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Featured Articles
-New Women's Product Line
-"The Calcium Paradox" - Vitamin K Commentary & Research Update by Dr. Mark Swanson, N.D.
What's New in May
-Women's Formulas: Breast Health Complete, Fem-Spectrum, Maca-3, Chaste tree (Vitex), Bladder Support Complex
-Specialty Products: HM Chelate, Pain Relieve, Muscle/Cramp Tension Formula
Product Highlights
-Read more about our weekly product specials
Featured Abstracts
-Higher intakes of the plant lignans, as well as exposure to the enterolignans enterodiol and enterolactone, promote breast cell health in women...*
-Maca extract supports healthy sexual desire, without altering serum testosterone or oestradiol levels...*
-Modified citrus pectin enhances arsenic, cadmium and lead excretion resulting from common, mild environmental exposure...*
-Chaste tree (Vitex) maintains healthy serum prolactin levels and breast comfort...*
-Calcium and vitamin D intake is associated with menstrual comfort, positive mood and water balance during the menstrual cycle...*
Frequently Asked Questions
-What Women's Formula Supports Comfort and Health throughout Menstrual, Perimenopausal and Menopausal Phases?
Quick Fact
-Modified Citrus Pectin
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Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) --pharmacology and clinical indications
Extracts of the fruits of chaste tree (Vitex agnus castus = AC) are widely used to treat premenstrual symptoms. Double-blind placebo-controlled studies indicate that one of the most common premenstrual symptoms, i.e. premenstrual mastodynia (mastalgia) is beneficially influenced by an AC extract. In addition, numerous less rigidly controlled studies indicate that AC extracts have also beneficial effects on other psychic and somatic symptoms of the PMS. Premenstrual mastodynia is most likely due to a latent hyperprolactinemia, i.e. patients release more than physiologic amounts of prolactin in response to stressful situations and during deep sleep phases which appear to stimulate the mammary gland. Premenstrually this unphysiological prolactin release is so high that the serum prolactin levels often approach heights which are misinterpreted as prolactinomas. Since AC extracts were shown to have beneficial effects on premenstrual mastodynia serum prolactin levels in such patients were also studied in one double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study. Serum prolactin levels were indeed reduced in the patients treated with the extract. The search for the prolactin-suppressive principle(s) yielded a number of compounds with dopaminergic properties: they bound to recombinant DA2-receptor protein and suppressed prolactin release from cultivated lactotrophs as well as in animal experiments. The search for the chemical identity of the dopaminergic compounds resulted in isolation of a number of diterpenes of which some clerodadienols were most important for the prolactin-suppressive effects. They were almost identical in their prolactin-suppressive properties than dopamine itself. Hence, it is concluded that dopaminergic compounds present in Vitex agnus castus are clinically the important compounds which improve premenstrual mastodynia and possibly also other symptoms of the premenstrual syndrome. Wuttke W, Jarry H, Christoffel V, Spengler B, Seidlova-Wuttke D. Phytomedicine. 2003 May;10(4):348-57.
For educational purposes only. Consult your physician for any health problems.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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