Agnus castus
Vitex agnus-castus · Vitex agnus-castus,chaste tree, monk’s pepper, wild lavender · Plant · Lamiaceae
People who respond well to this remedy may be anxious about their health, especially their sexual health, and may have a strong presentiment of their own death.
Agnus castus is given chiefly to people with low energy levels, depression, poor sexual vitality, and a low libido. It is helpful for fatigue due to menopause, or caused by alcohol or drug abuse, or following excessive amounts of sexual intercourse. In men, the remedy is generally prescribed for sexual conditions such as impotence, premature ejaculation with sexual arousal, or disinterest, particularly in men who formerly had a high libido. In women, Agnus castus may help where there is a loss of libido, especially during menopause, scanty or excessively heavy menstruation, or an enlarged uterus, possibly with a staining vaginal discharge. Postpartum depression and a lack of breast milk following childbirth may also be helped by the remedy.
Key symptoms
- Sexual melancholy and fear of death with sadness
- Absence of erections and sexual desire with impotence
- Scanty menses and abhorrence of sexual intercourse
- Agalactia with sadness and deficiency of milk
- Swelling and induration of spleen and testicles
- Forgetfulness, absentmindedness, and lack of courage
- Nervous debility and premature old age from sexual abuse
Worse (aggravation)
Better (amelioration)
The Chaste Tree
The most effective point of attack of Agnus upon the organism is the sexual organism. It lowers sexual vitality, with corresponding mental depression and loss of nervous energy. It shows this distinctive influence in both sexes, but is more pronounced in men. Premature old age from abuse of sexual power. History of repeated gonorrhœa. A prominent remedy for sprains and strains. Gnawing itching in all parts, especially eyes. Tachycardia caused by tobacco in neurotic young men.
Mind
Sexual melancholy. Fear of death. Sadness with impression of speedy death. Absentminded, forgetful, lack of courage. Illusion of smell-herrings, musk. Nervous depression and mental forebodings.
Eyes
Pupils dilated (Bell). Itching about eyes; photophobia.
Nose
Odor of herring or musk. Aching in dorsum better pressure.
Abdomen
Spleen swollen, sore. Stools soft, recede, difficult. Deep fissures in anus. Nausea with sensation as if intestines were pressed downwards; wants to support bowels.
Male
Yellow discharge from urethra. No erections. Impotence. Parts cold, relaxed. Desire gone (Selen; Con; Sabal). Scanty emission without ejaculation. Loss of prostatic fluid on straining. Gleety discharge. Testicles, cold, swollen, hard, and painful.
Female
Scanty menses. Abhorrence of sexual intercourse. Relaxation of genitals, with leucorrhœa. Agalactia; with sadness. Sterility. Leucorrhœa staining yellow; transparent. Hysterical palpitation with nose bleed.
Relationship
Compare: Selenium; Phosph ac; Camphor; Lycop.
Dose
First to sixth potency.
This wonderful remedy is often overlooked. It should come to mind for old sufferers who are broken from sexual excesses and secret vice.
The pale sickly and sad mortals who lament over their misspent life. It is good for both sexes.
Sexual
Sexual weakness; relaxation of parts. Perversion of all the functions.
A woman who indulged extensively in secret vice, found after marriage that she had no sexual thrill, was cured by this remedy.
Later she was confined and no milk came in her mammae, again Agnus started the belated milk at the end of three weeks.
When the milk ceases after it has started, or becomes scanty when the above history is known, and the woman is said, this remedy will, if not opposed, most likely cure.
Verbena verticillata. Vitex agnus castus (Linn.). The Chaste Tree. (Shores of Mediterranean, Provence, and Greece.) N. O. Verbenaceæ. Tincture of ripe berries.
Clinical
Agalactia. Anus, excoriation and chaps of. Ascites. Dislocations, Gonorrhœa, secondary. Gouty joints. Gums, ulcerated. Impotence. Knees, coldness of. Leucorrhœa. Mouth, ulcers in. Rheumatic nodes. Spleen, swelling of; induration of. Sprains. Sterility. Testicles, swelling of; induration of. Toothache.
Characteristics
As its name implies, Agnus Castus produces its chief effects in the sexual sphere, causing depression of function. General debility and depression of vital power are marked. There ire very characteristic symptoms in the mental sphere. Great sadness with a fixed idea of approaching death. This fear is not of immediate death as with Aconite, but the patient thinks it is sure to come after a while, and there is no use in doing anything. When this mental state is found after confinement and the milk fails to appear, Agn. c. is …
Chaste tree (Verbenaceae)
For the lymphatic constitution. Absent-minded, reduced power of insight; cannot recollect; has to read a sentence twice before he can comprehend (Lyc., Phos. ac., Sep.). "Old sinners," with impotence and gleet; unmarried persons suffering from nervous debility. Premature old age: melancholy, apathy, mental distraction, self- contempt; arising in young persons from abuse of the sexual powers; from seminal losses. Complete impotence: relaxation, flaccidity, coldness of genitalia. No sexual power or desire (Cald., Sel.). Impotence, after frequent attacks of gonorrhoea. Bad effects of suppressed gonorrhoea (Med.). Gleet, with absence of sexual desire or erections. Leucorrhoea: transparent, but staining linen yellow; passes imperceptibly from the very relaxed parts. Deficient secretion or suppression of milk in nursing women. (Asaf., Lac. c., Lac. d.); often with great sadness; says she will die. Complaints of imaginary odor before the nose, as of herring or musk. Prevents excoriation, from walking.
Male Sexual Organs
Sexual desire lessened, almost lost; penis so relaxed that voluptuous fancies excite no erection.
Male Sexual Organs
Impotence with gleet with those who have frequently hand gonorrhoea; "old sinners;" yellow discharge.
Female Sexual Organs
Milk scanty or entirely suppressed.
Constitution and Temperament
In "old sinners" who have frequently had clap and are impotent.
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Sexual desire lessened, almost lost, the penis so relaxed that the voluptuous fancies excite no erection; testes cold, swollen, hard, and painful.
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Especially useful in premature old age, which arises in young persons from abuse of sexual powers, marked by melancholy, apathy, mental distraction, self contempt, general debility, and frequent loss of spermatic fluid.
Phatak's chapter on Agnus castus is available in the app.
Read Phatak in the appClassical texts are in the public domain. Educational reference only — not medical advice.
