Wildcrafted Chastetree (monkspepper) fruits pure essential oil - 5 ml

Vitex agnus castus. Plantpart: fruits/seeds, collected when ripe from September throughout October. Wildcrafted by hand, Sfakia, Crete (not cultivated). Steam-distilled

Babis and Janina, the producers, report on chastetree (monkspepper) collection and distillation: "We collect the fruits when fully ripe in September-November in Crete, along the coast of Sfakia. The collection of the ripe fruits in the Wild is an activity that requires much patience, in order to collect just a few kilos of fruits. This collection is, amongst all, our most time consuming collection of the year. Not only is the harvest tedious, taking us weeks to complete, but also the yield is low. So we can only produce a limited quantity, a few kilos of this precious oil every year. However, this harvesting time is precious to us, since we collect at some of the most beautiful, remote places in Southern Crete. 

The ripe fruits are traditionally used to produce an extract, which is sold especially in Germany. The fruits however, contain an essential oil as well, which we were the first ones worldwide to distill.

To develop a new essential oil, not previously produced, requires a lot of trials. We have made this plant and its essential oil the subject of a MSc Thesis (completed 1997), and studied the collection and distillation parameters and requirements thoroughly, in order to obtain a truly fine oil. For example regarding collection, populations yielding sufficient quantity and desirable quality unfortunately are very rare to be found.

Even though many Vitex agnus castus populations live in some initially perfect seeming conditions, abundant and vigorous around a lake or along riverbeds, their fruits yield only a neglectable quantity and quality of essential oil. It took us many trials, collections and distillations, to identify the living conditions of this plant, which favour the production of essential oil in their fruits.

We have studied the oil of V. agnus castus in particular, because the plant possesses some interesting medicinal activities for women. After many trials, we have found where and how to harvest, how the fruits can be most gently distilled, and that a gentle distillation duration of 24 hours is necessary in order to liberate the numerous sesquiterpene and diterpene compounds sufficiently to produce a truly entire, fine oil of Vitex agnus castus fruits. Vitex agnus castus fruits liberate their oil very slowly and continuously during the process. It is the most difficult and time consuming oil to distill.

The oil has an agreeable, interesting somewhat peculiar topnote, reminding of cannabis and eucalyptus. After a few minutes, its heart is revealed as an aromatic floral, warm but fresh, somehow peppery sweet spicy fragrance with lemon-like, woody undertones.

Vitex agnus castus fruit oil is our most time and energy consuming oils..However, it is one of the plants and oils that are closest to our hearts. Not because of its perfume qualities.., not because of the beautiful locations we collect..., not because of that collection is done standing instead of sitting down, as with the herbaceaous plants. But because this plant is a true helper and saviour for female imbalances and ailments, because we have seen that it has helped so many women to reconnect with their female identity, energy and health...

Healthty female energy is what makes the world turn around, healthy female energy offers opportunity for souls to incarnate, children to be born, offers a true companion and partner to male energy on this planet..And this healthy female energy has been compromised too long by environmental pollution, pharmaceutical and social interferences...

V agnus castus is known to exert remarkable hormone balancing activity on especially the female hormonal system. It is balancing the two female gonadal hormones by binding to dopamine (DA1 and DA2) receptors, and thereby suppressing hyperprolactinaemia. Beneficial in female ailments related to hormonal imbalances. 

Vitex agnus castus is highly advocated for diseases related to hormonal disorders, and side effects have not been noted. In fact, it is mentioned, that the only 'side-effect' noted was pregnancy...And in fact, over the years we have worked, quite a few babies were born to couples which had years of difficulties getting pregnant...
Regarding dosage, Vitex agnus castus is usually taken once a day, morning fasting. The dose of the essential oil is one drop daily (1 drop is equivalent to 1/25 of a ml), in case of the tincture 0.5-1ml with some water. The German Commission E monograph recommends the daily intake equivalent to 30-40mg of the dried fruits. Vitex agnus castus, with emphasis on its hormone balancing activities, is not an acute remedy. It will have to be taken for three menstrual cycles at least, in order to evaluate its efficacy in balancing.

Vitex agnus castus essential oil can be used in a massage oil blend for women (2%), which can be used for a whole body balancing massage, or used for semi-acute localised problems such as sore breasts, menstrual pains diluted 5-7% in a carrier oil and applied with circular, clockwise movements to the affected area.

The oil seems to reconnect women with their feminine strength and balance. Too precious to be evaporated in an aroma-lamp, the oil is better used as an addition to bodyoils.
In our experience, Vitex agnus castus fruits, in all preparations, is a contemporary very important aid for women to take care of their 'hormonal hygiene', their physical and spiritual balance...

The oil has quite a peculiar strong spicy fragrance, and it is our experience, that people’s reactions are quite strong- they either like it or dislike it, and it seems that who likes it, needs it. The fruits of the chastetree have a strong, spicy, somewhat peppery smell and are reported to check violent sexual desire in man, whereas they balance a woman’s sexuality. Probably, Vitex reconnecting a woman with her inherent harmony within, with her own hormonal balance, also affects the man or men in her life positively... and as such the fragrance, however, seems to balance sexual desire between man and woman. In this respect, we can consider it an aphrodisiac after our experience, but try for yourself, we are all different and even more so in the combination as a couple.

Regarding skin care, Vitex agnus castus is useful in hormone related pubertal acne. Here it can be used for both male and female young individuals. Adding a drop of Vitex agnus castus essential oil to your daily (non perfumed, non greasy) skin creme, or to a washing lotion or tonic can improve the condition. Also acne as well as hormonal related periodical or chronic skin disorders in adults can benefit from this topical treatment. With acne it is especially important to address issues like diet as well. However, especially in young girls and women, a health care practitioner also has to assess other symptoms of hormonal imbalance, in which case a topical treatment could well be accompanied by a systemic approach.

The oil seems to help with insect bites, directly applied, as well as repelling them.