Guest guest Posted January 17, 2004 Report Share Posted January 17, 2004 Hey Tammi, I'm gonna say only one thing .. you can post danged near anything on here if its not X rated cause our List Mammy be a Smart, Purty, Sweet (sometimes ornary) Tolerating, Damn ex-Yankee, TaxUs Gal .. and she done said more than one time .. y'all come on down. I personally thank you for your post. I believe STRONGLY in the benefits of Vitex .. sniff it .. if it causes you problems .. then By Gawd stop sniffing it. But there will be more that are helped than there will be that decide to stop sniffing. I would love to see pro and con posts .. there is room for both. :-P Thankee ma'am .. good luck .. and keep smiling. :-) Butch > This explains why I was told by my HCP to take Vitex for PMS, and I'm still breastfeeding. I don't have poor production by any means - if anything I produce too much. It wasn't an easy decision, but I'm glad I started taking the supplement. I do notice more milk production - which is easlily remedied by nursing on one side with each feed:) I am much more sane now! I hope it's okay to post my personal experience here. > > Tammi Upshaw > ----------- > > > A third hormone produced by the pituitary, prolactin, also plays an > > important role in the menstrual cycle. Prolactin is controlled by an > > inhibitory factor (PIF) produced by the hypothalamus (as opposed to > > FSH and LH which are controlled by stimulatory factors). Prolactin > > regulates the development of the mammary gland and milk secretion. In > > non-lactating women, it is critical that this hormone be in balance > > with FSH and LH. Increased production of prolactin can inhibit the > > maturation of follicles in the ovary and induce menstrual > > abnormalities and sterility. > > > It should also be noted that estrogen and progesterone formed by the > > ovary have a self-regulating effect on the hormones produced by the > > pituitary and hypothalamus via a feedback mechanism. Androgens, like > > testosterone, also play a part in this feedback mechanism. Disorders > > of other endocrine glands, such as the thyroid, adrenals, or pancreas, > > may also interfere with the normal functioning of this feedback > > mechanism. > > > How Does Vitex Work? > > > Vitex also modulates the secretion of prolactin from the pituitary > > gland. Early animal studies indicated an increase in lactation and > > enlargement of the mammary gland following administration of Vitex.13 > > It is interesting to note that Vitex has been historically used as a > > lactagogue (substance to increase milk production) in lactating women > > with poor breast milk production. As we will note below, clinical > > studies have confirmed this effect. > > Current research with Vitex has indicated usefulness in > > hyperprolactinemia. In studies with rats, Vitex was shown to inhibit > > prolactin release by the pituitary gland p; particularly under > > stress. The mechanism of action appears to involve the ability of > > Vitex to directly bind dopamine receptors and subsequently inhibit > > prolactin release in the pituitary.14,15 Slight hyperprolactinemia is > > commonly associated with corpus luteum insufficiency.16 > > Vitex, which has a Commission E > > Monograph in Germany, is frequently used in these practices as an > > initial intervention in a number of menstrual disorders including > > premenstrual syndrome, hypermenorrhea, polymenorrhea, anovulatory > > cycles, secondary amenorrhea, infertility, and hyperprolactinemia. As > > we will note, many of these cases can be linked to corpus luteum > > insufficiency. Vitex is also used in cases of poor lactation, uterine > > fibroids, and climacteric. > > > > Premenstrual Syndrome > > Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is one of the most frequent complaints > > noted in gynecology practices. > > Lactation > > As mentioned previously, Vitex has been used historically to increase > > milk production in lactating women p; another example of its > > modulating effect on prolactin levels. Only one controlled study > > exists examining the effect of Vitex in lactating women. Mohr found > > that lactating women with poor milk production treated with Vitex > > liquid extract were able to effectively increase production. Vitex > > often took several weeks to show results but was then used effectively > > over several months. This study and clinical use in Europe indicates > > the safety of Vitex for breast-fed infants.26 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 18, 2004 Report Share Posted January 18, 2004 Butch or someone........ would Vitex help with postpartum depression in a non-lactating wacko mother? Thanks, Pat , Butch Owen <butchbsi@s...