Monk's Pepper (Wicker)
Vitex Agnus Castus
It is the plant of the goddess Hera, who was born under a wicker.
When Prometheus escaped from Caucasus, wore a crown of agnus in order not to forget his bonds.
With it's branches, Achilles, bandaged Priamo's children in the forests of Ida and Odysseus tied his companions with wicker shoots under the sheep's bellies to get them safely out of Cyclops Polyphemu's cave.
In ancient Sparta Asclepius was called and "Agnita" because his statue was made of wicker's (agnus) wood.
In our island, we call "wicker" a beautiful girl with slim stature. It's strong, flexible branches are used in basketry.
Mentioned by therapists in Greece, Egypt, Persia and Rome.
Hippocrates, Dioscorides, Pliny and later in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, doctors and herbalists have granted agnus, mainly to regulate female hormones, but also for problems of the spleen and liver, in cases of insanity and epilepsy, and in combination with pennyroyal recommend to women with menstrual problems and infertility.
In 1930 the German physician Gerhard Madaus holds first scientific research on the beneficial properties of wicker on the female hormonal system and produces a composition from dried rods, which as currently used by German scientists in many studies that have shown that the fruits of wicker are cineole, savinenio (natural monoterpene), pinene, flavonoids, glycosides rainbow.
It is the pre-eminent female herb. Monks drank the concoction in order to suppress their sexual urges, therefore, girls, keep it away from your companions, it has a devastating effect on the male libido. As Pliny wrote, it "fully controls the violent sexual desire".
• For the female body, agnus is auxiliary to polycystic ovary syndrome, hyperprolactinemia, to infertility due to low levels of progesterone, stimulating, and enhancing the function of the pituitary gland in osteopenia, endometriosis, in dysmenorrhea, in amenorrhea, to uterine fibroids, the messy period in hormonal origin constipation, relieves symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and helps the body to return to its natural balance after use contraceptives
• While the herb is not itself hormone, indirectly increases the levels of progesterone by adjusting the ratio of estrogen - progestin for progesterone.
Generally, agnus appropriate to restore hormonal balance and effective regulation of female hormones.
• It is still, calming, antidepressant, anti-aging, antioxidant, anticancer, antibacterial anti-inflammatory, stimulating the genitals and astringent.
It has been effective even on hang-over!
"The tender shoots and flowers of agnus, mixed with rose oil removes the headache-derived intoxication" says Pliny.
• A remedy leveling and balancing, helps the weak and battered body back to a healthy state and to return to it's balance again.