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Chaste Tree - Effect, Application and Side Effects
contents
- Chaste tree in the Middle Ages
- Symbol of chastity and abstinence
- Medically active substances
- Use in folk medicine
- Scientific studies on chaste tree
- Risks and side effects of chaste tree
- interactions
- A variety of means
- Chaste tree in the nature garden
- Harvest fruits yourself
Chaste tree in the Middle Ages
In the Middle Ages chaste tree was supposed to dampen sexual desire, so monks and nuns allegedly ate the fruits. More obvious, however, is that the clergy used the fruits primarily as a spice. The drupes are spicy and a good substitute for real pepper. He came from the Orient and was exorbitantly expensive in the Middle Ages. Although chasteberry originally grew on the shores of the Mediterranean, it spread without problems in the monasteries of Central Europe.
In the Middle Ages, the dried, ripe fruits of the monk's pepper provided a good substitute for real pepper. (Image: womue / fotolia.com) Symbol of chastity and abstinence
In Greek mythology, however, the plant already stood for chastity. So the goddess Hera should have been born under such a shrub, had sex with god father Zeus under such a tree every year and became a virgin again by a bath. Greek women cleaned the sexual organs with the leaves of the monk's pepper.
At the Tonaiafeiern the believers wrapped a picture of Hera with branches of a monk who stood in the Heraion on Samos. In Greichenland the chaste tree was a symbol of marital chastity, in the Middle Ages the sexual abstinence of the monks.
In the early modern period, it is mentioned as a plant to tame the lust of the wool. Thus wrote Francis de Sales (1567-1622): "Who embeds himself on the herb Agnus castus, becomes even chaste and shy. So also your heart will be cleansed of every stain and evil lust when it rests in the Savior, the truly pure and flawless Lamb. "
Matthiolus gave specific hints in 1626 to apply the plant: "He takes the desire to trade Venus and such does not only the seeds, but also the leaves and flowers, not only as they eat, but also when they are scattered in bed. "
The term chaste tree refers to the fact that monks used the fruits of the bush as pepper, the popular term chaste lamb connects the "innocent lamb" as a symbol of Jesus Christ, who is said to have sacrificed himself like an "innocent lamb", with the Christian ideal of sexual abstinence.
Medically active substances
It is not pure superstition. The chaste tree contains medically active substances. Thus, in the fruits is essential oil, as well as iridoid glycosides, diterpenes, flavonoids and tannins.
Chasteberry promotes blood circulation. This is due to coumarins and flavonoids. He helps with diseases of the joints, as well as with rheumatic complaints. Due to the high content of bitter substances, the production of bile juice is stimulated, they strengthen the digestion.
Chasteberry contains many important active ingredients, such as Flavonoids and essential oil. (Image: tunedin / fotolia.com) Use in folk medicine
In folk medicine, chaste tree is traditionally considered a medicinal plant to treat period irregularities and menstruation problems, as well as helping with pain in the breasts.
The plant was used against (!) Impotence, and to increase the milk production of the mothers. While women use it in many places to prevent unwanted children, elsewhere it has served to increase fertility. Neither one nor the other has been proven in scientific studies.
Scientific studies on chaste tree
Scientifically proven is the following: The fruits of the monk's pepper can balance the female hormone levels. They result in less prolactin being released, a hormone that not only promotes breast milk production but also causes excessive chest pain or is complicit when the period is irregular.
The Commission E (Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices) and ESCOP (European Federation of National Phytotherapy Societies) consider chaste tree to be helpful in: period disorders, premenstrual syndrome and menstrual pain.
Chasteberry is considered a proven natural remedy for menstrual cramps. (Picture: Picture-Factory / fotolia.com) Risks and side effects of chaste tree
Chasteberry usually causes few problems. Rarely, however, an itch on the skin, associated with inflammation. Also, nausea and diarrhea may occur. Because chasteberry affects the hormones, pregnant women and nursing mothers should never consume remedies containing chaste tree.
Do not reach Mönchspfeffer on your own if you feel pain in the breasts during puberty or for the first time have problems with menstruation. Here you should first ask the gynecologist / gynecologist for advice.
Because of the effect on the hormones, the following people are not allowed to use chaste tree: patients who suffer from diseases related to hormone balance. These include people who suffer from cancer in the uterus, ovaries or breasts.
interactions
Chasteberry can lead to drug interactions. These include certain neuroleptics and medicine for nausea. Here, the appropriate physician should assess whether and what interactions could arise. Interactions also exist with Ritalin and dopamine reuptake inhibitors.
They should only use chaste tree as medicine if a doctor has clarified the causes. Discomfort during the period or tension pain in the chest does not necessarily have anything to do with hormones.
A variety of means
If you do not have your own chasteberry bush, you can resort to a variety of preparations. At pharmacies you will receive chaste tree pills as pills, capsules, tinctures or dry extracts. He also finds himself in teas and tea blends.
Widely used are teas with other gynecological plants, such as yarrow or lady's mantle.
Chaste tree in the nature garden
Chasteberry is in addition to its medicinal application also an excellent plant for the natural garden. The numerous flowers not only look good, but also offer excellent pastures for bees and bumblebees from May to September.
Due to the long flowering time and the conspicuously shaped leaves, chasteberry is suitable as an ornamental shrub, so it can stand alone in the center of the garden. It also lends itself as a hedge plant, can be easily cut back and thus provides a hiding place for birds, which he supplies in the fall with additional fruits.
Due to the long flowering period, the medicinal plant is also very suitable as a decorative shrub in your own garden. (Image: ElenaMirage / fotolia.com) Harvest fruits yourself
Before using chaste tree to reduce gynecological complaints, consult a doctor. Then you can easily harvest the fruits yourself. This is very simple: you collect the berry-like drupes in September and October. Either use them fresh, for example in spicy sauces, as an ingredient in vegetarian dishes or in teas, or you can dry the "berries" and have a little longer.
To dry, look for a room with low humidity and heating. They remove the kernels and lay the pulp on dish towels or a clean surface. Depending on the temperature, it takes a few days to a few weeks for the chaste tree to dry completely.
The dried fruits can be filled into jars or mixed with other dried plant parts to a tea. If you have lady's mantle or yarrow in the garden, this will result in a tea blend for mentoring problems; If blood circulation is more important to them, you can add blackberry and raspberry leaves as well as chillies or ginger.
The peppery taste of the fruit gives a tea an unusual taste. If it is too spicy, you can add a sweetish note with mint leaves or fennel. (Dr. Utz Anhalt)
Swell:
http://www.arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/moenchspfeffer.php
http://www.baumkunde.de/Vitex_agnus-castus/
https://www.deutsche-apotheker-zeitung.de/daz-az/1998/daz-51-1998/uid-4416
http://www.evimed.ch/journal-club/artikel/detail/behandlung-des-praemenstruellen-syndroms-mit-moenchspfeffer-vitex-agnus-castus/
Preparations based on the monk's pepper
http://www.katzenminze24.de/moenchspfeffer/