Day 236 - Agnus Castus

“Agnus castus has been used for thousands of years for its beneficial effect on the female hormonal system. Modern research has confirmed this use, the seeds being used to restore balanced functioning to the female reproductive system.

The berries of this plant have a range of medicinal actions but possibly the most important is its ability to rectify hormonal imbalances caused by an excess of oestrogen and an insufficiency of progesterone. It acts upon the pituitary gland, reducing the production of certain hormones and increasing the production of others, shifting the balance in favour of the gestagens.

Thus it has a wide application of uses in malfunctions of the feminine reproductive system. Some caution is advised since excessive doses can cause a nervous disorder known as formication, which manifests as a sensation of insects crawling over the skin.”*

*http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Vitex+agnus-castus

Whoever has been stabbing that voodoo doll felt some pity and compassion not only on my birthday itself but also during the week thereafter. The headache was once again at its best, and the timing could not have been any better. Unfortunately, though, it only lasted for less than a week. It has since been up and down, fluctuating between 1/10 to 7/10.

A lot of people have asked me how I cope with having a constant headache - I never really know what to answer because what other options are there but to cope?

The last time I went to see the kinesiologist it appeared that my body had an excess of oestrogen; I have now also started taking agnus castus, a tincture which reduces the production of certain hormones in the body.

Interestingly, some studies claim that the agnus castus berries are considered to be an aphrodisiac, though other reports say that they are anaphrodisiac. The reason for this apparent contradiction is that the berries have a regulating effect on the body and so are likely to increase sexual activity in those who are not very active in this area whilst reducing it in those who are very active.

Although I have not got rid of my headache, I have definitely seen a number of changes over the past few months. There have been times when the headache has been 1/10 which has never happened before. I am hoping this improvement will continue to manifest itself more tangibly until the pain is annihilated in its entirety.