Agnus Castus

Vitex agnus castus, L. Nat. order, Verbenacese. Common name (Engl.), Chaste tree; (Germ.) Keuschlamm ; (Fr.) Gattilier. Pores apis. Preparation, Tincture from the ripe berries.

Aidhorities. 1, Hahnemann, Archive, 10, 1,178; 2, Franz, ibid. ; 3, Gross, ibid.; 4, Herrmann, ibid.; 5, Seidel, Archive, 13, 2, 186; 6, Staph, Archive, 10, 1, 178; 7, Helbig, Heraclides, 1, 43; 8, Sn., in Stapf's Beitrage.

Mind

Melancholy, hypochondriac mood the whole day ; he feels as if nothing existed around him ; he is dissatisfied with himself all the time ; be is incapable of attending to any business ; the things around him are entirely indifferent to him ; while attending to his business, he is apt to fall into a thoughtless mood

He sometimes feels as if he were nobody, and would rather be dead than have that feeling ; when possessed by that feeling, he has no courage to undertake anything ; and when free from it he feels exalted, would like to read like an orator, etc.

* xS7ie is very sad, and keeps repeating that she will soon die (" A.," in Staph 's Beitrage).

Gloomy sensation in the head over the eyes (this symptom was observed in a man of twenty-five years, whose genital organs were habitually weak)

Extreme absence of mind ; he is unable to recollect things ; for instance, in playing cards, which he was fond of and knew well, he did not know what card he vas to play, or what he was to do at all

He finds reading difficult ; he has to read several things twice ; he is unable to fix his attention

Head p. 128

Vertigo ; sensation as if everything were turning in a circle ; in a few days

Confusion of head, like a drawing in the whole head

The head feels confused

Heaviness of the head, with pressure in the nape of the neck ; sensation as if the head would fall forward

Contractive headache, when reading

Tensive tearing in the forehead (about one-half hour)

Tearing, with pressure, in the left frontal eminence

Tearing, with pressure, in the temples and forehead, in the brain ; more violent during motion (about two hours)

Contractive headache above the temples (about twelve hours)

Tearing and sticking in the temples, especially above the right eye, and in the other parts of the brain ; more violent during motion (about one hour)

Tearing, with pressure in the right temple, on the outside of and in the interior of the brain ; more violent during motion

Tearing in the left temple

Pain in the upper part of the right side of the head, which is more of a smarting and sticking nature; more externally, in the bone, as it were, and extending from behind forward, terminating in a corner of the forehead; the pain occurs especially in the evening hours, and befalls him even in sleep; for several days

Pressure in the region of the left parietal bones

Corrosive itching in several portions of the hairy scalp ; going off momentarily by scratching,l

Chilliness in the scalp, with tension ; it feels warm, however

Corrosive itching in the lower part of the forehead, and in the region of the eyebrows

Eyes p. 128

Burning of the eyes in the evening, when reading

Pain in the eye towards the temple, as if she had received a blow upon the eye; increased by contact

Running of the eyes, in the room

Corrosive itching in the upper eyelids

Smarting stitches in the right eyeball, going off by rubbing the eye

Corrosive itching under the eyes

Dilated pupils, the whole day

Ears p. 128

Considerable heat in left external ear, soon after taking the drug

Hardness of hearing

Ringing in the ears, or rather roaring

Nose p. 128

Hard aching on the dorsum of the nose, the right nasal bone, and between the right eyebrow and the root of the nose, as if a stone were pressing there; going off when pressing upon the parts (about thirty hours),l

Corrosive itching of the tip of the nose

Much sneezing, with dryness of the nose

Illusion of smell ; he sometimes smells herring, and sometimes musk, without either being present (one day)

Face p. 128

Stinging itching in various parts of the face, commencing with a long stitch on either side

Paralytic tearing in the right malar bone -- Formication in the right cheek, obliging him to scratch

Corrosive itching in either cheek, obliging him to scratch

Corrosive itching on the right side, near the chin

Tearing, with pressure, in the right ramus of the lower jaw

Deep tearing in the right ramus of the liver jaiv, below the sockets.

