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Herbal medicine can be quite effective for women's concerns such as menstrual cramps, PMS and menopause, experts agree. Here are two female-friendly herbs: Chasteberry (Vitex Agnus-Castus) and Red Raspberry Leaf.
Chasteberry (Vitex Agnus-Castus)
Chaste tree actually is an ancient Mediterranean shrub with finger-shaped leaves and slender spikes of violet flowers. Both the seeds and ripe berries are used medicinally. The berries contain volatile oils, to which they owe their peppermint-like smell.
Chasteberry currently is used in a variety of women's herbal formulas because it helps regulate reproductive hormones. Indeed, chasteberry's ability to imitate hormones such as estrogen and progesterone has given it a reputation as particularly helpful for the female menstrual cycle and reproductive system.
"Chasteberry is such an effective herb," notes Kathi Keville, author of Encyclopedia of Herbs (Friedman Publishing). "Scientific studies have shown it can normalize the pituitary gland, which regulates our entire hormonal system."
German research indicates the plant increases production of the luteinizing hormone, which is secreted by the pituitary gland. The hormone stimulates ovulation and the secretion of progesterone from the corpus luteum in females. (The corpus luteum forms in the ovary after the release of the ovum. If the egg is fertilized, the corpus luteum secretes the progesterone necessary for pregnancy.)
According to numerous studies, notes Rudolf Weiss, MD, author of Herbal Medicine (Arcanum), chasteberry causes increased luteinizing hormone production and may relieve premenstrual water retention as well as re-establish the menstrual cycle.
Legend has it that Greek maidens preserved their chastity by casting the strong unpleasant-smelling leaves of the chaste tree upon their beds, notes Christopher Hobbs, master herbalist and medical botanist. Also called monk's pepper, the herb reportedly was used by monks to reduce their sexual desire.
The small, pepper-like fruit works mainly through the pituitary gland, notes Hobbs. Because of its action on the pituitary gland, chasteberry may offer relief from PMS and other menstrual disorders, aid stimulation of mother's milk and help eliminate uterine fibroid cysts, he observes.
Keville successfully uses chasteberry for alleviating PMS and menopausal symptoms. "You can take it safely every day, and you'll notice its effects after about three months. It won't regulate your hormones overnight, but over a longer period. However, the long-range effects are worth the wait."
David Hoffmann in The Herbal Handbook: A User's Guide to Medical Herbalism (Healing Arts Press) notes "Chasteberry has the effect of stimulating and normalizing pituitary gland functions, especially its progesterone function. It can produce apparently opposite effects, though in truth, it is simply normalizing."
For example, notes Hoffmann, chasteberry has a reputation as both an aphrodisiac and an anaphrodisiac. "It will always enable what is appropriate to occur. The greatest use of chasteberry lies in normalizing the activity of female sex hormones, and it is thus indicated for dysmenorrhea, premenstrual stress and other disorders related to hormone function," he explains.
The herb is especially beneficial during menopause changes, or to help the body regain natural balance after the use of birth control pills, notes Hoffmann.
"Indeed, long-term treatment of PMS is best based on chasteberry since it works over time to balance hormone levels without interfering with any of the body's necessary work," he explains.
You can find Vitex, or chasteberry, as a powder, liquid extract, tea or tincture.
Red Raspberry Leaf
Many nutritionally minded women think of using red raspberry leaf only for pregnancy - which it's great for. Yet it's also a wonderful uterine tonic for women's problems such as menstrual irregularities, menstrual cramps, prolapsed uterus and infertility, explains Keville.
"It's believed to strengthen the uterine muscles and help prevent miscarriage. The leaves contain small amounts of calcium, magnesium, iron and vitamin E, which are important for a healthy baby," she explains. "It can be taken everyday. It's a good idea to make a large batch of red raspberry leaf tea and keep it in the refrigerator."
Raspberry leaf is indeed the universal remedy for easing childbirth, observes Joy Gardner, author of Healing Yourself During Pregnancy (Crossing Press). It's used by women in North America, South America, Europe and China, she notes.
Scientists have confirmed raspberry leaf's ability to tone the uterus and help it respond appropriately to labor. One such study, reported in the British Medical Journal Lancet, found that raspberry leaf contains fragine, a natural substance that relaxes the smooth muscle of the uterus, making delivery easier and speedier.
Raspberry leaves traditionally are used in pregnancy to strengthen and tone womb tissues, assist contractions and check hemorrhages during labor, notes David Hoffmann, author of The Herbal Handbook (Healing Arts Press).
A study using raspberry leaf tea concentrates found that if the smooth muscle of the uterus was "in tone," raspberry leaf relaxed it. Whereas, if the muscle was relaxed, the herb caused contractions, notes Daniel Mowrey, Ph.D., author of The Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine (Cormorant Books).
"The relaxing response is probably what makes the herb so valuable in aiding labor, a use for which this herb has been famous for hundreds of years," explains Mowrey.
Red raspberry leaf is the primary herb to use as a daily pregnancy tea, notes Jeanne Rose in Jeanne Rose's Modern Herbal (Perigee Books).
Almost every American Indian tribe used red raspberry leaf as a preparation for childbirth. It is also nutritious and a rich source of minerals, Rose notes.
"First thing every morning, drink a cup of red raspberry leaf tea. During the last month of your pregnancy, make a quart of it and sip it throughout the day. It is very beneficial for pregnant women," she explains.
Sue Frederick is the author of A Mother's Guide to Raising Healthy Children, and she is the editor of Holistic.com.
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