Agnus Castus
By Constantine Hering — The Guiding Symptoms of our Materia Medica
Vitex Agnus Castus. Verbenaceæ.
A shrub growing in damp places in Southern Europe. Since Dioscorides one of the most famous medicines.
Proved by Hahnemann and his school, and published in 1841, in the Archives , by Stapf ; later proved by Helbig.
MIND [1]
Absent-minded, reduced power of insight ; cannot recollect things.
He finds reading difficult ; has to read several things twice ; is unable to fix his attention.
Low-spirited, fears of approaching death.
Despairing sadness ; keeps repeating that she will die, that there is no use doing anything. θ Cephalalgia. θ Agalactia.
Melancholy, hypochondriac mood. θ Cephalalgia.
Anxious, fear and weakness.
Peevish ; inclined to get angry ; with hiccough.
SENSORIUM [2]
After dulness in head, a pressing, long-lasting headache, followed by vomiting and spasmodic trembling.
Heaviness of head and pressure in neck, as if head would fall forward.
INNER HEAD [3]
Tearing, with pressure in temples and forehead, in brain, worse during motion.
Tearing pain above right eye and temple, as if one had received a blow upon eye, attended with soreness to touch, < by motion, < in evening, lasting several days.
Contractive headache above temples from reading.
Headache in upper part of head, as from staying in a room filled with a thick and dusky atmosphere ; looking to one point relieves it.
Pain in temple as from a blow.
Megrim.
OUTER HEAD [4]
Biting itching on scalp, < evenings and when falling asleep.
Tearing, tension and chilliness in scalp, which is warm to touch.
Biting pains on upper right side, on bone, from behind forward, < evening and in sleep.
SIGHT AND EYES [5]
Burning in eyes and headache from reading in evening.
Pupils widely dilated.
Dilated pupils.
Photophobia.
Looking at a fixed point relieves pain in upper head.
Tearing pains above right eye and temple, as if one had received a blow upon eye. θ Cephalalgia.
Corrosive itching over and on eyebrows and lids, and below eyes.
HEARING AND EARS [6]
Ringing or roaring in ears.
Hardness of hearing.
Drawing pain in left parotid.
SMELL AND NOSE [7]
Illusion of smell : as of herring ; musk.
Soreness and pain in left side of nose.
Hard aching pain in dorsum of nose, as if a stone was pressing there, > by pressure.
UPPER FACE [8]
Corrosive itching on either cheek, obliging him to scratch.
Erysipelas on left cheek, spreading from nose over face and head.
A long stitch followed by a fine pricking itching.
Formication of cheeks.
LOWER FACE [9]
Rending, tearing, under alveoli of right lower jaw.
Deep tearing in right ramus of lower jaw, below socket.
TEETH AND GUMS [10]
Toothache from warm things.
Teeth painful, when touched by warm food or drink.
Throbbing, tearing toothache in left eye-tooth, small boil near tooth, very painful to touch ; in attacks.
Ulcers on gums.
TASTE, SPEECH, TONGUE [11]
Taste : metallic ; coppery ; bitter.
Tongue coated white.
INNER MOUTH [12]
Mouth very dry, saliva viscid and tough, drawing out in strings.
(OBS :) Ulcers on gums and in mouth.
PALATE AND THROAT [13]
Corrosive itching in pit of throat.
APPETITE, THIRST. DESIRES, AVERSIONS [14]
Hunger.
Relishes food, but it does not agree with him.
Lessened appetite.
Thirstlessness ; aversion to drink.
EATING AND DRINKING [15]
Abdomen distended after meals.
Nausea in pit of stomach after eating.
Food makes him feel uneasy and replete.
Warm food and drink cause teeth to ache.
HICCOUGH, BELCHING, NAUSEA AND VOMITING [16]
The wind he brings up smells like old urine allowed to remain on clothes.
Hiccough ; inclined to get angry ; peevish.
Nausea in pit of stomach when standing ; later, qualmishness in abdomen, with a sensation as if intestines were pressing downward ; wants to support himself with his hands.
Nausea as from eating fat food. θ Checked catamenia.
SCROBICULUM AND STOMACH [17]
Pinching in scrobiculum when sitting bent over.
HYPOCHONDRIA [18]
Aching in region of liver, < from touch.
Soreness in region of spleen.
Swelling and induration of spleen. θ Intermittent.
ABDOMEN AND LOINS [19]
Rumbling in abdomen during sleep.
Abdomen sensitive to pressure.
Incarcerated flatus.
Abdomen sore to touch.
Flatulency.
Feels as if entrails were sinking down, constantly inclined to support bowels with hands. θ Uterine complaint.
Violent, contracting bellyache, coming suddenly in morning, with bearing down. θ Suppressed menses.
(OBS :) Ascites.
STOOLS AND RECTUM [20]
Diarrhœa of children,
Chronic diarrhœa of adults.
Feels as if diarrhœa would set in, when standing ; anguish, great weakness. See 36 .
Difficult expulsion of soft stool.
Hard stools. θ Constipation.
