Abraham’s tree, Vitex vulgaris, common thistle, monk pepper, monk pepper, purity tree - all these are synonyms of the plant, which is called the sacred Vitex and is widely used in the treatment of gynecological diseases, as well as in hormonal imbalances.

First of all, it should be noted that the sacred Vitex is a perennial tree-like shrub with sulfur-gray stems and numerous pale lilac flowers collected in panicle-spike inflorescences. The plant has antiseptic properties, analgesic, sedative, antifungal and disinfecting effects.

Shoots, flowers, leaves, fruits and bark of this shrub have healing properties.

The birthplace of the sacred Vitex is Mediterranean. But today it is common in North Africa, throughout southern Europe and Asia, and is also found in temperate latitudes. According to gardeners and herbalists, the plant easily takes root on saline, rocky, loamy and sandy soils.

It is also known that the Holy Vitex prefers plots near water bodies, on river banks, coasts, and mountain slopes. In areas with frosty winters, the plant often freezes, but in the spring it gives numerous shoots from the root. Over the summer, the branches of the shrub grow to 1.5 - 2 m and even have time to bloom, but the fruits in the case of early winter may not fully ripen.

The healing properties of Abraham tree

Shoots, flowers, leaves, fruits and bark of this shrub have healing properties. All of them contain essential oil, vitamins, minerals, tannins, alkaloids and flavonoids.

But the fruits of the sacred Vitex are most valued! They contain coumarins and fatty oil, which includes organic acids (up to 1.3%), including formic, acetic, nylon, butyric, valerian and propionic.

Young branches of the sacred vitex are harvested during the period of leaf formation and budding; leaves and flowers - during the flowering period; koru - before the start of sap flow; fruits - in October, in the stage of full ripening. All parts of the plant are used only in dried form.

Back in the 4th century BC, Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, recommended mixing plant leaves with wine to combat bleeding and accelerate placental rejection after childbirth.

It is important to remember that it is impossible to use high temperatures to dry the raw materials, because they destroy the components of organic components and reduce their healing properties. Therefore, it is best to dry the collected parts of the plant in the shade, in the fresh air. The most optimal temperature is + 30 ° C.

Storage of Vitex common

It is recommended to store finished raw materials in a dry room, using clean linen bags or dry, clean glass, tightly closed jars as containers. The strongest effect of the drugs persists in the first three months. In the manufacture of a drug, the poor solubility of the components in water must be considered. So, the use of Vitex in the form of tea will not be too effective.

It is noteworthy that as far back as the 4th century BC, Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, recommended mixing plant leaves with wine to combat bleeding and accelerate placental rejection after childbirth. And already in the Middle Ages they began to use the sacred Vitex for the treatment of gynecological diseases and, in general, for the treatment of female ailments.

Plant extracts of the sacred Vitex contribute to the regulation of the menstrual cycle.

It has been proven that extracts from ripe dried fruit of the plant normalize menstrual irregularities, alleviate the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and have been proven to be effective for many years in treating chest pain associated with the menstrual cycle (mastodynia).

A medicinal plant can also help conception, since the cause of infertility is often a hormonal imbalance. Herbal extracts of Vitex Sacred contribute to the regulation of the menstrual cycle and thus can have a positive effect on pregnancy.

Contraindications to the use of Vitex Sacred include individual intolerance, childhood (up to 12 years), lactation, pregnancy and the period after treatment or coding for alcoholism.

In addition, you can not use Vitex uncontrollably and for a long time, since the manifestation of side effects (hallucinations, severe agitation, impaired liver function) is possible.