Chaste Tree Berry: Discover It's Many Health Benefits
Updated Feb. 06th, 2024 | Read Time: 2 Minutes | What You Will Learn:
- How Does Chaste Tree Support Health?
- Modern Medicinal Benefits of Chaste Tree Berry
- Chaste Tree Berry Supplement Varieties
- Potential Side Effects
The chaste tree berry received its name from the ancient Greeks and Romans because they believed it decreased the female libido, thus ensuring chastity. Historically, it has been eaten and worn by Monks to promote celibacy. However, it is now known that chaste tree berry triggers a gland in the brain that produces hormones that in fact, stimulate sex hormones.
How Does Chaste Tree Support Health?
Its modern medicinal uses are also related to sex hormones. Active ingredients of chaste trees have been noted to affect the pituitary gland. This gland is located in the brain and produces hormones that stimulate the production of sex hormones in other areas of the body. It also contains chemicals that have the ability to stimulate human progesterone receptors and favour the production of luteinizing hormone over follicle-stimulating hormone. These hormones are used in the female body to support pregnancy and lactation, but their effects can also help other female complaints.
Modern Medicinal Benefits of Chaste Tree Berry
While there are many medicinal and historical uses for this nutrient, natural health practitioners recommended chaste trees for conditions such as PMS, acne and menstrual cramps; hot flashes, vaginal dryness and other menopausal symptoms; insufficient milk production and first-trimester miscarriages.
Chaste Tree Berry Supplement Varieties
Purchasing a quality chaste tree berry supplement is important to ensure potency and purity. Chaste tree comes in many supplement varieties and the format is up to individual preference. It can be purchased as a loose herb, tincture or encapsulated herb. Better quality supplements are standardized which is an assurance that the product contains chaste trees and contains active properties. The berry contains the greatest concentration of active ingredients.
Potential Side Effects
Although natural health practitioners may recommend it to pregnant women, chaste trees may induce menstruation and should be used cautiously. It may alter hormonal cycles and theoretically can interfere with birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy. It alters dopamine levels and may affect drugs for seizures, Parkinson’s and mental disorders.