When pressing at stool, discharge of prostatic fluid.
Great accumulation of wind.
Wind expelled by rectum smells like urine remaining long on clothes.
Ascarides.
A sore feeling under skin near anus, only when walking.
Corrosive itching of perineum, pruritus podicis.
Excoriated anus.
Deep rhagades or fissures of anus.
URINARY ORGANS [21]
Pains in bladder.
Passes more urine.
Gets up twice at night and even once during siesta.
When urinating, sometimes pain in lower abdomen, sometimes in kidneys.
Red, turbid urine, with burning and pressure in urethra.
Emission of prostatic fluid.
A yellow discharge from urethra.
MALE SEXUAL ORGANS [22]
Complete loss of sexual desire, penis is small, flaccid and cold.
Frequent erections, but without voluptuous thoughts.
Usual morning erection with desire, but parts flaccid.
After an embrace involuntary emissions same night, and long-continued erection.
Sexual desire lessened, almost lost.
Penis so relaxed that voluptuous fancies excite no erections.
Testes cold, swollen, hard and painful ; penis small, flaccid.
Spermatic fluid thin, watery and deficient.
Impotence, with gleet, especially with those who have frequently had gonorrhœa.
Yellow urethral discharge. θ Gonorrhœa.
Gleet, with want of sexual desire or erections.
Induration of testicles. θ Suppressed gonorrhœa.
Drawing along spermatic cords.
Pollution from irritable weakness with prostatorrhœa.
Prostatic juice passes with hard stools.
Want of erection and sexual desire. θ Secondary gonorrhœa.
Itching of genitals.
FEMALE SEXUAL ORGANS [23]
Hysteria, with maniacal lasciviousness.
Sterility ; absence of menses and sexual desire.
Menses lasting from ten to eighteen days.
Metrorrhagia.
Suppressed menses, with drawing pain in abdomen.
A transparent leucorrhœal discharge passes imperceptibly from the very relaxed parts.
Leucorrhœa, not copious, but spotting her linen yellow. θ Suppressed menses.
Intumescence of the uterus.
Before menses : vertigo, headache, dim sight.
During menses : pain in pelvis and loins.
Inflammation of uterus.
PREGNANCY. PARTURITION. LACTATION [24]
Retained placenta.
Milk scanty, or disappears ; often with great sadness ; says she will die.
Suppression of milk in childbed, or during nursing period.
VOICE AND LARYNX. TRACHEA AND BRONCHIA [25]
Voice as if passing through wool, has no timbre.
RESPIRATION [26]
Oppression on going up-stairs.
Dyspnœa ; < in evening.
COUGH [27]
Cough : in evening, in bed, before falling asleep ; with raising of blood, followed by copious mucus ; in paroxysms, with palpitation and nosebleed, mostly in morning ; when inhaling cold air.
Tough sputa, hanging like a rag in fauces.
INNER CHEST AND LUNGS [28]
Feeling of dryness in chest.
HEART, PULSE AND CIRCULATION [29]
Palpitation ; with cough.
Slow and weak pulse, often imperceptible.
OUTER CHEST [30]
Pressure in region of sternum, < when breathing deeply.
Pressure in xiphoid cartilage, just above pit of stomach.
NECK AND BACK [31]
A creaking noise in vertebræ.
Acute, sharp stitches in coccyx, and on left side near coccyx and sacrum.
Pain in sacrum from flatus.
UPPER LIMBS [32]
Hard pressure in right axilla and upper arm, < from touch or motion.
Swelling of finger joints, tearing pains, arthritic nodes.
Gouty swelling of finger joints.
LOWER LIMBS [33]
Pain in left hip.
Thighs feel tired and swollen towards evening.
Lancinating pain in right hip joint, < during motion, > in rest.
Legs much fatigued and swollen towards evening.
Cold knees.
Ankles swollen after a sprain.
Tearing, rending in feet and toes, < on walking.
Stitches in legs and left big toe.
Fine lancinations in bottom of either foot.
Feet easily turn under when walking on a stone pavement.
REST. POSITION. MOTION [35]
Rest : relieves pain in hip.
Sitting bent over : causes pain in scrobiculum.
Standing : causes nausea and qualmishness in stomach and abdomen ; sensation as if diarrhœa would set in.
Motion : aggravates tearing and pressure in head, pressure in axilla and arm ; pain in hips.
Walking : soreness near anus ; tearing in feet and toes < ; feet turn under ; hands sweat.
Ascending stairs : causes oppressed breathing.
NERVES [36]
Spasmodic complaints of hypochondriac men.
Great weakness : as from violent anguish ; from depression of spirits. θ Agalactia.
Lethargy or frenzy.
SLEEP [37]
Coma.
Sleeplessness.
Awaking often , as if alarmed ; startings.
Anxious dreams.
TIME [38]
Night : gets up twice to urinate.
Morning : violent bellyache ; cough, with palpitation and nosebleed.
