Chastetree (Vitex agnus-castus) is a deciduous member of the mint family and can grow up to 16 feet tall or be maintained as a shrub. It bears spikes of lavender coloured flowers that attract pollinators. While the fruit it bears are referred to as “berries”, they are drupes—bearing a single seed.  

Native to the Mediterranean region.  

Modern distribution: Cultivated in warm, temperate, and subtropical climates. 

Common Names: Monk’s pepper, wild pepper, Abraham’s balm, lilac chastetree. 

Parts Used– active compounds. The brownish pepper corn sized “berries” contain many compounds, including flavonoids. Alkaloids, and lignans 

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Main Therapeutic Uses

 For Women’s Health Support

Chastetree has been used in preparations for supporting women’s health since classical antiquity when Greek physician Dioscorides recommended it for inflammations of the uterus and for stimulating mother’s milk. 

Today, chastetree is valued for its well-known benefits for women’s reproductive, gynecological, and hormonal health. 

For Hormonal Normalization

Chastetree is known to work as a great hormone “normalizer” for women. Throughout the childbearing years, chastetree works at the level of the hypothalamus and pituitary glands in the brain, signaling the ovaries to develop a follicle and to ovulate, both of which are important to maintain and restore normal hormonal fluctuations throughout the cycle. 

These balancing effects make it a helpful herb for regulating irregular cycles. Later in life, once menstrual cycles have ceased, similar balancing effects can help to ease the physical, emotional, and cognitive symptoms of the transition from perimenopause into menopause. 

Read More: Chastetree – Nature’s Amazing Hormone Balancer for Women 

Fun fact: The pliable twigs of Chastetree are used in weaving and basketry, in fact “vitex” is from the Latin “vieo”, meaning to weave or to tie up. 

Folklore and symbolism: Chastetree is a symbol of purity and chastity, and its twigs and flowers have been used as symbols of spirituality and devotion. The name “chaste tree” is in reference to Greek and Latin accounts that the tree was sacred to the virginal goddess Hestia. Monk’s and nuns were said to consume preparations of the berries to subdue urges of the flesh.  

St. Francis Herb Farm Chastetree Formulas 

Canada’s climate is not conducive to growing chastetree, but we work with suppliers in sourcing the highest quality, certified organic chastetree berries for our formulas, including: 

Products Featuring Chastetree