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Since the days of Hippocrates, chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) has been used for gynecological conditions. The Greek physician Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.) wrote, "If blood flows from the womb, let the woman drink dark wine in which the leaves of the chaste tree have been steeped." With a rich traditional of use, modern research supports historical wisdom, and has made chaste tree fruit preparations a phytomedicine of choice by European gynecologists for treatment of various menstrual disorders, PMS, and other conditions. Chaste tree was associated with ancient Greek festivals. In the Thesmophoria, a festival held in honor of Demeter, the Greek goddess of agriculture, fertility and marriage, women (who remained "chaste" during the festival), used chaste tree blossoms for adornment, while bows of twigs and leaves, were strewn around Demeter’s temple during the festival. In Rome, vestal virgins carried twigs of chaste tree as a symbol of chastity. According to Greek mythology, Hera, sister and wife of Zeus, regarded as protectress of marriage, was born under a chaste tree Ancient traditions associating the shrub with chastity were adopted in Christian ritual. one which has never been associated with increased risk of breast, ovarian or endometrial cancers.* And scientists have determined that black cohosh does not produce an estrogenic effect in target organs of the uterus or vagina. Additionally, most recent studies concluded that black cohosh runs interference with neurotransmitters as its method of working with the body to regulate and thus alleviate signs of menopause.* It is fairly certain that one mode of action for chaste tree berry is through neurotransmitters, interacting with hormone receptors to initiate a reaction in the pituitary to lower and adjust the production of prolactin. Both black cohosh and chaste tree berry appear to promote mild relaxation.* Further, clinical studies show that the effects of the ingredients in increase when taken for the prescribed amount of time, indicating that it encourages the body to regulate itself and help prevent common symptoms of menopause from occurring in the first place.* Black cohosh extract has been studied extensively for 20 years and safely used by more than one and a half million chastetreeberry women in Europe and Australia. At mid-cycle, a critical peak of estrogen production alerts the hypothalamus to create more GnRh. This time it tells the pituitary to release its lutenizing hormone (LH) to the ovaries, a trigger that will spur the small explosion that releases the egg from the dominant follicle. Ovulation occurs and the corpus luteum forms to continue estrogen and progesterone production until it dies in the absence of pregnancy. Hormone levels plunge. In perimenopause, the ovaries'' estrogen and progesterone production chastetreeberry shifts from one that''s follicle rich (with an emphasis chastetreeberry on creating eggs) to one that''s chastetreeberry stromal rich (less emphasis on eggs, more on the stroma that holds the eggs together). As a result, the hormonal dance changes. A follicle releases an egg less and less often, so estrogen and progesterone levels drop. chastetreeberry The uterus lining ceases to thicken, so there is little or nothing to discharge. Menstruation stops, and the decline of ovarian hormones sparks elevation of pituitary hormones such as the luteinizing hormone. It is suspected that this rise of LH in the pituitary causes hot flashes. In addition, these dramatic changes to the endocrine organs
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