Agnus Castus

Index

A Text-Book of Materia Medica.

(Characteristic, Analytical, and Comparative.)

By Pr. Allen Corson Cowperthwaite, M. D., PH. D., LL. D.

AGNUS CASTUS. (VITEX AGNUS CASTUS.)

Natural order.- Verbenaceae.

Common name.- Chaste Tree.

General Analysis.-

This drug has a special affinity for the sexual system, depressing the sexual instinct without previous excitation, and producing complete prostration and impotence.

For this reason it was used, in an early day, by both men and women, to repress carnal desire.

Characteristic symptoms.

(Agnus castus)

Extreme absence of mind ; unable to recollect things. (Anac., Kreos ., Merc., Natr. mur ., Nux m., Phos. ac .)

Despairing sadness ; low-spirited ; fears of approaching death. ( Acon., Ars ., Cimic.)

(Agnus castus)

Tearing pain, with pressure in the temples and forehead ; worse during motion.

(Agnus castus)

Roaring in the ears.

(Agnus castus)

Corrosive itching of the chest.

Rending, tearing pain under the alveoli of the right lower jaw.

Male Organs.- (Agnus castus)

Sexual desire lessened, almost lost. (Sulph.)

Penis so relaxed that voluptuous fancies excite no erection. ( Agar ., Coni.)

Testes cold, swollen, hard, and painful. ( Acon., Coni .)

Penis small, flaccid. ( Arg. nit .)

Feeble erections without sexual desire.

Impotence, with gleet. ( Sulph .)

Yellow urethral discharge. (Hyd., Puls .)

Gleet without sexual desire or erections.

Emission of prostatic fluid when straining at stool. (Sil.)

Female Organs.- (Agnus castus)

Transparent leucorrhoea ( Alum .) ; parts very relaxed.

Milk scanty or entirely suppressed. ( Acon., Puls .)

Upper Limbs.- (Agnus castus)

Hard pressure in right axilla and upper arm ; worse from touch and motion.

Lower Limbs.- (Agnus castus)

Heaviness of right foot, as from a weight.

Tearing pain in points of toes ; worse when walking.

(Agnus castus)

Internal chilliness with trembling of the whole body ; skin warm.

(Agnus castus)

The corrosive itching yields to scratching, but returns as speedily.

Therapeutic Range.- (Agnus castus)

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, frequent loss of the spermatic fluid.

In atonic conditions of the sexual powers.

In gonorrhoea, gleet, induration of the testes, leucorrhoea, amenorrhoea, metrorrhagia, agalactia, and in sterility.

(Agnus castus)

In lymphatic constitutions ; in "old sinners," who have frequently had gonorrhoea.

(Agnus castus)

Agar., Camph., Lyc., Phos., Coni., Phos. ac., Puls., Selen., Sulph.

(Agnus castus)

Camph., Natr. mur.

Copyright © Robert Séror 2003

Index