A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO ESSENTIAL OIL Vitex Agnus Castus -cont-
So why use the essential oil if the capsules and tinctures work? One reason is that the herb and the essential oil are two different things. Some women who cannot tolerate the herbal preparations do very well with the essential oil. A second reason is the convenience of using the essential oil in inhalers and creams. A third is the long shelf life of the essential oil. However, one of the most intriguing reasons is the ability to access the power of the leaf. Standard herbal preparations use only the berry, but research has shown that the oil derived from the leaf may be both gentler and broader in therapeutic scope than the essential oil and other extracts from the berry. The current Vitex oil trials are using an oil distilled when the plant had gone partially to seed (berry) while still in leaf.
How will you know if essential oil Vitex is right for you? The oil will tell you, and it probably will not be subtle! Intolerance of the oil may be marked by nausea, headache, nightmares, skin rash or a worsening of symptoms. Many people, especially men, find the smell downright revolting.
However, if the oil is right for a particular woman at a particular time, she is likely to find the smell acceptable. Very, very few people say they actually like it, though some women report that when they really need the oil, they crave it and it does indeed smell attractive.
Essential oil Vitex is exhibiting a remarkable ability to reduce or eliminate hot flashes and night sweats. Many women also report that vaginal tone and lubrication is markedly improved with use of the oil. A majority of test subjects who reported irregular periods before using the oil reported regulation of periods after a few months of use. However, the effect that elicits the most grateful comments is the apparent ability of Vitex to calm emotional swings and help with some of the cognitive changes during menopause. Research in Europe has clearly demonstrated that the herb and oil act as dopamine agonists; this stimulates interesting questions about its potential use for Parkinsons disease and other central nervous system disorders.
Response to the oil can take 4-6 weeks of regular use, or response can be almost instant. I have witnessed very rapid release from hormonal headaches and hot flashes by women who use the oil by inhalation. Symptoms such as irregular periods and flooding generally start showing improvement after 6-12 weeks of regular use. People who expect an essential oil to work with the speed of a synthetic drug may give up too soon on Vitex.
What is the best way to use the essential oil? This author suggests starting with simple inhalation or application of a cream/lotion containing 1%-2% oil Vitex. Suggested frequency is once daily, 5-7 times per week. Amount recommended is 1/2 teaspoon per day. Ingestion of the essential oil is not suggested unless monitored by a medical professional. A suggested starting dosage for monitored ingestion is one drop per day, 4-6 times per week. Stomach upset may occur with ingestion.
There are several important contraindications to the use of Vitex agnus castus, in both herbal and oil form. It should not be mixed with any form of hormone replacement, including progesterone cream. If a woman wishes to use it with hormone replacement, the program should be medically monitored and it is likely that the progesterone-balancing aspect of the program can be reduced or eliminated.