Botanical Name: Vitex agnus castus
Botanical Family: Verbanaceae
Extraction Method: Steam distilled
Part of Plant Distilled: Berries and Seeds
Country of Origin: Bosnia
Cultivation Method: Wild
Composition: 100% Vitex agnus castus
Consistency: Thin
Scent Description: herbaceous with hints of minty-fruity thyme
Blends well with: Rose, Lavender, Frankincense, Cypress, Juniper, Geranium, and Grapefruit.
Uses: Used to balance the body; use sparingly, one drop at a time on wrists, tummy, or in the bath. Re-equilibrate of moon-time phases. Lovely combined with geranium and marjoram. Balancing in baths.
Contraindications: Pregnancy and women on BCP, IUD, or HRT.
Native to Mediterranean climates, the vital Vitex shrub is written in the works of Pliny the Elder, Dioscorides, in Homer's The Iliad, and recommended by Hippocrates to balance maiden-mother-maven cycles. Traditionally, Vitex Essential Oil has been used in aromatherapy to harmonize the body throughout all moon phases.
"Vitex is now available as an essential oil, either from the leaf or the seed (stronger activity). It can be used externally, but start out slowly as women report differing results of activity levels."
~ Keville and Green, Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Art
