I am trying to start a group for all the girls who is using femaprin vitex, or has questions about it.
My Femaprin Story
I started Femaprin around Feb 13, 2009. I was diagnosed with PCOS in July 2007. I took one capsule per day and I was very faithful with taking it. I have trouble not ovulating at all, when I am around 40-45 lbs overwieght or so. 35 days after I started Femaprin, I ovulated!!!!! I got AF around 10-12 days later and had a very mild period, I didnt use any pain meds at all. I have a history of VERY painful periods in the past, so if this makes me have such a mild normal period, it is exciting also!!
Ovulating was A miracle for me at the overwieght state I was in. I am continuing to take Femparin, and I am giving it time to regulate my body. I believe it could help alot of PCOS women, I am excited to share this information with you cysters out there. It is a very affordable and incredibly easy way to regulate your periods and ovulation, and can be taken long term. Just one capsule a day, and some patience, because you have to give it 3 months or so to work~!!!!
Anyone that has questions about Femaprin or uses Femaprin is welcome!
I have compiled a list of research, FAQ, links, and quotes about Femaprin for any who may be interested
Just a note: I have nothing to do with Nature’s Way or the selling or promoting of any of their products. I am just a common ordinary girl that got PCOS, and found a product that can help What is Femaprin? Nature’s Way Femaprin is a vitex product. It is produced by Nature’s Way partner Madaus AG of Germany. Quote.." In the late 1950s, researchers began investigating how this herb helps women who have menstrual disorders. They used a product called Agnolyt—a tincture of dried vitex berries—which had been developed and patented in the 1930s by a German doctor, Gerhard Madaus, M.D. "This specific Femaprin extract has been the subject of numerous scientific and clinical studies focusing on women’s health concerns, and fertility. It is the highest quality vitex extract available on the market today in terms of effectiveness, potency and consistency “ The description of Femaprin states . The vitex contained in Femaprin is exactly the same as Agnolyt and both are made by Madaus AG of Germany.
“Femaprin contains the world’s most extensively researched and best selling vitex (chaste tree) extract. Standarized to 6% agnusides, Femaprin is a
pharmaceutical-grade natural medicinerecommended by healthcare professionals
Information the uses, and how to take Femaprin...
http://www.healthy.co.nz/174.html
vitex and PCOS
http://www.babyhopes.com/articles/vitex-and-pcos-poly-cystic-ovarian-syndrome.html
How can Femaprin Vitex help PCOS? Quote…. “Naturopath Harald Gaier, who regularly treats patients with PCOS and endometriosis, finds that both conditions respond well to Agnolyt, made by Madaus AG in Cologne, Germany, a proprietary brand of the herb Agnus castus, which has a long history of regulating female hormones. The secret of this preparation's success appears to be that it makes a tincture from the fruit of A. castus rather than from other parts of the plant, as most formulations do. Taken over six to eight months, Agnolyt can stimulate the anterior pituitary gland, increase levels of progesterone, normalise other hormone levels and shrink cysts of the ovary Quote from this link…http://www.viable-herbal.com/herbdesc1/1chastet.htm Here are some quotes from an article "On Vitex" by Medical Botanist Christopher Hobbs: "In 1930 Dr. Gerhard Madaus conducted some of the first scientific research on the plant, and developed a patent medicine from an extract of dried fruits named 'Agnolyt'. Almost all of the studies on Vitex have been done with this preparation. He found it to have a 'strong corpus-luteum' effect, which increases porgesterone. Scientists think that it regulates the pituitary gland, which detects increased estrogen levels and tells the ovaries to make less of it Why is Femaprin Vitex superiour to any other Vitex product available?
I believe it is better than other vitex products because it has 31 clinical studies backing it up, ect. (see quotes below) The once daily dose is also incredibly easy.
Quote from this link … http://www.cmbm.org/mind_body_medici...-Therapies.pdf “MR. BLUMENTHAL: Anyway, Chase Tree or Vitex agnus-castus used for PMS type complaints since Greco-Roman times. All of the research done by Commission E to review the material, almost all of the 34 clinical studies, 31 of those studies were all based on one product called Agnolyt® imported by Nature's Way as Femaprin®. Presumably other types of vitex products would work and be useful. But this is the one that is confirmed and documented in their clinical literature. “ This is a quote from the same paragraph in the previous question “ The secret of this preparation's success appears to be that it makes a tincture from the fruit of A. castus rather than from other parts of the plant, as most formulations do. “ Quote...."Vitex is also called chaste tree in English because it was once believed that it would suppress a woman’s libido and thus keep her “chaste.” Some women do see a slight decrease in their sex drive when they start taking vitex. This is because vitex helps lower abnormally high testosterone. This is a sign that it is working and not a cause for alarm. As your hormones return to normal you will begin to see the monthly ups and downs in sexual interest that are normal for a women" Where can I get Femparin?
