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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 herbal B.C.) wrote, "If blood flows from the and womb, let the woman drink dark wine in which the leaves of the chaste medicine and herbal 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. and Chaste tree was associated with ancient Greek festivals. medicine In the Thesmophoria, a festival held in honor of Demeter, the Greek goddess herbal of agriculture, fertility and marriage, women (who remained "chaste" during the festival), used chaste tree blossoms for adornment, while and bows of twigs and leaves, were strewn around Demeter’s temple during the festival. medicine 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 herbal and and of marriage, was born under a chaste medicine tree Ancient traditions herbal associating the shrub with chastity and were adopted in Christian ritual. The rest degenerate over the years. During the reproductive medicine years, a gland in the brain generates hormones that cause a new egg to be released from its follicle each month. As the follicle develops, it produces the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone, which thicken herbal the lining of the uterus. This enriched lining is prepared to receive and nourish a fertilized and egg, which could develop into a baby. If fertilization medicine does not occur, estrogen and progesterone levels drop, the lining of the uterus breaks down, herbal and menstruation occurs. For reasons unknown, your ovaries gradually begin to decline in hormone production during your mid-30s. In your late 40s, the process accelerates and hormones fluctuate more, causing irregular menstrual and cycles and unpredictable episodes medicine of bleeding. By your early to mid-50s, periods finally end altogether. However, estrogen production does not herbal completely stop. The ovaries decrease their output significantly, but still may produce a small amount. Progesterone, the other female hormone, works during the second half of the menstrual cycle to create a lining in the uterus and as a viable medicine home for an egg, and to shed the lining if the egg is not fertilized.
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