Sunday, November 22, 2020

Materia Medica Lesson 10-13: Vitex, Agnus Castus

 Vitex effects menses... but not the same for every woman and not predictably.

From  SPECIFIC INDICATIONS FOR HERBS IN GENERAL USE Third edition Michael Moore:

VITEX AGNUS-CASTUS 

Palpitations in menopause or puberty from corticosteroid imbalances. Progesterone or prolactin deficiency. Dysmenorrhea, with depressions and lengthy history of PMS; or with progesterone deficiency. Menopause, basic initial treatment, if Angelica sinensis worsens symptoms. Menorrhagia, as a general preventative. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS), secondary approach. Lactation, poor quality and quantity

VITEX AGNUS-CASTUS (Chaste Tree Berries, Monk Peppers) SEEDS. Tincture [1:5, 65% alcohol] 30-60 drops. Ground Berries, 1/2 to 1 tspn. in tea, both once in the morning. As it strengthens the progesterone phase of the estrus cycle, it usually works best the two weeks before menses. STATUS : W/LA/C

FEMALE BALANCER

Vitex agnus-castus Tinct ....... ...........3 parts

Black Cohosh Tinct ............... ...........2 parts

Dandelion FE. ....................... ...........2 parts

Motherwort Tinct................... ...........2 parts

Oregon Grape Root Tinct ...... ...........1 part

Mix with fluidextract and tinctures. Use 30-60 drops (1 or 2 squirts) 2 or 3 times a day This helps to regulate chronically short estrus cycles, with aggravated anabolic metabolism.


MENOPAUSE: EARLY FORMULA

Vitex agnus-castus Tinct ....... ...........3 parts

Yellow Dock Tinct ................ ...........2 parts

Sarsaparilla Tinct................... ...........2 parts

Peony Tinct.... ....................... ...........2 parts

Nuphar Tinc... ...................... ...........1 part

American Ginseng Tinct........ ...........1 part

Mix using tinctures, since some are best fresh, some best dry Use 30-60 drops (1 or 2 squirts) 2 or 3 times a day For women in earlier stages of menopause when erratic cycles and flooding result from increasingly disorganized corpus luteal progesterone production.


PMS FORMULA, LONG CYCLE

Vitex .............. .......................3 parts

Devil's Club ... .......................2 parts

Black Cohosh. .......................2 parts

Oregon Grape Root................2 parts

Peony ............. .......................2 parts

Inmortal ......... .......................2 parts

Anemone (Pulsatilla).............1 part

Mix as tinctures, since the Anemone MUST be made fresh, the Peony is BETTER fresh, the rest can or should be made dry. Use 30-60 drops (1 or 2 squirts) 2 or 3 times a day For symptoms that start just before menses, deriving from weak progesterone levels with a premature rise in estrogen before menstruation; the cycle is generally longer than 28 days. Problems include rapid-onset water-retention, headaches, joint pain, and labile emotions.


Here is the link to the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine Course

https://www.swsbm.com/school/

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