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The rest degenerate over the years. During the reproductive 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 herbalalternative the lining of the uterus. This enriched lining is prepared to receive and nourish a fertilized egg, which could develop into a herbalalternative baby. If fertilization does not occur, estrogen herbalalternative and progesterone levels drop, the lining of the uterus breaks down, and menstruation occurs. herbalalternative 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 cycles and unpredictable episodes of bleeding. By your early to mid-50s, periods finally end altogether. However, estrogen production does not 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 as a viable home for an egg, and to herbalalternative shed the lining if the egg is not fertilized. Since the days of Hippocrates, chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) has been used for gynecological conditions. The Greek herbalalternative physician Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.) wrote, "If blood flows from the womb, let the woman drink herbalalternative 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 herbalalternative 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.
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