For hundreds of years the herb Vitex agnus castus has been used mostly in form of a tincture for hormone related conditions like menstrual difficulties and menopause. Distillation of the essential oil began relatively recently as it has found its way into aromatherapy only in the early 2000s. The oil is successfully used for the treatment of menopause and andropause, PMS, menstrual discomfort and other symptoms associated with hormonal imbalance. Vitex agnus castus acts directly on the pituitary, normalizing progesterone levels. The exact mode of action, or the active ingredient has not been identified. 

 

At the 5th scientific wholistic Aromatherapy Conference of Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy in San Francisco in 2002  Dr. John Lee, author of Hormone Imbalance Made Simple, suggests that rather than lack of estrogen being responsible for menopausal complaints it may be a dominance of estrogen and an imbalance of progesterone. At the same conference Barbara Lucks presented her extensive research, based on four years of personal use and study with 100 participants.

80% of the participants reported moderate to significant improvement in menopausal symptoms after using the oil 2 - 3 months.

The improvements observed included the following:

 

• Hot Flashes
• Mood Swings
• Night Sweat
• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Vaginal Tonus and Lubrication
• Comfort with Intercourse
• Irregular Periods
• Heavy Bleeding

 

European research has demonstrated that the herb and the oil of Vitex agnus castus act as dopamine agonist which led the producer of Vitex essential oil, Janina Maria Sorensen to bring up the question about its use for Parkinson’s disease and other central nervous system disorders. 

A desirable side effect of Vitex oil rises from the antiinflammative properties of its sesquiterpene components. Amelioration of arthritis was observed.

 

The best application varies from person to person. For some, inhalation might be enough, while for others, topical application of small amounts of oil will provide desired benefits. Ingesting 1 to 5 drops daily may be the best approach for others. As such, the oil should be explored with an open mind to find one’s most successful application. The gentle actions of this oil may take several weeks to get to the core of the imbalance.

 

The studies, “The Vitex Anthology: Explorations in Menopausal Balance” and the “Practical Guide to Vitex,” both authored by Barbara Lucks, can be found in the Proceedings of Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy 4th and 5th Scientific Wholistic Aromatherapy Conferences.