Once upon a time I was 28 years old, living in Brooklyn, New York — strung out on coffee, little sleep, and long commutes to a stressful job at a “big-time” PR firm. I crunched pavement in cute heels daily, weaving through avenues and subway stations, dreading the workday ahead. From the outside, everything looked polished and ambitious, but deep down I knew something felt off.

My body started murmuring at first. Anxiety. Overwhelm. Waves of sadness that left me stuck in bed, frozen in indecision and exhaustion. Eventually those murmurs became louder. One of the biggest signs something was truly “off” was that I stopped having a regular monthly cycle altogether.

At first I brushed it off. It’s stress, maybe? But after nearly a year without regularity, I started to worry. I met with nutritionists, doctors, even therapists, hoping someone would hand me an answer that finally worked. No one seemed to connect the dots between my lifestyle and my emotional and physical wellbeing.

Around that same time, I started attending a monthly women’s gathering where we’d meet each moon cycle to light candles, pull cards, set intentions, drink tea, and talk about life. These kinds of gatherings are pretty common today, but fifteen years ago it felt almost radical! Like a little coven of women reclaiming something ancient and intuitive.

We weren’t exactly brewing spells — although sometimes it felt close :) — but we were learning about medicinal herbs and how plants support the body in deeply profound ways.

I became completely fascinated with herbs. I nosedived into the science, history, energetics, and the magic of herbal medicine.

One herb in particular kept calling to me: Vitex (Vitex agnus-castus).

With the support of a trained herbalist, I began to regulate my nervous system through better nutrition, consistent rest and yoga. I also began to take vitex religiously, 3x a daily for six months. I was feeling better, calmer, and more resilient. And guess what? Yes, after 6 ½ months my hormones and cycle were completely resynched. 

Vitex is considered the supreme hormonal tonic for women. Both extensive clinical studies, as well as over two thousand years of use in folk medicine, have proven the effectiveness of this remedy. It works by stimulating and normalizing the pituitary gland, which regulates the balance of estrogen and progesterone in the body. It’s called “ the women’s herb” for a reason! It supports women through all cycles of life, pre-teen, teen, reproductive years and the menopausal years and beyond. 

Vitex is also a gorgeous flowering shrub that thrives in warm temperate and subtropical climates, including South Florida. It has soft purple blooms, and has a wild, untamed beauty. When planting it, remember to give it plenty of space, since it can get up to fifteen feet. It’s resilient, drought tolerant, and stunning when in bloom. Bees, butterflies, and pollinators absolutely go gaga for it.

For me, Vitex became my gateway medicinal herb. The plant that helped bring emotional, mental, and reproductive homeostasis back into my body. The plant that pulled me into the world of herbal medicine and made me fall madly in love with the power of plants. 

Sometimes the plants we’re drawn to end up becoming the ones that quietly guide us back to something about ourselves that needs attention.

If you are drawn to learning how to create a simple herbal remedy using Vitex, read below. 

Vitex Simple Tincture Recipe

Vitex is a slow-acting herb. I usually recommend allowing three full cycles for the plant to really work its magic, and many women take it for up to several years.  Vitex is a safe, gentle, and effective remedy, with something to offer women in every cycle of life.

This plant may be taken in tea form, although I prefer the tincture (alcohol extract). 

1. Harvest the dried seeds on a warm, sunny day. 

2. Find any size clean glass jar with a lid. I generally use a pint-sized jar. 

3. Fill the jar with as many seeds as you can harvest, fill to the brim. 

4. Pour 100 proof vodka into the jar, making sure the seeds are fully covered. 

5. Use a clean chopstick to move seeds and liquid around. 

6. Screw the lid on tightly and give it a good shake. 

7. Label your jar, with date, plant name and any other details you’d like to include. 

8. Store the jar in a dark, cool place for ~ 8 weeks.  

9. Strain liquid from jar and pour decanted liquid into 1, 2 or 4 oz tincture bottles. 

10. Label tincture bottles and voila! You have now made your own herbal medicine. 

Dosage: 1 to 2 droppersful (approx. 30-50 drops) 1 to 3 times per day mixed in a small amount of water or juice. Like all herbs, Vitex works best when combined with a lifestyle that includes pure water, whole food, gentle exercise, and plenty of self-love.