Chaste tree berry, also known as Vitex agnus-castus, comes from an aromatic flowering tree that is native to the Mediterranean region but currently grows in numerous subtropical climates. The tree grows to a height of 1 to 5 meters, and the berries, leaves and tender stem parts are used to make a chaste tree extract for the treatment of a variety of health conditions.
Chaste Tree Components
Chaste berry contains the flavonoids casticin, penduletin and chrysophanol. Flavonoids are potent antioxidants. According to "Lethbridge Undergraduate Research Journal," flavonoids reduce inflammation in the body, help prevent and treat viral diseases and may play an important role in cardiovascular health. In addition, chaste tree contains substances that contribute to the formation of numerous steroidal hormones in the body, including progesterone, testosterone and androstenedione.
PMS
Chaste tree seems to function as an estrogen in the body, and it helps regulate the progesterone-estrogen balance in women. Due to this effect, the herb is often used for the treatment of female hormonal disorders such as premenstrual syndrome, or PMS. More research needs to be done, but Hebal-Supplement-Resource.com says that chaste tree may reduce PMS-related breast tenderness and pressure, headaches, bloating and fatigue in women who take it regularly.
Endometriosis
The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that chaste tree berry may be beneficial for the treatment of endometriosis. Endometriosis occurs when cells from the uterus travel outside the uterus to other parts of the body. These misplaced cells are stimulated by hormones, and chaste tree berry may help regulate the hormones responsible for this misplacement. For the treatment of endometriosis, take 400 mg of chaste tree extract in the morning, once a day, and continue to take it for 12 to 18 months for maximum effectiveness.
Infertility and Breast Health
Chaste tree is also used to treat infertility associated with mild corpus luteum insufficiency, which is a condition characterized by abnormally low progesterone levels. In addition, it may help increase breast milk production due to its effect on certain hormones. More research needs to be done, but chaste tree may also help prevent and treat breast cancer.
Dosage and Precautions
Adverse effects are possible from the use of chaste tree extract. The most common ones include nausea, headache, gastrointestinal disturbances such as diarrhea, menstrual disorders, acne and rashes.The herbal extract may also interfere with the efficacy of hormonal contraceptives due to its hormone-regulating activity. Due to the potential for side effects and chaste tree's ability to interact negatively with certain medications, talk to your doctor before supplementing with chaste tree.
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