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Native to the Mediterranean, Vitex agnus-castus, commonly known as chaste tree, now thrives in temperate regions worldwide. The name “chaste tree” comes from Greek legends, which associate the plant with chastity and faithfulness. For thousands of years, the dried fruit, also known as chasteberry, has been used in traditional European herbalism for reproductive health. It can be brewed into herbal tea, tinctured, or cracked and sprinkled over food to add a peppery flavor.

Vitex is known to support both physical and emotional health during a woman’s menstrual cycle and throughout the transition into menopause.*

The chaste tree is a small shrub with lance-shaped leaves and purple flowers, native to the eastern Mediterranean. Over the centuries, it has been cultivated in temperate climates around the globe. The peppery fruit of the tree has been used for over two thousand years, dating back to the Greek physician Dioscorides, who recommended it to help the wives of soldiers maintain chastity while their husbands were away. The fruit was utilized by both men and women in ancient Greece and Rome, as well as by monks during the Middle Ages, to suppress sexual desire. Pliny the Elder mentioned that Athenian maidens placed the leaves under their beds during the festival of Thesmophoria to preserve their chastity.

The whole dried fruit is commonly used as a tincture but can also be cracked and sprinkled over food for a slight peppery taste or steeped as tea. Another name for Vitex is monk’s pepper. It belongs to the Verbenaceae plant family.

Precautions
Vitex berry is not recommended for use with hormonal contraceptives. We recommend consulting with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.