Mouth p. 129

The teeth are painful when touched by warm food or drink

Coppery taste in the mouth, as if the mouth had been galvanized (alter six hours)

The mouth is very dry ; saliva so tough that it can be drawn out in threads; the velum pendulum palate and the uvula are red ; he experiences a scratching in the throat, which obliges him to cough; while coughing, the phlegm which he wants to cough up feels to him very viscid, as if a piece of cloth were hanging in his throat

Throat p. 129

Corrosive itching in the pit of the throat

Stomach p. 129

Hunger and appetite are very strong

His appetite is good, and his hunger is rather increased

His stomach is disordered ; he relishes his food, but it does not agree with him

Aversion to drink

* Want of thirst (six hours)

Increased thirst (after thirty hours)

The food does not agree with him ; it makes him feel uneasy and replete, I

Frequent hiccough, with disposition to be out of humor

Eructations

The wind which he brings up, and that which he passes by the rectum, smells like old urine in clothes

Feeling of nausea in the pit of the stomach

Nausea in the pit of the stomach when standing, after which he feels a qualmishness in the abdomen, as if all the bowels sank down I at one hour)

Pinching in the pit of the stomachy when sitting bent (after five days)

Abdomen p. 129

* Loud rumbling in the abdomen during sleep

Shifting pressure and cutting in the upper abdomen

Transient cutting in the lower abdomen, directly above the left os ilium

Itching stinging in the inguinal region, obliging him to scratch

Sharp prickings in the superior and anterior spinous process of the left os ilium (after half hour)

Stool and Anus p. 129

Loose stool, some days in succession

The stools are more loose than usual, with dull pain in the abdomen

Several diarrhffiic stools

Difficulty in passing the stools, which were not hard ; they had to be pressed out, and seemed inclined to re-enter the rectum

* Discharge of prostatic juice lohen draining at stool

Constipation (after seventy-two hours)

Twitching in the sphincters

Corrosive itching of the perineum

A spot near the anus, in the flesh, which is painful when walking, as of subcutaneous suppuration; not when sitting

Urinary Organs p. 129

Disagreeable sensation in the back part of the urethra, after micturition

He has to urinate frequently, and a good deal, the whole time of proving; the urine has a somewhat darker color

The urine, increased in amount seems to pass with a stronger stream

A kind of yellow discharge from urethra

When fondling females he discharges a little mucus from the urethra

Sexual Organs p. 129

Itching of the genital organs, obliging him to scratch

Drawing along the spermatic cords

The testes feel cold in the night to others, not subjectively (in a healthy man)

Crawling sensation in the testes

Corrosive itching in the membranes of the penis

* Feeble erections without the sexual desire being irritated (after five to six hours),l

* The penis is so relaxed that not even voluptuous fancies excite it

* Diminution and slowness of the sexual powers, which are usually very easy and powerfully excited ; the penis is small and flaccid (in a very healthy man)

* He has not the usual morning erection, with desire for an embrace; the parts were without irritation, flaccid, and not disposed for an embrace (after sixteen hours), (in a healthy man)

To prevent getting children, a man took for three mouths, morning and evening, twelve grains of the Agnus castus, by which the parts were weakened to such an extent that not only did the erections become deficient, but he lost his semen as he intended, and never begat children. (London, Venus-Spiegel, p. 319.)

