Chasteberry
Natural Healing Herbs
Chasteberry was used by ancient Greeks to suppress libido. It was also used by Catholic monks for the same reason. That's how it got the nickname Monk's Pepper. There is no evidence that this herb suppresses libido, but it can be used to help treat female problems.
Other Names
This herb is also known as vitex, chaste tree, chaste tree berry, angus castus, and Monk's pepper.
Appearance
This shrug grows to be between 1 and 5 meters tall. The leaves are grayish green, long and thin. The tree produces clusters of purple flowers. It also produces a small fruit. The tree is very aromatic.
Origins
It can be found in Asia and the Mediterranean.
Part Used
The berries of the tree are dried and ground into powder or made into an extract
Medicinal Uses
This herb contains a chemical that stimulates the release of progesterone. It's commonly used to treat female problems.
- infertility
- PMS
- heavy peroids
- fibrocystic breast disease
- acne
- hot flashes
- polycystic ovary syndrome
You can by this herb and many others at Mountain Rose Herbs.
Side Effects and Warnings
The most common side effect is a rash and upset stomach. You may also experience dry mouth, headache, mid-cycle spotting, hair loss, and rapid heartrate, but these side effects are less common.
You should not take this herb if you are pregnant or nursing.
If you take any prescription medication be sure to talk to your doctor before taking this herb.
If you found this information useful, check out my complete listing of herbs at my Herb Index. You can find a listing of ailments and their natural treatments on my Free Home Remedies page.
|
