(Agnus castus) also known as Chaste Tree or Monk's Pepper Traditionally used by women to help support balanced hormones and ease symptoms associated with the monthly menstrual cycle and typical hormonal changes as one ages.
Research and Aromatherapy Literature Notes PMS and Menopausal Issues: Vitex agnus castus has been shown to be a singularly effective agent to re-equilibrate progesterone and estrogen levels and to have pronounced benefits for PMS and menopausal complaints. (B. Meier, D. Berger, E. Hoberg, O. Sticher, adn W. Schaffner, "Pharmacological Activities of Vitex agnus-castus Extracts in Vitro," Phytomedicine 7, no. 5 (2000): 373-81.)
Vitex balances progesterone levels and moderates excess estrogen by direct action on the pituitary (Lucks 2003 p. 15) Aromatherapy for Health Professionals by Shirley and Leon Price. Vitex - Fertility Super Herb? by Hethir Rodriguez C.H., C.M.T. Kurt Schnaubelt (PhD in chemistry and founder and scientific director of Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy), notes that: Unlike any other essential oil, Vitex creates "proper estrogen-progesterone balance in the second half of the monthly cycle and therefore eases or eliminates PMS. In fact, it alleviates PMS more effectively than all other commonly suggested oils that mimic estrogen but does nothing to rectify the crucial balance between progesterone and estrogen." This is because Vitex has a "distinct influence on the pituitary gland, which in turn generates proper equilibrium of estrogen and progesterone in the body." Schnaubelt also notes that experimental internal use of one drop per day in the second half of the cycle "has so far not resulted in any noticeable adverse effects, only great effectiveness in controlling PMS. Schnaubelt, Kurt PhD, Medical Aromatherapy, pages 207, 255. "Vitex leaf essential oil is highly effective in re-equilibrating progesterone and estrogen, but its mechanism of action is not really understood.” Schnaubelt Ph.D., Kurt. The Healing Intelligence of Essential Oils: The Science of Advanced Aromatherapy (p. 21). Inner Traditions/Bear and Company.
Henri Viaud: “Yet another example for the unexpected effectiveness of authentic essential oils is the balancing of premenstrual progesterone deficiency with Vitex Agnus cactus. Practically every woman in the aromatherapy community who has used this essential oil will attest to its powerful effects. Apparently there is a combination of selective activity of some sesqui- and diterpenes as well as an emerging quality of the whole oil in which selective effects team up with the nonselective effects of the ubiquitous monoterpenes to produce the distinct effects of Vitex agnus castus essential oil.” Schnaubelt Ph.D., Kurt. The Healing Intelligence of Essential Oils: The Science of Advanced Aromatherapy (p. 64). Inner Traditions/Bear and Company.
"While the alcoholic extract of this plant has a long history in the herbal medicine of many societies, the essential oil had not really been a factor. At a phytotherapy conference in Munich, Dutch researcher J. H. Zwaving, who soon after published results about research into the activity of Vitex agnus castus, told aromatherapist Monika Haas he believed that the active components of the tincture of Vitex agnus castus would be much more prominently present in the essential oil. He expected the essential oil to be significantly more effective than the tincture. This notion was clearly confirmed by Barbara Lucks’ study 'Vitex agnus castus: Explorations in Menopausal Balance,” also published in the Proceedings of the 4th Aromatherapy Conference on the Therapeutic Uses of Essential Oils, 2000. Essential oil of Vitex agnus castus is today used by many in the aromatherapy community as a highly effective and safe agent to equilibrate progesterone and estrogen levels, significantly easing PMS and menopausal complaints.' Schnaubelt Ph.D., Kurt. The Healing Intelligence of Essential Oils: The Science of Advanced Aromatherapy (p. 86). Inner Traditions/Bear and Company. In Freedom Through Health by Terry Shepherd Friedmann, M.D., he writes: In Europe the essential oil Vitex . . . is used to treat Parkinsons. According to the French physician Dr. Jean CLaude LaPraz, he had observed an 89% success rate in reversing the symptoms of this dreaded disease. He recommended inhaling Vitex and applying it to the spine and soles of the feet." The following three paragraphs are from Aromatherapy PA by Roberta Wilson: "Vitex is experiencing renewed popularity. For more than two thousand years, vitex has given women relief from menstrual difficulties, menopause, and other feminine complaints. The pituitary gland secretes progesterone and estrogen according to signals from the brain and other areas of the body. Chaste tree regulates and tones the female reproductive system through its action on the pituitary. Scientists have not isolated any one component within the plant that accounts for its remarkable effects on women; most likely the synergy of the components acting together is responsible for its actions." "Vitex offers a safe, natural way to balance your hormones at the source of their secretion— the pituitary gland. Instead of supplementing your body with synthetic hormones that can make symptoms worse and produce intolerable side effects, you can regulate hormone secretion so that you produce the perfect balance— for you— of estrogen and progesterone. Vitex offers a safe alterative to HRT, especially if the side effects of taking synthetic hormones exceed the discomfort of the original menopausal complaints." "Simply smelling vitex several times throughout the day can minimize or eliminate most of the problems associated with the change of life. Vitex works by balancing hormonal secretion in the pituitary gland, where it prompts your body to release the amounts of progesterone and estrogen that it needs. This eliminates the guesswork of HRT, the success of which depends on finding the right medication at the right dosage that will relieve symptoms without creating serious health conditions or severe side effects that are worse than the symptoms."