Diminished sexual instinct; after an embrace the body feels easy and light (second night)

Want of sexual desire for two days; the erections and the sexual desire returned on the third day (in a healthy man)

Painful erections, early in the morning (after fourteen hours)

Frequent erections

Frequent erections, during which the penis bec(james more enlarged than usual (fourth, fifth, and sixth evenings), (secondary effect)

After an embrace he has an involuntary emission the same night, and a long-continued erection (seventh night), (secondary effect)

Increased sexual desire, constant erections, and voluptuous feeling in the genital organs (after third day), (curative effect)

Unusually violent erections without cause and without any amorous thoughts; the erection was accompanied with a kind of amorous rage, without any desire for emission; he gnashed his teeth from an excess of voluptuous sensation for half an hour in the morning, when rising (after twenty hours), (curative effect ?)

Excites the sexual desire in some. (S. PauUi, Quad. Bot., p. 189.)

The semen runs out in a stream, without ejaculation ; it has but little smell, and is scanty (fourth day)

Resjtiidtoi'y Apparatus.

Sensation as if tenacious mucus were lodged in his throat; he is unable to bring it up

His voice sounds as if it passed through wool ; it has no characteristic tone

Cough before falling asleep, in the evening, in bed

Chest p. 130

Pressure in the region of the sternum, externally, especially during a deep inspiration

Dull pain in the chest

Hard pressure above the right nipple, more violent during an expiration and when touching the parts

Hard pressure in the region of the last true and the first rib of the right side; more violent when touching it

Pressure in the xi])hold cartilage, directly above the pit of the stomach

Heart and Pulse p. 130

The pulse is slower and less perceptible ; 60 beats

Neck and Back p. 130

Corrosive itching of the nape of the neck and of various other parts

Excessive, deep, sharp stitches in the coccyx

Deep stitches, going and coming, on the left side, near the os sacrum and the coccyx (after three hours),l

Upper Extremities p. 130

Dull tearing stitches on the top of the left shoulder

[HO.] Tearing, with pressure, in the right shoulder-joint, a sort of dislocation pain, more violent during motion and inspiration (after three hours)

Hard pressure in the right axilla, more violent by touch (after half an hour)

Corrosive itching behind the axilla)

Hard pressure in the upper arm, superiorly, externally, more violent by touch (after threequarters of an hour)

Sharp prickings directly above the elbow-joint, in the external surface of the left upper arm,l

Pressure in the right elbowjoint, more violent during motion (after thirteen hours)

Jerking in the region of the right elbow, disappearing by moving the arm

Dull stitch in the outer side of the right olecranon process, a few inches above the wrist-joint (after one hour and a half),l

Paralytic pain in the left wristjoint, perceptible only when turning the hand

Paralytic jerking-drawing in the metacarpal bones of the left index-finger, more violent during contact

Long, sharp stitch in the eminence of the lower joint of the index-finger

Swelling of a finger-joint, with arthritic tearing pain

Buzzing and humming in the right index-finger

Sticking in the fingers of the right hand ; in the evening of the fifth day/.

Pressure in the muscles of the left thumb

Dull sticking in the upper joint of the right tluimb

Lower Extremities p. 131

Lancinating pain in the right hip-joint, sometimes extending above and below the hip-joint, more violent during motion, abating in rest, when it resembles more a tearing with pressure, accompanied with debility and weariness, which oblige him to sit down; a sort of luxation pain (after thirty-six hours)

Sharp pricking in the right side of the right thigh, high up,l

Cramp pain in the left thigh, externally and superiorly, near the hip, only when walking

Shooting in the bend of the right knee when standing

Sticking, drawing pains in the bends of both knees, extending into the thigh and leg, with debility, more violent during motion ; in rest it is changed to a sort of drawing with pressure, as if the parts were dislocated

Tearing in the inner side of the left leg, from the knee down to the foot (immediately)

Sensation in the upper part of the left calf as if the skin were pulled at with a string

Sharp stitch in the external side of the left fibula, a little above the foot, disappearing on pressure

Paralytic jerking-drawing in the muscles of the left leg, extending from the knee to the foot, the same when walking or when touching the parts (after six hours)

Corrosive itching causes scratching on the anterior surface of the left calf; one handbreadth below the knee

