Where Western medicine fails, Traditional Chinese Medicine Annotatedtags: bcng, chinese medicine, herbal, herbs, treatments, yin and yang
may offer new hope.
EAST OF THE USUAL
Chaste tree is derived from the dried, ripened fruit of Vitex agnuscastus. It contains the two iridoid glycosides, agnuside and aucubin, as well as flavonoids, essential oils, and progestins. The berries exert a progesterogenic effect on women and an antiandrogenic effect on men. Progestin components include progesterone, testosterone, and androstenedione. Chaste tree is believed to act directly on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. The herb is also contained in various multivitamin supplements for women and in combination products used to alleviate menopausal symptoms. By increasing the release of luteinizing hormone, which in turn increases progesterone production in the ovaries, chaste tree helps to regulate the menstrual cycle.
