Ever noticed luscious lavender flowers with green sprigs perched on top of bouquets or basketry? The pretty-looking pliable twigs and blooms are of deciduous flowering shrubs called Chasteberry, abundantly found alongside the riverbanks. Spreading a mild aroma, this tree or tall shrub is Native to China and India and has been well known for ages. In fact, it was even mentioned in the 4th century BC by the Greek botanist Theophrastus owing to its wondrous wellness benefits, hence also called Abraham's Balm. Humans have been consuming chasteberry extracts for more than 2000 years.
Chasteberry goes by the botanical name Vitex Agnus Castus, which is the largest genus in the Verbenaceae plant family. It also carries some interesting synonyms such as Cloister pepper, Hemp tree, and Monk's pepper. Chasteberry spreads a delicate aroma attracting hundreds of butterflies ideal for pollinating other greens in your garden. A powerful herbal remedy to treat a variety of chronic ailments, in Turkish medicine, chasteberry is extensively used as a digestive, antifungal, and anti-anxiety medicine and treats various anxiety and bipolar disorders.
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Agnuside is one of the most significant active ingredients in chasteberry. A potential herbal supplement, the greatest area of benefit of this plant is its effect on the pituitary glands that aid in supporting female reproductive cycles and healthy female hormone levels during premenstrual syndrome, menstruation, and menopause. Moreover, blends of chasteberry essential oils are frequently used for their potential effects in decreasing heart rate and reducing blood pressure:
Here are some of the health benefits that Chasteberry is laden with:
Antibacterial And Antifungal Benefits
Essential oils made from vitex or chasteberry fights harmful fungi and bacteria, including Staphylococcus and Salmonella bacteria thus preventing the body from severe infections.
Benefits Reproductive Health
By decreasing levels of the hormone prolactin, chasteberry extracts help alleviate progesterone deficiencies and rebalance other hormones. Chasteberry inhibits gonadotropin-releasing hormone in the hypothalamus, which further causes a release of follicle-stimulating hormone from the pituitary gland. This augments regulation of estrogen and progesterone production in the ovaries.
Reduces Breast Pain
Chasteberry has been used to reduce cyclic mastalgia, a type of breast pain linked to menstruation. It also eases menstrual flow and combats premenstrual-related symptoms as well as migraines. The plant extracts stimulate mu-opioid brain receptors thus blocking the pain and soothing all kinds of cramps.
Increases Breast Milk Secretion
The extracts or teas made from the chasteberry plant have been found effective in stimulating milk production in lactating mothers.
Cures Androgenic Alopecia
It is the most common form of drastic hair loss, affecting both men and women. Chasteberry has been effective to aid the functioning of the pituitary gland which sometimes secretes a decreased number of hormones, causing hormonal imbalance. Chasteberry extract regulates a shift in the estrogen-progesterone ratio, by increasing progesterone, a very important hormone and factor responsible for hair growth and loss.
To know more, foray into the infographic and check out what other wellness incentives this lovely lilac flowered plant offers:
