jacky
04-26-2006, 02:45 AM
chaste tree berries, or the berries of the plant Vitex agnus castus are a semi common herb product used for centuries if not thousands of years by humans and animals alike.
the most recent use is by far the most popular, as an aid for womens health, particularly for mentrual pains and connected issues.
The plant was used as an agent to limit sexual arousal, thus the name chaste tree, monks pepper is another same associated with the use of the plant to mute the sex drive.
as well the plant is used as a sort of culinary spice.
My particular interest in the plant stems from data regarding diterpene content in the plant and the possible opioid linked activity that the diterpene fractions may have biologically "speaking"...
mu, and kappa activity are linked to these diterpenes, also a dopaminergic activity might be caused in part by the action of these diterpene compounds.
the presence of another possible kappa opioid agonist that is a diterpene compound excited me.
my own experience with the plant is that it is first a stimulant. a certian herb encyclopedia claims that overdoses of chaste tree can cause a type of feeling that bugs are crawling on/under the skin, which I think could have something to do with the dopaminergic qualitys of the plant. I have also used the plant for meditative purposes, knowing that certian mu opioid agonists lend to a stiffening of the back muscles that might aid in still meditations. But I was also looking for a psychoactive edge to the plant. I started making what I came to call "shiva drops", basically a pleasant smelling black vodka extract of chaste tree berries, this extract I would take small sips of, and hold in my mouth for periods of time, swishing around my gums and tounge. the stimulant effects the first few times came on strong, my hands were especially effected, and almost pulsed with a sort of energy. I think that the plant has mild psychoactive effects beyond stimulation, namely a feeling of wellbeing, and an opening of imaginative thought.
but at the doses I am taking I couldnt say that the plant is alltogether a strong experience.
So I had a chemist do an extraction for me. and , after a patient wait of a few years, I should be recieving what I hope to be near pure samples of the diterpene compounds found in the chaste tree.
my hunch is that if these compounds are active, that certian unwanted side effects of consuming the berries might be avoided, and that any opioid effect of the diterpenes might be potentiated when consumed as near pure compounds.
if the material is active, then I hope to interest the chemist in further isolation of the three known diterpenes present to possibly illicit an active/non active component, or seperate mu agonist activity from kappa agonist effects if possible... perhaps the dopaminergic effect is in part caused by the mu agonist inhibition? perhaps the kappa opioid agonist stimulation of vaporized diterpenes might lend to an experience comparable to salvinorin a?
it will be interesting to find out just what potential exists by isolating these diterpenes...something that has been on my back burner for a few years.
Ill keep you informed.
I
the most recent use is by far the most popular, as an aid for womens health, particularly for mentrual pains and connected issues.
The plant was used as an agent to limit sexual arousal, thus the name chaste tree, monks pepper is another same associated with the use of the plant to mute the sex drive.
as well the plant is used as a sort of culinary spice.
My particular interest in the plant stems from data regarding diterpene content in the plant and the possible opioid linked activity that the diterpene fractions may have biologically "speaking"...
mu, and kappa activity are linked to these diterpenes, also a dopaminergic activity might be caused in part by the action of these diterpene compounds.
the presence of another possible kappa opioid agonist that is a diterpene compound excited me.
my own experience with the plant is that it is first a stimulant. a certian herb encyclopedia claims that overdoses of chaste tree can cause a type of feeling that bugs are crawling on/under the skin, which I think could have something to do with the dopaminergic qualitys of the plant. I have also used the plant for meditative purposes, knowing that certian mu opioid agonists lend to a stiffening of the back muscles that might aid in still meditations. But I was also looking for a psychoactive edge to the plant. I started making what I came to call "shiva drops", basically a pleasant smelling black vodka extract of chaste tree berries, this extract I would take small sips of, and hold in my mouth for periods of time, swishing around my gums and tounge. the stimulant effects the first few times came on strong, my hands were especially effected, and almost pulsed with a sort of energy. I think that the plant has mild psychoactive effects beyond stimulation, namely a feeling of wellbeing, and an opening of imaginative thought.
but at the doses I am taking I couldnt say that the plant is alltogether a strong experience.
So I had a chemist do an extraction for me. and , after a patient wait of a few years, I should be recieving what I hope to be near pure samples of the diterpene compounds found in the chaste tree.
my hunch is that if these compounds are active, that certian unwanted side effects of consuming the berries might be avoided, and that any opioid effect of the diterpenes might be potentiated when consumed as near pure compounds.
if the material is active, then I hope to interest the chemist in further isolation of the three known diterpenes present to possibly illicit an active/non active component, or seperate mu agonist activity from kappa agonist effects if possible... perhaps the dopaminergic effect is in part caused by the mu agonist inhibition? perhaps the kappa opioid agonist stimulation of vaporized diterpenes might lend to an experience comparable to salvinorin a?
it will be interesting to find out just what potential exists by isolating these diterpenes...something that has been on my back burner for a few years.
Ill keep you informed.
I