Chasteberry - Vitex: the womb & love priestess...

Chasteberry - Vitex is especially aligned with the Autumn, not only because it supports our Inner Autumn/Luteal phase of menstrual cycles but also because it is especially aligned with ancestral harvest rituals & helps unleash our inner creatrix, priestess & dream oracle....

Traditionally it can be used in initiation rituals, fertility magic, to attune oneself to your root center in meditations, or to reaffirm one's vows of commitment to the sacred feminine.

It increase receptivity via extra sensoral perceptions, intuition and our spiritual gifts.

It is a supportive spiritual herb during times of spiritual transformation and renewal, where it will help the practitioner to get in touch with his/her core self.

Since ancient times, Vitex or Chasteberry or Agnus Castus, has been used for health, fertility & marriage rituals.

In Greece its associated with Hera, the protectress of the home, marriage & fidelity, & Demeter, the goddess of the harvest, fertility & the sacrament of union. Chaste trees were central to the ancient Greek festival Thesmophoria, held in honour of Demeter & Persephone. During the 3 day 'women's only' festival it was customary to use Agnus Castus leaves as bedding since they were thought to increase fertility and enhance a woman's receptivity to the life-giving powers of the Goddess. Some even say that they were also invited in to sensual practices to increase their sensual powers during these festivals. Due to the fact that men were absent from these festivities Agnus Castus later became wrongly associated with chastity, rather than fertility.  These links track it back to ancestral matrifocal spirituality & rites in honor of Inanna & Venus.

In the Palo Mayombe and Santeria traditions, its called Vencedor & belongs to the Orisha/Orisa Obatalá - it is sacred & used for different cleansing rites, cleansing baths, & ways to channel the strength to succeed in life's challenges

Native to the mediterranean, northern africa & asia, Vitex is an amazing womb ally. Long standing traditions & scientific research have shown that Vitex can: 
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• Relieve PMS & PMDD symptoms like depression, migraines, acne & bloating
• Reduce painful menstrual cramps
• Boost fertility especially due to imbalanced estrogen & progesterone levels or high prolactin levels
• Lengthen menstrual cycles with short Luteal phases
• Decrease miscarriages due to progesterone boost
• Re-establish mesntrual cycle after birth control
• Re estalish your menstrual cycle after miscarriage 
• Mitigate menopausal symptoms like hot flashes & pain 
• Relieve endometriosis pain ​

How it works:
Although it contains no hormones or hormone-like substances, vitex influences hormonal activity by stimulating the anterior pituitary gland & hypothalamus to produce more luteinizing hormone (LH) and decrease secretions of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH). 

Which then helps our ovaries to produce more progesterone a hormone crucial to health and balancing estrogen levels.

Before their periods, many folks find themselves irritable, depressed, & bloated. These typical PMS symptoms may occur because of an insufficient production of progesterone in the two weeks prior to menstruation & Chasteberry helps to normalize the ratio of progesterone to estrogen. In a study of premenstrual folks, 90% of those who took Chasteberry reported that they experienced a reduction in PMS symptoms. 

It may be as effective as another common PMS supplement, vitamin B6, which clears excess estrogen from the body. While a German study actually found chasteberry to be superior to vitamin B6 for resolving PMS symptoms, if you suffer from PMS i would recommend trying the two together for maximum relief.

But this herb isn't just for female endocring health. Chasteberry has a long tradition of being used for male reproductive health as well as

• colds,
• headaches,
• migraines,
• joint conditions,
• eye pain
• spleen problems
• inflammation & swelling
• insect bites
• acne
• healing of stings

No wonder it was considered sacred... It is amazing. But remember, like many other herbs, don’t expect to see immediate results. And just like any herbal protocols for your menstrual cycle you're going to have to take it for at least 3 to 4 months before seeing symptom relief.

But because its a slow-acting herb that’s how you know deep & long lasting healing is happening. 

My favorite ways to use Chasteberry/Vitex:

• as a tea- i like to drink it right after ovulation to support my body's natural increase of progesterone - my favorite is to mix it with cinnamon or cardamom you can find it in my Moon Priestess Tisane for a healthy luteal & menstrual cycle
• place a few sprigs on an altar and meditate with it for the protection of your loved ones and family
• wear the flowers in your hair or as an amulet to remind you to conserve your emotional and material resources.  
• as a tincture - take daily to help regulate your moon cycle, balance deep body rhythms, and nourish psychic streams of creativity.
  • take just 3 drops of a tincture of this sacred herb each day for an energetic nudge
  • or a larger dose, 15 drops or so a day, for fertility and help with regulating hormonal cycles (for more specific indications for serious menstrual imbalances or estrogen dominance book me for a consultation here)

There are some side effects (dont take if pregnant or on meds without consulting your physician as always, and try to avoid it if you're on any parkinsons meds as it can interfere with medications) so I recommend booking a consultation with me if you want to know if it will be of benefit for you

You can also join us in my next Conscious Moonstration Course cohort beginning Sunday October 9th to dive deeper into this beautiful herbal gift and how it best works with our menstrual cycle. We will be exploring this herb during week 6!

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