Vitex (Chaste Berry) Tincture

Overview

Extracted from: Chaste Berry
Herb:Alcohol Ratio- 1:2

The chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) is a small shrub with lance shaped leaves and purple flowers. It is native to the eastern Mediterranean and has since been cultivated in temperate climates around the world. Its peppery fruit has been used for over two thousand years; at least since the time of the Greek physician Dioscorides who recommended it to help the wives of soldiers remain chaste while their husbands were in battle.

*Vitex supports physical and emotional health during a woman’s menstrual cycle and in the transition into menopause.  It also may help regulate irregular periods and aid in conception.  Vitex  is an emmenagogue, which means that it stimulates menstrual flow in women who would normally be having a period.  These herbs can also help to restore a normal cycle for those with missed or irregular periods (amenorrhea) .

Packaging and Shipping

2 fl. oz., and 4 fl. oz. extracts come in amber glass bottles with a dropper.

Typical Preparations

*Dosage Suggestion: 60-90 drops a day. Shake well. Store in cool dark place.

Vitex is generally suggested to be taken once a day in the morning on an empty stomach (half an hour before breakfast). If Vitex is being used as part of an herbal blend containing other herbs, use as directed on the bottle. Vitex should be used all month long without a break.

An older German clinical trial found that 15 drops of a it in tincture form three times per day could increase the amount of milk produced by mothers with or without pregnancy complications, as compared with mothers given vitamin B1 or nothing at all.  There is not a lot of evidence to support vitex being safe or unsafe for women who are actively breast-feeding their babies so check with your doctor before taking it.

A tincture is a concentrated liquid form of an herb.  Tinctures preserve and concentrate the properties of the herb, which makes the effects of the herb stronger and longer lasting.  Our alcohol based tinctures have a shelf life of several years and can be consumed in water or under the tongue.

Precautions

Specific: Vitex berry is not recommended for use with hormonal contraceptives.
General: If you’re pregnant, have a hormone-sensitive health condition — such as endometriosis or breast cancer — or if you have a history of mental illness or Parkinson’s disease, then talk to your doctor before taking vitex in any form.