Chaste tree, a supportive women’s herb

Chaste tree, Vitex agnus-castus, aka monk's pepper is a herb that most herbalists who work with women use a lot in clinic, although some of its properties make it useful for men too. The common names for Vitex are chaste tree or monk's pepper as monk's added the fruits (seed) to their food to quell their libido, and it may still be used for that today where it is in excess in men.

It is a herb I may reach for when my client has acne (either in males or females), for PCOS, fibroids, PMS and the symptoms of perimenopause, infertility (women), irregular periods and more.

It is also a herb that may be used to help the body adjust to jetlag in males and females. It is also safe to use in lower doses while breastfeeding as it is a galactogogue.

This is one my mother has growing in her garden. It is from the verbena family and is a hardy deciduous tree. I have a small one in a pot that I've grown from a cutting. Mum's tree has been slow growing but for the past few of summers it has flowered and the flowers are lilac in colour. The scent and colour makes it such a beutiful tree for flower gardeners.

Chaste tree, Vitex agnus-castus