Pharmacy
Agn. Agnus castus. Chaste Tree. Verbena verticillata. Vitex agnus castus.N. O. Verbenacae. Found on the shores of Mediterranean, Provence and Greece. Tincture of ripe berries. Historical dose: Tincture and all potencies, esp. the first to sixth potency. Herbal
The Vitex Agnus Castus of the Alchemists. The "chaste berry" from this tree is taken as a herbal tonic for the sexual organs and hormones. Agnus castus is for low sexual vitality with corresponding mental depression and loss of nervous energy.
The Chaste Tree was used in ancient times, by both men and women to suppress their sexual desire. It was used by the Greek monks centuries ago to lower their sex drive. PAGE 46
Homeopathic
As its name implies, Agnus produces its chief effect on sexual organs of both the sexes. General debility and depression of vital power are marked. Impotence and infertility. It shows this distinctive influence in both sexes, but is more pronounced in men.
History of repeated gonorrhea or masturbation. Impotency and premature old age from loss of sexual power. Nervous debility in unmarried persons. Weakness from
masturbation habit. Gnawing itching in all parts, especially eyes. Tachycardia caused by tobacco in neurotic young men. A remedy for sprains and strains.
Clinical
Abuse, sexual. Agalactia. Anus, excoriation. Ascites. Breast-milk. Dislocations. Gonorrhea, secondary. Gouty joints. Gums, ulcerated. Impotence. Infertility. Knees, coldness. Leucorrhea. Mouth, ulcers. Rheumatism. Spleen, swelling, induration. Sexual weakness. Sprains. Testicles, disorders. Toothache.
Constitutions
It corresponds to lymphatic constitutions. Premature old age with apathy and
melancholy. Nervous debility in unmarried persons. Impotence and gleet in old offenders. Planets: Venus, Saturn.
Worse from masturbation, sexual excess. Worse sprains from overlifting. Symptoms
MIND
Distraction of mind. Bad memory. Absent-minded, forgetful. Unable to recollect things. Lack of courage. Self-contempt from sexual abuse, (Staph.) Sexual melancholy. Fear of death. Nervous depression and mental forebodings. Great sadness with a fixed idea of approaching death. (Acon.) Says that she will die soon and there is no use doing anything.
Abdomen
Ascites. Spleen swollen, sore. Nausea with sensation as if intestines were pressed downwards, as if sinking down, wants to support bowels with hands. Flatus smells like urine, remaining long on clothes. Abdomen distended after meals. Rumbling in abdomen during sleep.
Breasts
Agalactia, Breast-milk absent, with sadness. Milk scanty or entirely suppressed. Deficient secretion of milk in lying-in women. (Calc-p.)
Chest
Hard pressure in the region of the sternum, especially during a deep inspiration. Ears
Roaring in the ears. Hardness of hearing.
Eyes
Pupils dilated. (Bell.) Gnawing, itching about eyes. Photophobia. Face
Corrosive itching on the cheeks. Formication in the cheeks. Tearing under right lower jaw. Formication in the cheeks.
Female
Menses are suppressed with abdominal pains. Scanty menses. Infertility with
suppressions of menses and no sexual desire, (Sep.) Sexual thrill absent from excessive masturbation. Aversion to sex. Leucorrhea staining yellow, transparent. Relaxation of genitals with leucorrhea. A transparent vaginal discharge passes imperceptibly from the very relaxed genital. Retained placenta.
Food
Thirstlessness and aversion to drink. Food makes him feel uneasy and replete. Warm food and drink cause teeth to ache.
Head
Tearing pain with pressure in the temples and forehead, worse during motion. Pain in the temple, as from a blow. Heaviness in the head and pressure, as if the head would fall forward. Pain in the vertex. Tension and chilliness in the scalp, which is warm to the touch.
Heart
Hysterical palpitations with nosebleed in women. Tachycardia caused by tobacco in neurotic young men.
Kidneys
Limbs
Inflammatory, rheumatic swelling of joints. Sprains and strains. Gouty nodosities. Hard pressure in right axilla and upper arm, worse from touch and motion. Swelling of the finger joints, with arthritic, tearing pains. Heaviness of right foot, as from a weight. Lungs
Coughs during the evening in bed, before going to sleep. PAGE 47
Male
Impotence with genitals cold and relaxed. Sexual desire almost lost or sexual desire gone. (Sel., Con., Sabal.) Scanty emission without ejaculation. Testicles, cold, swollen, hard and painful. Penis small, flaccid. Loss of prostatic fluid on straining. Gleety discharge. Yellow discharge from urethra. No erections. Spermatorrhea with impotence. Mouth
Ulcers in the mouth and on the gums. The teeth are painful when touched by warm food or drink. Metallic, coppery taste.
Nose
Odor before the nose, like herring or musk. Hard ache on dorsum of nose better pressure. Rectum
Deep fissures of the anus, often giving pain when walking. Sensation as of subcutaneous ulceration near the anus, only while walking. Difficulty of passing soft stools. When pressing at stool, discharge of prostatic fluid. Corrosive itching of the perineum. Skin
Corrosive itching on different parts of the body, better by scratching, but it soon returns. Itching around the ulcers, in the evening.
Stomach
Nausea in pit of stomach after eating. Only the most simple food agrees. Belchings, smell like urine.
Temperature
Chilliness, internal with trembling, the external skin is warm. Much chilliness, with cold hands. Flushes of burning heat, principally in the face, with cold knees in the evening in bed. Perspiration almost only on the hands, when walking in the open air.
Teeth
The teeth are painful when touched by warm food or drink. Comments
There are very characteristic symptoms in the mental sphere. Great sadness with a fixed idea of approaching death. When this mental state is found after confinement and the milk fails to appear, Agn. is the remedy. Deficiency of milk with despair of recovery. Absent-minded. Drowsiness.
Among other peculiar symptoms are illusion of smell as of herrings or musk, ulcers in mouth and on gums.
Tearing pain in lower jaw. Toothache from hot food or drink. Swelling and induration of spleen. Rumbling of flatus during sleep.
Discharge of prostatic fluid while straining at stool. Suppressed menses with abdominal pain. Leucorrhea staining yellow. Infertility. Pain as if dislocated in joints. Joints easily twisted. Rheumatic and gouty nodosities on joints.
(1) Sel., Con., Sabal., Ph-ac., Camph, Lyc. Olnd.
(2) Leucorrhea staining yellow, Nux-v., Chel., Carb-an., Kreos. Relations
Agnus is the only proved member of the Verbena family, though the Labiate or Mint family are closely allied. Teste groups it with Mur-ac. and Hyos. It is antidoted by: Camphor, Nat-m. - headache, strong solutions of table-salt. It is followed well by: Ars., Bry., Ign., Lyc., Puls., Sulph., Sel.