Chasteberry

Habit: Chaste berry which is also called Vitex, or Monk's Pepper are fast becoming a popular garden plant. Once difficult to grow, disease-free strains have now been developing which make it all much easier. They may be grown either in beds or in barrels they have become popular for small gardens and townhouses. Vitex tree reaches a height of 25 to 26 feet it planted in good soil.

Planting: dig over soil to depth of 25cm then cover with 3cm layer of compost. Over this sprinkle 2:3:2 fertilizers, at rate of 50g per cubic meter. Mix in well. Space 30cm between rows and 30cm apart. When planting ensure that herbs are never allowed to dry out and when firming down soil around plant ensures that the top section of the root is only just covered, allowing crown to remain just above surface. Plant is damp soil and water well immediately afterwards. Eight weeks in advance of your late July planting, prepare a hole one meter square and deep.

Feeding and watering: feed mature herbs 1 kilogram 3:1:5 early August; growth starts; and immediately after harvesting. Water it deeply fortnightly, especially late winter, early spring. Divide young herbs which develop on runners after first growth, or by root division at any time. A month after planting feed them with 2g Limestone Ammonium Nitrate per cubic meter soil. Water well twice a week and never allow plants to dry out particularly when forming buds. For better growth chaste berries should be thinned out during early growth. As fruits begin to swell, reduce clusters of chaste berries growing close together to one or two, or you will have a crop of puny, small fruit. Allow a space of 7 to 10cm in which to grow. A second thinning a month later should further improve your chaste berry.

Chaste berries are often marred by what appears to be bubbling of the leaves. It is in fact caused by insects laying eggs ones. These do not harm the plant but look ugly. Remove leaves and destroy, then spray the rest alternate weeks with Malasol and a mineral oil, such as Oleum, which should eat the problem.

Vitex (Chaste Tree Berry) And Health:

Vitex (Chaste tree berry) is one of the most significant herbs involved in the treatment of endometriosis. Vitex endometriosis dosage is 225 mg per day from chaste berry extract. Chaste tree berries have an ancient status as an-aphrodisiac for males.

Vitex helps you get pregnant! For PCOS and infertility, chaste berry herbs may be helpful and effective. Studies have showed that taking Vitex chasteberry can help a woman who is struggling to get pregnant. It has been used for hundreds of years to encourage fertility and recover menstrual cycles. In clinical tests for the medication of PMS, chaste berry decreased some indications, particularly breast pain or tenderness and constipation. Chasteberry (Vitex agnus castus) is rising as an organic source of curing animal diseases that mainly includes chasteberry horses Cushing’s disease.

Vitex Side Effects:

Side effects from taking vitex include mild skin rash with itching, fatigue, headache, minor stomach upset, tachycardia, hair loss, , agitation, dry mouth, nausea and increased menstrual flow. Vitex is not suggested for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Clomid and vitex cannot be used together in fact vitex is not recommended with any fertility drug that includes clomid.