food and pms cravings - Chaste Tree - Medicinal Uses, Interactions, Side Effects, Dosage

Chaste Tree - Medicinal Uses, Interactions, Side Effects, Dosage

Chaste Tree The dried fruit or berry of the chaste tree is often referred to as Monk's pepper or chasteberry; it was historically thought to reduce libido or promote chastity. Chaste tree is also commonly referred to as vitex.

Other-A double-blind RCT of 96 infertile women (66 were available at the final analysis) found that 30 drops of Mastodynon b.i.d. for 3 months was associated with twice the number of pregnancies (21 %) compared to placebo (10%). These results were not statistically significant. Controlled trials have reported benefits for insufficient lactation and for acne,1 but these older studies were not adequately randomized, controlled, or blinded. Accept the way things are in life. Only then will you be able to accept these points on food and pms cravings. food and pms cravings can be considered to be part and parcel of life.

Clinical Trials: Vitex has been reported to correct symptoms of menstrual and related disorders in over 30 European clinical trials during the last 50 years. Beneficial effects have been described for patients with PMS, mastalgia, irregular menstrual cycles, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, infertility, decreased lactation, and acne. 1 - 3 Most of these studies are uncontrolled or unblinded, including many large post-market surveillance studies. In this review, only double-blind randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are described; several are only available in German-language journals, and are reviewed in secondary sources.

Cautions: Use during pregnancy and lactation should generally be avoided, although vitex has been employed to enhance fertility and stimulate lactation. In a case report of a woman undergoing unstimulated in vitro fertilization treatment, a combination herbal preparation containing vitex was associated with folliculogenesis and increased FSH, LH, and progesterone levels. In addition, the patient complained of symptoms suggestive of mild ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Ignorance is bliss they say. However, do you find this practical when you read so much about food and pms cravings?

Summary Evaluation Vitex may affect the endocrine and reproductive systems by decreasing prolactin via dopaminergic stimulation, although these pharmacologic properties are not fully characterized in humans. Uncontrolled trials and decades of use in Europe suggest beneficial effects for a wide variety of menstrual-related disorders. Welldesigned, randomized, controlled trials are limited, but do support beneficial effects for the treatment of PMS (one trial) and cyclic mastalgia (three trials). Because vitex appears safe and well tolerated, and there are few effective treatments for these conditions, it is reasonable for women with these disorders to give vitex a therapeutic trial. There is insufficient evidence to make recommendations for other indications.

Studied primarily in Germany since the 1950s, hydro-alcoholic extracts of the herb have well-established central dopaminergic activity in vitro and in vivo (binding to dopamine 2 receptors), which inhibits pituitary prolactin secretion in animal studies.1,2,6-8 Although traditionally used to increase lactation, large doses in lactating rats significantly reduced milk production in one study, presumably due to the drop in prolactin secretion. 4 Effects on prolactin in humans are complex and not well elucidated. While some studies demonstrate mild reductions in prolactin secretion (or prolactin levels), some show no changes or even increases. Opioid and estrogen receptors are also bound in vitro,although the strogenic effect is significantly weaker than other known phyto(~strogens (e.g., red clover isoflavones). Make the best use of life by learning and reading as much as possible. read about things unknown, and more about things known, like about food and pms cravings.

Pharmacology: The major herbal constituents of the berry include terpenoids (e.g., vitexilactone), flavonoids (e.g., casticin), iridoid glycosides (e.g., agnuside and aucubin), and a volatile oi Small amounts of compounds related to androgenic steroids have been reported to be isolated from leaves and flowers,5 but these plant parts generally are not used medicinally.

Cyclic Breast Pain-Cyclic mastalgia is often associated with the PMS complex of symptoms. Three double-blind, controlled trials have reported beneficial results with a standardized European preparation, Mastodynon (vitex combined with several homeopathic herbs), using drops and/or tablets. In a trial of 160 women with premenstrual mastalgia, vitex was reported to provide good symptomatic relief more often than placebo ( 5% vs. 8%, respectively), and was equivalent to a progestational agent, Iynestranol ( 1 %).18 Two similar RCTs, each lasting three menstrual cycles (n = 97 and 104 women), also reported almost identical, statistically significant reductions in symptoms compared to placebo. life is short. Use it to its maximum by utilizing whatever knowledge it offers for knowledge is important for all walks of life. Even the crooks have to be intelligent!

Several European trials suggest that vitex corrects deficient progesterone levels in women with "corpus luteum insufficiency" or "latent hyperprolactinemia," in which low progesterone levels predominate in the 2nd (luteal) phase of the menstrual cycle.mechanism of this effect is thought to be due to a reduction of prolactin secretion (especially in women with an absolute or relative hyperprolactinemia) or by an enhanced release of pituitary gonadotrophins. However, the actual pharmacologic activity IS not well characterized. Clinical trials have not found consistent effects on progesterone and/or prolactin levels, and have found no effect on gonadotropins. Whenever one reads any reading matter, it is vital that the person enjoys reading it. One should grasp the meaning of the matter, only then can it be considered that the reading is complete.