Evening : tearing pains, with pressure above right eye and temple ; itching on scalp < ; eyes burn when reading ; dyspnœa < ; cough in bed ; legs tired and swollen ; chilliness, followed by heat and sweat ; flushes of heat, knees cold.
TEMPERATURE AND WEATHER [39]
Bad effects from getting feet wet.
Warm things : teeth pain.
In bed : heat of face, coldness of knees.
Cold air : coughs when inhaling it.
Open air : hands sweat when walking.
FEVER [40]
Internal chilliness, with trembling, skin warm.
Slight chilliness towards evening, followed by heat, with headache, no thirst, slight delirium, tormenting, profuse sweat.
Chill and heat alternate.
Chilly all over, but only hands feel cold to touch.
Flushes of burning heat, mostly in face, with cold knees ; evening in bed.
Heat with coryza, thirst. θ Borborygmus.
Sweat on hands when walking in open air.
Sweats easily.
ATTACKS, PERIODICITY [41]
Sudden attacks of bellyache.
LOCALITY AND DIRECTION [42]
Right : tearing in lower jaw ; aching in liver ; pressure in axilla and arm ; lancinating in hip joint.
Left : drawing in parotid gland ; painful soreness in side of nose ; erysipelas on cheek ; soreness in spleen ; stitches side of sacrum and coccyx.
Above downward : nausea and qualmishness.
SENSATIONS [43]
Bruised feeling all over.
As if head would fall forward ; as if one had received a blow on eye ; headache as from staying in a room with thick atmosphere ; pain in temple as from a blow ; as if a stone was pressing in dorsum of nose ; a long stitch followed by a fine pricking itching in face ; as if intestines were pressing downward ; voice as if passing through wool ; pains as if luxated.
Pain : in left side of nose ; in bladder ; in testicles ; in sacrum ; in left hip.
Burning : in eyes ; in eyelids ; in nose ; in throat ; in mouth ; in urethra ; in bladder ; in skin.
Lancinating : in right hip joint ; in soles of feet.
Stitches : in head ; in face ; in eyes ; in ears ; in rectum ; in coccyx ; near sacrum ; in legs ; in left big toe ; in skin.
Tearing : in head ; above right eye and temple ; in scalp ; under alveoli of right lower jaw ; deep in ramus of lower jaw ; toothache ; in finger joints ; in feet and toes.
Gnawing : in different parts.
Rending : under alveoli of right lower jaw ; in feet and toes.
Pinching : in scrobiculum.
Aching pain : in dorsum of nose ; in region of liver.
Soreness : in left side of nose ; in region of spleen ; under skin near anus.
Biting pains : in outer head.
Drawing pain : in left parotid ; along spermatic cords ; in abdomen.
Pressing : headache ; in neck ; in temples, forehead and brain ; in urethra ; in region of sternum ; in xiphoid cartilage ; in right axilla and upper arm.
Throbbing : toothache.
Contractive pain : in head above temples ; in abdomen.
Tension : in scalp.
Dulness : in head.
Tired feeling : in thighs ; in legs.
Heaviness : of head.
Swollen feeling : in thighs.
Biting itching : on scalp.
Corrosive itching : on eyebrows and lids and beneath eyes ; on cheeks ; in pit of throat ; of perineum.
Itching : of male genitals ; on different parts of body ; around ulcers.
Formication : of cheeks.
Heat : burning ; flushes ; with coryza.
Chilliness : in scalp ; internal ; all over.
Coldness : of knees.
Dryness : of mouth ; in chest.
Stitches : head, face, eyes, ears, rectum and skin.
TISSUES [44]
Inflammatory, rheumatic swelling of joints.
Gouty nodosities.
TOUCH. PASSIVE MOTION. INJURIES [45]
May be indicated in bruises or wounds.
Sprains and luxations of joints.
Strains from lifting a little too much.
Prevents excoriation from walking.
Pressure : relieves aching on dorsum of nose ; abdomen sensitive therefrom.
Touch : aggravates toothache ; aching in liver ; abdomen sore ; pressure in axilla and arm.
Must scratch : in corrosive itching of cheeks.
SKIN [46]
Pungent odor exhaled from him, gives him a dulness and headache, followed by vomiting and trembling.
Gnawing or itching on different parts of body, relieved temporarily by scratching.
Itching around ulcers, in evening.
Yellow tint of the skin.
STAGE OF LIFE, CONSTITUTION [47]
Lymphatic constitution. θ Agalactia.
Premature old age, in young persons from abuse of sexual powers, melancholy, apathy, mental distraction, self-contempt, general debility, frequent loss of spermatic fluid.
Unmarried persons suffering from nervous debility. θ Cephalalgia.
"Old sinners," with impotence and gleet.
RELATIONS [48]
The only one proved from the large family of Verbenaceæ. Helbig calls attention to the nearly related family of Labiatæ, from which we have several valuable remedies.
Antidotes to Agn. cast . : Camphor., Natr. mur . (the headache), strong solution of table-salt.
After Agnus are useful : Arsen., Bryon., Ignat., Lycop., Pulsat., Sulphur, Selen . (impotence).