Vitex: Elegant, Giving,& Fragrant

Will it ever stop raining?  I sometimes hope not.  This weather is so strange for us. It feels like Austin might be becoming another rain forest. Unfortunately, our property was hit with a tornado a few weeks ago which uprooted nine trees.   My gorgeous Mexican fountain was shattered by a fallen limb.  My hope is that your green space is surviving this unusual weather.  Nature certainly has her way of getting our attention!

 I am continuing the tradition of writing a yearly Vitex report.  Chaste tree, Vitex agnus-castus, is a beautiful herb that thrives well in our Central Texas heat.  Chaste Tree is often used as a landscaping plant (check the exit at Windsor, along Mopac), and of course as a prized medicinal plant.  In summer, the purple blossoms soon turn to small round green berries that can be harvested and made in to a tea or tincture.  I prefer the tincture, as the tea is quite bitter.  It is my husband’s favorite herb, because after taking it for a couple of months a few years ago, I no longer had PMS symptoms, such as irritability and emotional imbalance.  Vitex rocks!!

 However, because of the abundance of rain it’s been a tough year for my Vitex grove. Vitex is a Mediterranean plant and thrives in sunny, hot weather.  The hard rain has knocked off many berries, on many trees, so the harvest as not been as good as in past years. Each summer, I harvest fresh berries from my eleven Vitex trees. My harvest this year included trees from some generous friends.  From the berries, I make gallons of tincture to have on hand for all my female friends and customers.  I have been called the Vitex Queen!!

 Vitex is a well-known and well-documented female hormonal balancer. Vitex helps to regulate the menstrual cycle (especially where excessive bleeding or too frequent menstruation is occurring), relieves PMS symptoms and menopausal hot flashes. Vitex helps the body retain its natural balance after using the birth control pill.  Vitex can also treat fibroids, inflammation of the womb lining and will enhance the flow of mother’s milk.  It also works as an herb that promotes fertility.  I have a couple of customers now that have become pregnant soon after using Vitex.  It’s an amazingly beautiful plant with great medicinal value.

 Common names for Vitex are Chaste Tree or Monk’s Pepper are derived from its use years ago in Europe.  It was thought to be an aphrodisiac and as well as being used to suppress the libido of temple priestesses. The flowers were strewn on the ground at the entrances to monasteries and convents to assist the incoming novices.  Some herbalists say it enhances libido, while others state that Vitex will support the desires of the user. You be the judge. Some monks did use the dried berries as a delicious peppery spice.  I have some in my cupboard and enjoy its taste with several culinary delights.

An elegant, giving, fragrant and useful plant, Vitex needs to live in your backyard pharmacy.  Plant it, nurture it initially, and then just let her thrive.