Kurt Schnaubelt, Ph.D wrote in The Healing Intelligence of Essential Oils (p. 133) that 1 drop can be taken internally for PMS and menopausal issues. Schnaubelt also notes in Medical Aromatherapy that experimental internal use of one drop per day in the second half of the cycle "has so far not resulted in any noticeable adverse effects, only great effectiveness in controlling PMS. Click here for more information about internal usage.
7. This past cycle in lieu of compounded progesterone I used Vitex at a 1% dilution rate mostly on my big toe at the pituitary gland site. I didn't know if it would work, but I wanted to try it. I am happy to say that it does indeed work! With the compounded progesterone used during peak (fertility) day +3 days post peak day +12 days post peak day, my cycle grew from 25 days to 29. This time around with Vitex at peak day +3, my cycle lengthened past 29 days and I wondered if I needed to stop using it to allow my body to have a period. I kept up the use of it until I confirmed pregnancy by day 31. My NaProTechonology doctor performed 2 surgeries last summer and found uterine polyps and then endometriosis. Prayer, diet, supplements, detox and essential oils have all played a part as well. God be praised! UPDATE: Laura miscarried her precious baby and updated us: The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be thename of the Lord! If necessary, Natural Procreative (NaPro) physicians have you take progesterone pills as your body would normally produce the hormone and that is during the 3rd day after the last day you show peak fertility signs through the 12th day after the last day you show peak fertility signs. So, if my peak day was Jan. 1, peak +3 would be Jan. 4 and peak +12 would be Jan. 13. By taking progesterone you assist your body with progesterone for those days. Of course Vitex essential oil may help the pituitary balance hormones but it doesn't contain any hormones. Currently, I'm using Vitex herbal extract drops daily as I can get help from herbalists as to how to proceed, and I'm using Vitex essential oil at 2% over my reproductive organs in the morning and sometimes at night. - Laura
8. I recently ordered the Vitex blend for my father for what we suspect is the beginning of Parkinson's. After using it only a few days (and only in the evenings before bed), he is improving. My parents and I are so thrilled! - Marian
9. My life-long irregular cycles finally normalized with a daily application of 2% Vitex over my ovaries, thyroid, ankles, wrist and inner thighs. I also experience less cramping and PMS symptoms. - Casey
10. My cycle ceased without explanation for a few months, so I decided to give Vitex a try. I diluted it at 2% and applied over my ovaries every morning and sometimes early afternoon. Within 2 weeks, my cycle returned. I kept up the application, for another month, and my cycle returned right on schedule. This is pretty amazing! - Tina
11. I've found great improvement since using Vitex for my debilitating hot flashes. They are almost non-existent now after applying 2% Vitex over my ovaries daily. - Kim
12. I shared my Vitex with my 12-year-old daughter who have hormonal headaches, and they have completely disappeared! She applied 2% Vitex from my roll-on applicator over her ovaries whenever she felt one coming on, and they never developed into full-blown headaches, so I encouarged her to apply it every morning, and now they don't plague her at all. Sweet! - Casey
13. I started having vaginal dryness after menopause came on, so I decided to give Vitex a try since it had helped me with my hot flashes. I mix up a 2% dilution with Emu oil and inserted vaginally every evening after my shower and every morning before dressing. This seems to have virtually resolved the problem. - Kim