Corrosive itching in the anterior surface of the tibia,l

Pressive pain in the right tibia, when standing

Intermittent sharp stitches in the region where the fibula and tibia join the tarsus anteriorly (after seven hours)

Sticking in one part of the outer side of the foot,, when standing still

Heaviness in the right foot ; sensation as if a heavy load ivere attached to the tarsal bones, drawing the foot down, in every position of the foot

Pricking in the left big toe,l

Violent stitches in the left big toe, causing the whole limb to jerk

Tearing in the anterior joints of the left toes; more violent when walking

Dull, intermittent sticking in the bottom of the foot near the heel, independent of contact or walking (after half an hour)

Tearing in the lower limbs for half an hour

When walking on the pavement the feet easily become turned (fifth day); early in the morning

Fine lancinations at the bottom of either foot

Generalities p. 131

Great weakness, as results from violent anguish, with sensation as if diarrhoea would set in, when standing

Feels bruised all over

Skin p. 131

Itching-stinging in different parts of the body, obliging him to scratch (after twenty-eight hours)

Itching around the ulcer in the evening

The corrosive itching yields to scratching, but returns as speedily

Creeping under the skin of the hands and itching of the body, especially up the back, as from fleas

Fever p. 131

Chilliness, without thirst or subsequent heat

Constant trembling of the whole body from internal chilliness, the body feeling warm to the hands

Chilliness of the ivhole body, without thirst; the hands, however, are the only portions of the body which feel cold to the touch

Chilliness and shuddering, and then heat (after a quarter of an hour); these alternate frequently, without thirst (after fifty hours)

Frequent alternations of chilliness and heat without thirst ; the hands, however, being the only parts of the body which feel cold to the touch

Heat in the face and dryness of the mouth, for an hour ; the thirst appears only when the heat is over

Heat of the whole body, with cold knees, in the evening, in bed ; he feels the interior sides of the fingers, in the open air, previous to the heat

Sleep and Dreams p. 132

Makes drowsy and intoxicates (Finger, Herbar., 227).

Makes the head confused, and causes drowsiness (Diose).

Restless sleep ; he pushes off the cover of the bed, and dreams constantly, without recollecting what

She sometimes starts in her sleep, as if in affright, and wakes

Anxious dreams, which he does not recollect

Voluptuous dreams

Conditions p. 132

Aggravation.

(Morning), Early, painful erections; early, feet turn easily when walking.

(Evening), Pain in right side of head, when reading ; burning in eyes ; in bed, before falling asleep, cough ; sticking in right fingers ; itching around the ulcer ; in bed, heat of whole body.

(Sitting bent). Pain in pit of stomach.

(Contact), Pain in eye ; jerking drawing in bone of left index-finger.

(During expiration), Pressure above right nipple.

(During inspiration), Tearing, etc., in right shoulderjoint.

(Deep inspiration). Pressure in region of sternum.

(After micturition), Disagreeable sensation in urethra.

(Motion), Tearing in temples, etc. ; tearing, etc., in temples, etc. ; tearing, etc., in right temple, etc. ; tearing, etc., in right shoulder-joint ; pressure in right elbow-joint ; pain in right hip-joint ; pains in bends of knees.

( When reading). Contractive headache ; in the evening, burning of the eyes.

(In room). Running of the eyes.

( When standing). Nausea ; shooting in bend of knee ; pain in right tibia; great weakness.

(Touching hand). Pain in left wrist-joint.

(Touch), Pressure above nipple; pressure in right rib region; pressure in right axilla; pressure in upper arm.

(When touched by warm food or drink), Teeth painful.

( Walking), Cramp pain in left thigh ; tearing in left toe-joint.

Amelioration p. 132

(Motion), Jerking in region of right elbow.

(Pressure), Aching on dorsum of nose, etc.

(Rubbing), Itching in right eyeball.

(Scratching), Itching on hairy scalp.