Black Cohosh Root & Vitex

Black Cohosh Root is also called Bugbane, Bugwort, Rattle Root, Rattleweed, Richweed, and Squaw Root. Some nineteenth-century American physicians used Black Cohosh for problems such as fever, menstrual cramps, arthritis, and insomnia. Black Cohosh has been valued by many societies for its nutritional support for women. A popular herb for women, it helps restore healthy menses and soothes irritation & congestion of the cervix, uterus and vagina. Black Cohosh can also improve circulation and lower blood pressure by temporarily dilating blood vessels. Having effective amounts of calcium, potassium, magnesium and iron, Black Cohosh Root is also an abundant source of estrogenic substances. Commonly used to relieve arthritis, lower back pain and cramps caused by menstruation, Black Cohosh also relieves mucus production, thus easing persistent coughs caused by asthma, bronchitis and whooping cough. Additionally, Black Cohosh has been used to relieve swelling and soreness typical of rheumatism, and it is also known as safe sedative to relieve both nervousness and anxiety.

Vitex is also known as Chasteberry. In the Illiad by Homer, Vitex is depicted as a symbol of chastity. Both words, "agnus" and "castus" translate to "chaste". One of its properties was to reduce sexual desire, and it is recorded that Roman wives whose husbands were abroad with the legions spread the aromatic leaves on their couches for this purpose. The name Monk's Pepper is because monks chewed the berries to reduce their sexual desire. Vitex grows in Mediterranean countries and central Asia. The dried fruit, which has a pepper-like aroma and flavor, is used in herbal medicine preparations. Vitex contains several different constituents, including flavonoids, iridoid glycosides, and terpenoids. The whole fruit extract, rather than one of its individual constituents, appears to be necessary for the medicinal activity of Vitex. However, Vitex does not contain hormones. The benefits of Vitex stem from its actions upon the pituitary gland - specifically on the production of a hormone called luteinizing hormone (LH). Vitex also keeps prolactin secretions in check. The ability to decrease mildly elevated prolactin levels may benefit some infertile women as well as some women with breast tenderness associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Vitex may also help reduce some of the undesirable symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes associated with the reduction in the production of progesterone. Vitex can stabilize the cycle after withdrawal from progesterone birth control pills. Several studies indicate that Vitex can help control acne in teenagers, young women and men. For women who are trying to get pregnant, Vitex may be helpful to help regulate the ovulatory cycle.