Chaste Tree berry (Vitex agnus-castus)*

Indicated for menopausal hot flashes and PMS symptoms such as mood swings and edema. It is used to normalize the reproductive hormones after taking birth control pills. Normalizes pituitary activity especially relating to progesterone levels.  In men chaste berry decreases excessive sexual desire and reduces outbreaks of acne in some pubescent boys.

Skullcap fresh herb (Scutellaria lateriflora)*

Indicated for nervous exhaustion, tremors and palsies, trigeminal neuralgia, and Parkinson's disease.  It is a nervine which strengthens depleted, irritated nervous systems.

Motherwort fresh herb (Leonurus cardiaca)*

An anodyne, antispasmodic and emmenagogue useful for PMS, dysmenorrhea, palpitations caused by hyperthyroidism or nervousness, elevated blood pressure (stress related) and neuralgias. It is also often used for post-partum pain.

Blue Vervain fresh herb (Verbena hastata)*

An underutilized medicine especially useful for spasmodic nervous disorders. It is indicated for spastic pain that would be described in Traditional Chinese Medicine as Liver Wind. It is useful for trigeminal neuralgia, Tourette's syndrome and petit mal epilepsy associated with menses.

Bibliography:

Felter, H.W.  The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, J. K. Scudder, 1922

Hobbs, C.  Vitex, the Women's Herb, Botanica Press, 1990

Kuhn, M., Winston, D., Herbal Therapy and Supplements: A Scientific and Traditional Approach, Lippincott, 2001

McIntyre, A  The Complete Women's Herbal, Henry Holt, 1995

McQuade-Crawford, A.  The Herbal Menopause Book, The Crossing Press, 1997

Scudder, J.M.  A Practical Treatise on the Diseases of Women, Medical Publishing Co., 1878

Winston, D., Herbal Therapeutics, Specific Indications For Herbs & Herbal Formulas, HTRL, 8th ed., 2003