Adverse Effects: Vitex appears to be very well tolerated. Reported side effects in the clinical studies are rare and transient (often similar in frequency to placebo), and primarily include mild gastrointestinal complaints, allergic reactions, or headaches. A single case of unexplained nocturnal seizures in a patient taking chaste tree berry, black cohosh, and evening primrose oil has been reported ; a cause-and-effect relationship with vitex is doubtful. Thinking of life without food and pms cravings seem to be impossible to imagine. This is because food and pms cravings can be applied in all situations of life.

Preparations & Doses: Vitex preparations and doses vary considerably; only the standardized European products have been demonstrated to be effective. In the German clinical trials, small doses of standardized extract preparations (Agnolyte, Mastodynon, and Straton) are equivalent to about 30-40 mg of dried or crude herb, and are usually administered each morning. Agnolyte is marketed in the U.S. as Femaprin (Nature's Way), and is usually qiven as one 4-mg tablet or 40 drops of extract per day. Herbalists in Britain and other English-speaking countries tend to use much larger doses of noncommercial preparations, equivalent to about 500-2000 mg/day of dried herb, often in liquid extracts and tinctures. A more recent European product (Ze 440; available as a 20-mg extract) is equivalent to about 120-240 mg of crude herb.

Side Effects and Interactions: There are no reported interactions with vitex. Due to its potential effects on dopamine and prolactin, it is relatively contraindicated with other drugs that are dopamine agonists or antagonists (e.g., bromocriptine, metoclopramide, antiParkinson's drugs). Just as a book shouldn't be judged by its cover, we wish you read this entire article on food and pms cravings before actually making a judgement about food and pms cravings.

. Premenstrual Syndrome-Three double-blind RCTs, each lasting 3 months (or three menstrual cycles), have evaluated different vitex preparations for the symptoms of PMS. In one trial using 1800 mg/day of powdered vitex tablets, little difference was found between the vitex and placebo groups in the 217 women completing the trial. The other two RCTs used standardized European commercial extract products. In 175 women, 4 mg/day of a vitex preparation (Agnolyte) was similar in effect to 200 mg/day of vitamin B6 (both decreased symptoms by almost 50%); however, there was no placebo control. 16 In a recent RCT of 178 women using 20 mg/day of an extract product (Ze , a significantly better response rate (> 50% reduction of symptoms) was demonstrated in the vitex vs. the placebo group (52% vs. 24%, respectively). Self-assessment of symptoms also improved significantly on a validated symptom scale compared to placebo (P < .

Steve Mathew is a writer, who writes many great articles on herbal medicines and ayurvedic medicines for common ailments and diseases. Visit us for more information on herbal remediesand ayurvedic medicines

Learn More about Resveratrol

Know the Facts about Premenstrual Mood Change

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a combination of physical and emotional disturbances that occur after a woman ovulates and ends with menstruation. Common PMS symptoms include depression, irritability, crying, oversensitivity, and mood swings. For some women PMS symptoms can be controlled with medications and lifestyle changes such as exercise, nutrition, and a family and friend support system....

Effective Premenstrual Syndrome Treatments

Premenstrual syndrome can be a painful time for many women. They may suffer from a variety of symptoms including weight gain, irritability, anger, fatigue, difficulty concentrating as well as hunger cravings. Many women also suffer migraines, breast soreness and backaches. Women looking for premenstrual treatments and relief should look at moderate exercise and massage. Moderate exercise...

PMS Symptoms and The Latest Treatment Plans

PMS symptoms or premenstrual syndrome affect an estimated 85% of all menstruating women. Symptoms are severe in as many as 10% of them. The signs of PMS are similar to other conditions. If your symptoms occur during the two weeks before your period and are relieved within the first couple of days after your period begins, then you probably have PMS. Although no one knows exactly what...

PMS Symptoms

The majority of women experience premenstrual syndrome or PMS at some point during their lives. PMS is an umbrella term used to describe a large number of symptoms women may experience during the premenstrual part of their monthly cycles. While all women undergo monthly hormonal changes that can cause various premenstrual symptoms, some women do not experience these symptoms. In women who...

Is it that time of the month for her?

You know its coming; it happens every month without fail. And what happens depends on the girl. It could be crying, fits of anger, yelling, pizza consumption or chocolate obsession. Regardless, you'll have to agree that it is in your best interest to keep your head down, figure it out and take it like a man. PMS (Pre Menstrual Syndrome)- inflicted women have been given license to run amok, and...