation, regulating heavy periods, restoring fertility when caused by hormonal imbalance, relieving pre-menstrual tension and easing the change of the menopause.

In addition to being ideal in the treatment of PMS with irritability, it is also excellent for the relief of breast pain and water retention. When added to sage, is a great help for those who suffer with hot flushes. It may be taken in conjunction with hormone drugs, but it is best to seek the advice of a professional herbalist before doing so, however it is NOT to be taken with progesterone.

The berries should be picked in the autumn, dried and stored in a cool dark place. The fresh berries can be pounded to a pulp and used in the form of a tincture, which can be used to treat paralysis, pains in the limbs, weakness etc.

However, an easier way is to make the berries into a pepper known as “Agnus Castus Pepper”. This can be done by grinding up the dried berries in a coffee grinder – use the “pepper” to sprinkle on you meals – I recommend that you use no more than two good pinches of the pepper per does, which equates to a quarter of a
flat teaspoon.

However, if you wish to take Agnus Castus in tincture form then the best time to take the berries is first thing in the morning before breakfast. One cup of the decoction or twenty to forty drops of the tincture in a little water, taken daily, will usually suffice.

For those who do not wish to prepare their own remedy, Agnus Castus is available in both capsule and tablet form from good health food suppliers.

On a lighter note, Agnus Castus is also reputed both to increase sex drive and also to damp it down - it is still used in monasteries to help the monks keep to their vows of chastity, by balancing excess male hormones!

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