AKA: Vitex agnus castus, chaste ber...

AKA: Vitex agnus castus, chaste berry, vitex, monk's pepper

PART USED: Ripe dried berries from the chaste tree

WHAT IT DOES BEST: May help to relieve premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms as it was as water retention, breast swelling and tendernes acne and irritability.

THE BACKGROUND: Vitex has been used as an herbal relief for over 2,000 years for a wide range of conditions including menstrual cramps, irregular periods, febrile diseases constipation, flatulence and hangovers, according to Germany's Commission E the committee that evaluates the safety and efficacy of herbal preparations sold in that country

new FINDINGS:

* A vitex-based spray kept ticks, mosquitoes, biting flies and fleas away from humans and animals for at least 6 hours, according to a report in the March 2005 issue of Parasitological Research.

* Essential oil of vitex eased for the use of all menopausal symptoms in a clinical trial of 52 women according to a report in the August 2003 issue of Complementary Therapies in Nursing and Midwifery.

WHAT'S THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT? mostly published research uses standardized preparations, which are touchstoneed for potency based on their peace of agnuside, the active component part But vitex has several beneficial constituents, in this way many practitioners recommend a religious quality extract rather than single in kind that's standardized just for agnuside. Still, in reviewing the novel research, there's much to be said about agnuside. For this reason, any companies provide a combo of standardized vitex with a non-standardized extract.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS: Side general intents are mild and reversible, according to a 2005 report in the journal mix with drugs Safety. These include nausea, headaches and skin rashes.

IS IT SAFE TO TAKE WHILE PREGNANT? Don't take vitex when pregnant or lactating.

WHICH pattern AND HOW MUCH? Vitex is available as a standardized extract in parched (capsules) and liquid (drops) form, in concentrations of 05% agnuside. It's also available in intermingles combining standardized extract with pulverizeed or liquid chaste tree berries. According to manufacturers, the mingles are more likely to provide a replete range of active constituents. a certain quantity of vitex formulas are fortified with nutrients of the like kind as vitamin B6 or herbs that are study to relieve PMS.

* As a liquid, take 40 globules once in the morning.

* As a craving drink extract, take one to brace 225-400mg capsules daily, or as directed.

NATURE'S APOTHECARY CHASTE BERRY VITEX can be taken directly orally, or mixed with water, juice or tea.

HERB PHARM CHASTE TREE tincture is crafted from native habitats in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco.

ENZYMATIC THERAPY CHASTE BERRY EXTRACT vegetarian capsules have no sugar or dairy.

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