Vitex agnus-castus
Monograph
- Plant Family:
- Verbenaceae, or the verbena/vervain
family [1]
- Habitat & Cultivation:
- Also called
chaste tree, or chasteberry, Vitex is native to European, Mediterranean,
and Central Asian countries. It has been naturalized in the southeastern
United States. [1]
- Parts Used:
- Herbal Actions:
- Hormone
balancing (inhibits prolactin, indirectly progesteronic)
- Uterine tonic
- Dopaminergic
agonist
- Galactagogue
- Blood tonifying
- Reduces
imbalanced fluids [1]
- Indications:
- Regulates
menstrual cycle
- Normalizes
pituitary function (FSH and LH levels)
- Menopausal hot
flashes
- PMS symptoms
- Gynecologic
concerns that worsen pre-menstrually
- Acne
- Estrogen
sensitive endometriosis, fibroids, functional ovarian cysts [1]
- Plant Constituents:
- Flavonoids,
iridoid glycosides, volatile oils, 3-ketosteroids [2]
- Energetics:
- Pungent, spicy,
sweet, cool [1, 3]
- Safety:
- No
contraindications known. May interact with dopamine antagonists and
dopamine-receptor-blocking agents. [2]
Personal
Experience
- Organoleptics:
- The dried
berries look like small grey peppercorns. They smell like cooking spices –
dried tarragon or something similar.
- Preparation Method:
- Tincture: (1:5 in 60%)
2.5 mL 3x/day
- Infusion: 1 cup boiling
water over 1 tsp dried berries, infuse for 10 – 15 mins and drink 3x/day [2]
- Usage Notes:
- I made a tea,
and it turned out fairly dark in color. Smells very strong, almost like
cleaning products. It tastes like lavender but stronger – more bitter. Has
a slightly minty aftertaste. Very intense tea! I didn’t notice any
effects of this tea… I think I would need to drink it for a longer period
of time.
Sources:
- Zollinger, R. & Riccio, L.
(2019). Week 9 Study Questions. Bastyr University: WI-19_MW5125-A
Botanicals 5: Holistic Gynecologic Health
- Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical
Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Rochester, VT:
Healing Arts Press.
- Frawley, D. & Lad, V. (2001).
The Yoga of Herbs. Twin Lakes, Wisconsin: Lotus Press.
Arctostaphylos
uva-ursi
Monograph
- Plant Family:
- Ericaceae, or the heather
family [1]
- Habitat & Cultivation:
- Uva-ursi (aka
Bearberry, or kinnikinnick) is native to Europe, Asia, and North America.
This plant is an evergreen. In fall, the leaves begin changing from a
dark green to a reddish-green to purple. In spring, they have white or
pink urn-shaped flowers. Native Americans often used the berries as a
source of food that may be eaten fresh or preserved for use over the
winter seasons as food or medicine. These berries were also used to
create ceremonial rattles and may be worn decoratively as jewelry. The
uva-ursi leaves have been known to be combined with tobacco and other
medicinal plants to create a religious bundle that was used during
ceremony or smoked. [1]
- Parts Used:
- Herbal Actions:
- Astringent
- Antibacterial
- Anti-inflammatory
- Diuretic
- Urinary tonic [1]
- Body System Indications:
- Urinary - UTI
- Inflammatory
conditions - Dermatitis
- GI - Diarrhea,
inflammatory bowel disease [1]
- Plant Constituents:
- Hydroquinone
glycosides, polyphenols, tannin, flavonoids, resin, acids, allantoin,
volatile oil [2]
- Energetics:
- Cold, dry, bitter, mobile, sharp, clear [1, 3]
- Safety & Interactions:
- Caution use in
pregnancy due to potential oxytocic effect (shown in one study). Long-term use caution due to high tannin and hydroquinone content. Hydroquinones ok for treating an acute infection (antimicrobial action) but can be damaging with extended use. Use a cold decoction or higher percentage ETOH if desire is to avoid tannin toxicity. [1]
Personal
Experience
- Organoleptics:
- The dried leaves
are olive-colored and shiny. They smell earthy and sour, almost like
fermented food.
- Preparation Method:
- Tincture: (1:5 in 40+%)
2 – 4 mL 3x/day
- Infusion: 1 cup of boiling
water over 1 – 2 tsp dried leaves, steep covered for 10 – 15 minutes.
Drink 3x/day [2]
- Usage Notes:
- I made a hot infusion. It’s a light yellow color and tastes like mild green
tea. I think next time I’ll steep it for longer. It is drying and bitter,
but not in an unpleasant way. This astringent effect no doubt comes from the tannins - next time I will be sure to make a cold infusion to extract the desirable properties.
Sources:
- Zollinger, R. & Riccio, L.
(2019). Week 8 Study Questions. Bastyr University: WI-19_MW5125-A
Botanicals 5: Holistic Gynecologic Health
- Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical
Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Rochester, VT:
Healing Arts Press.
- Frawley, D. & Lad, V. (2001).
The Yoga of Herbs. Twin Lakes, Wisconsin: Lotus Press.