On a personal note, I get Femaprin from Vitacost.com usually, sometimes from iherb.com
Here are links to a few websites that are good to purchase it from, but you can get it alot of places on the internet.
http://www.iherb.com/Nature-s-Way-Fe...ules/1945?at=0 http://www.vitacost.com/Natures-Way-...in-60-Capsules http://www.evitamins.com/product.asp?pid=3553 http://www.drugstore.com/qxp69616_332828_sespider Vitacost.com will ship to 44 different countries, including canada, US, Australia, and many more..... How quick will Femaprin work?
In my research and experience,
Femaprin = Patience!! I dont exactly have patience, but I was determined to give it a fair chance. A helpful tip,
Mark the day you start Femaprin on a calendar or on your fertility chart. Then mark when the first 90 (3 months) to 180 days (6 months) will be up. Tell yourself how long you want to commit to giving Femaprin a chance, then take it every single day. That is basicly what I did.
With all the studies on Femaprin vitex, I think it works for an average of 80-90 % of women.
Vitex takes time to work... it is a slow acting herbYou need to give Femaprin a minimum of 3 months to work, and up to 6 months to see the full effects, so dont give up after a few weeks, let it do its thing.This is a very important key if Femaprin will work for you, you have to give it enough time!
For me, I ovulated after taking it for about 35 days, then got my period 10-12 or so days later, but it can vary from woman to woman, and it may take longer or work sooner for some.
I read that best results are obtained after one year of continuted use on vitex.
Quote
One thing which can be stated is that Vitex is a supplement which gains effectiveness each month that it is taken.
Vitex will become more effective each day that you take the herb. Therefore, Vitex will increase in effectiveness over time and grow more effective with contiued use.
For amenorrhea (abscence of Menstrual cycles unless drugs or natural progesterone are used), 6 months and even up to 12-18 months could be needed for Femaprin to fully work for you.
How do I take Femaprin?
The Femparin Dose is just
one capsule per day. It is important that if you start Femparin, not to skip one day, not even during AF. Just keep right on. It will mess up how it works if you skip days, and it works best if you take it the same time every day if possible.
How long is it safe to take Femaprin vitex?
Quote from
http://www.ovarian-cysts-pcos.com/vitex.html
"Vitex agnus castus is exceptionally safe. In one study, chaste tree berry was given up to 9 years with very few side effects."
Quote from
http://www.beeyoutiful.com/vitex-300mg.html
"Because it is safe for long-term use, many women take Vitex for several years in a row if necessary. It is a great companion for all stages of being a woman.
If I am trying to Concieve how long should I try Femaprin and/or give it a chance?
My research says 5-7 months if you are TTC, but it could be shorter too, it depends on the person...
Quote
"It is important to note that Vitex is not a fast-acting medication.
In cases of anovulatory cycles and infertility, treatment duration may be as long as 5-7 months before conception occurs...."
Quote
" I have seen woman with PCOS take Vitex and become pregnant with in three months. I tried it and I had a period in two weeks after not having one for 8 months. Every woman is different so results from taking Vitex will vary."
What about Femaprin for amenorrhea? (No Menstrual cycles unless brought on by drugs or progesterone?)
Quote
"........ For secondary amenorrhea of more than two years duration, Vitex
should be adminstered for at least 1.5 years ..."
Quote "Twenty patients with secondary amenorrhea were admitted to a 6 month study using Vitex liquid extract at 40 drops daily..... [they ususally use liquid Angnolyt on these studies, which is the exact same thing as Femaprin.] At the end of the study, data was available on 15 patients. The onset of cycles with menstruation was observed with Vitex treatment in 10 out of the 15 patients."
Secondary Amenorrhea is the absence of menstrual cycles (i.e. menstrual cycles on your own, not induced cycles with natural progesterone or provera) for 12 months in a women who has irregular cycles. It means the absence of cycles for 6 months for a women who had regular cycles.
What about Insulin Resistence??
Femaprin is not a subsitute for any herb or drug you are taking for Insulin Resistence. Femaprin works on your hormones. I recommend taking or doing whatever you were doing for Insulin resistence
Combined with Femaprin Reviews from PCOS Femaprin Users from various websites
If you read all the reviews on Femaprin from the website links I posted above, there are 43 reviews,almost all positive!
I have spent quite a bit of time with all the research on Femaprin and PCOS in general, but I have enjoyed it. I hope to work on this as I get time, and maybe post links to the research studies on Agnolyt/(Femaprin) if I can find them. If you think anything needs to be added ect, let me know.