> wrote: > Hey Tammi, > > I'm gonna say only one thing .. you can post danged near anything > on here if its not X rated cause our List Mammy be a Smart, Purty, > Sweet (sometimes ornary) Tolerating, Damn ex-Yankee, TaxUs Gal .. > and she done said more than one time .. y'all come on down. > > I personally thank you for your post. I believe STRONGLY in the > benefits of Vitex .. sniff it .. if it causes you problems .. then > By Gawd stop sniffing it. But there will be more that are helped > than there will be that decide to stop sniffing. > > I would love to see pro and con posts .. there is room for both. :- P > > Thankee ma'am .. good luck .. and keep smiling. :-) Butch > > > This explains why I was told by my HCP to take Vitex for PMS, and I'm still breastfeeding. I don't have poor production by any means - if anything I produce too much. It wasn't an easy decision, but I'm glad I started taking the supplement. I do notice more milk production - which is easlily remedied by nursing on one side with each feed:) I am much more sane now! I hope it's okay to post my personal experience here. > > > > Tammi Upshaw > > ----------- > > > > > A third hormone produced by the pituitary, prolactin, also plays an > > > important role in the menstrual cycle. Prolactin is controlled by an > > > inhibitory factor (PIF) produced by the hypothalamus (as opposed to > > > FSH and LH which are controlled by stimulatory factors). Prolactin > > > regulates the development of the mammary gland and milk secretion. In > > > non-lactating women, it is critical that this hormone be in balance > > > with FSH and LH. Increased production of prolactin can inhibit the > > > maturation of follicles in the ovary and induce menstrual > > > abnormalities and sterility. > > > > > It should also be noted that estrogen and progesterone formed by the > > > ovary have a self-regulating effect on the hormones produced by the > > > pituitary and hypothalamus via a feedback mechanism. Androgens, like > > > testosterone, also play a part in this feedback mechanism. Disorders > > > of other endocrine glands, such as the thyroid, adrenals, or pancreas, > > > may also interfere with the normal functioning of this feedback > > > mechanism. > > > > > How Does Vitex Work? > > > > > Vitex also modulates the secretion of prolactin from the pituitary > > > gland. Early animal studies indicated an increase in lactation and > > > enlargement of the mammary gland following administration of Vitex.13 > > > It is interesting to note that Vitex has been historically used as a > > > lactagogue (substance to increase milk production) in lactating women > > > with poor breast milk production. As we will note below, clinical > > > studies have confirmed this effect. > > > Current research with Vitex has indicated usefulness in > > > hyperprolactinemia. In studies with rats, Vitex was shown to inhibit > > > prolactin release by the pituitary gland p; particularly under > > > stress. The mechanism of action appears to involve the ability of > > > Vitex to directly bind dopamine receptors and subsequently inhibit > > > prolactin release in the pituitary.14,15 Slight hyperprolactinemia is > > > commonly associated with corpus luteum insufficiency.16 > > > Vitex, which has a Commission E > > > Monograph in Germany, is frequently used in these practices as an > > > initial intervention in a number of menstrual disorders including > > > premenstrual syndrome, hypermenorrhea, polymenorrhea, anovulatory > > > cycles, secondary amenorrhea, infertility, and hyperprolactinemia. As > > > we will note, many of these cases can be linked to corpus luteum > > > insufficiency. Vitex is also used in cases of poor lactation, uterine > > > fibroids, and climacteric. > > > > > > Premenstrual Syndrome > > > Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is one of the most frequent complaints > > > noted in gynecology practices. > > > Lactation > > > As mentioned previously, Vitex has been used historically to increase > > > milk production in lactating women p; another example of its > > > modulating effect on prolactin levels. Only one controlled study > > > exists examining the effect of Vitex in lactating women. Mohr found > > > that lactating women with poor milk production treated with Vitex > > > liquid extract were able to effectively increase production. Vitex > > > often took several weeks to show results but was then used effectively > > > over several months. This study and clinical use in Europe indicates > > > the safety of Vitex for breast-fed infants.26 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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