C
Pain (2; KOM; SHT); Candida (1; APA; MAB); Constipation (f; BGB); Cramp (1; BGB; SHT);
Dementia (f; MAB); Depression (1; MAB; PH2); Dyslactea (1; CAN; SHT); Dysmenorrhea (2;
KOM; MAB; SHT); Endometriosis (1; MAB); Enterosis (1; MAB); Epilepsy (f; MAB); Fatigue
(f; BGB); Fever (f; BGB); Fibrocystic Breast Disease (1; MAB; SKY); Fibroid (1; MAB; SKY);
Frigidity (f; MAB); Fungus (1; MAB); Gas (f; BGB; PH2); Hangover (f; BGB); Headache (2;
BGB; MAB); HRT-Withdrawal (1; MAB); Hypogonadism (f; MAB); Hyperprolactinemia (1;
MAB); Herpes (1; MAB); Impotence (f; MAB; PH2); Infection (1; MAB; WOI); Infertility (1;
MAB; PH2; SKY); Inflammation (1; APA); Insomnia (f; BRU; PH2); Irregular Cycle (1; MAB);
Lactorrhea (1; MAB); Mastosis (2; APA; KOM; MAB; PH2); Melancholia (f; MAB); Menopause
(1; APA; MAB; PH2; SKY); Menorrhagia (1; CAN; SKY); Menstrual Distress (1; MAB; SKY);
Mycosis (1; MAB); Nervousness (f; BRU; PH2); Neurasthenia (f; PH2); Neurosis (1; CAN);
Oligomenorrhea (2; MAB); Pain (1; BGB; PH2); PMS (2; APA; KOM; PH2; SHT); Polymen-
orrhea (2; MAB); Spermatorrhea (f; PH2); Stomatosis (f; MAB); Uterosis (f; PH2); Vaginosis
(1; APA); Yeast (1; APA; MAB).
Dosages (Chasteberry) — 20 mg fruit/day (APA); 30–40 mg fruit/day (MAB; PH2); 0.5–1 g fruit
3 ×/day (CAN); 40 drops/day/3 months (CAN); hydroalcoholic extracts corresponding to 30–40
mg fruits (KOM); 1–4 ml/day liquid extract (1:2) (MAB); 1–5 ml/day tincture (1:5) (MAB); 40
drops StX tincture (SF); 175 mg/day tincture (1:5) (SHT); 2 (560 mg) capsules 2 ×/day (NH).
Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Chasteberry) — Class 2b. CAN cautions that it
may cause allergic reactions. May counteract the effectiveness of birth control pills (AHP). Contrain-
dicated in pregnancy and nursing (PH2). Because of its hormonal action, its use in pregnancy and
lactation is to be avoided (CAN). It may interfere with endocrine therapies (hormone replacement, oral
contraception, sex hormones). The use of agnus castus to treat symptoms of corpus luteum deficiency
is only recommended in patients not on any other hormonal therapy.” Commission E reports no
contraindications or interactions for the fruit. Adverse effects: skin reactions, GI distress (AEH; KOM;
SKY). Schulz et al., 1998, are more positive, reporting no serious side effects. High-dose experiments
evoked some dose-dependent side effects but so mild as to generate no fears (SHT). May interfere
with metabolism of dopamine-receptor antagonists (APA). Vitex acting on the pituitary increasing
luteinizing hormone, helping reduce prolactin and increase progesterone (SKY). I suspect there was
an idiomatic problem leading PH2 to suggest that chaste tree inhibits lactation (main active principles
aucubin and agnoside. More people seem to spell it agnuside and I have entered agnuside as antipro-
lactin). I suspect they meant these compounds inhibit prolactin rather than inhibit lactation. Chaste tree
treatment is twice as good for PMS symptoms (abdominal tension, breast tenderness, constipation,
depressed mood, edema, and headache) as treatment with pyridoxine.
CHAULMOOGRA (Hydnocarpus spp.) XThe medicinally most important species in this taxonomically difficult genus are Hydnocarpus
anthelminthicus Pierre ex Laness, H. kurzii (King.) Warb. (a.k.a. Taraktogenos kurzii), and H.
pentandrus (Buch. Ham) Oken (formerly H. wightianus Bl.). Rightly or wrongly, PH2 and EFS
took the generic approach so entries do not necessarily apply to a given species. HHB and WOI
maintain them as distinct, but I have followed the expedient but sloppy generic approach. Without
voucher specimens, none of us really know what was intended.
Activities (Chaulmoogra) — Anthelminthic (f; HHB); Antibacterial (f; KAP); Antiinflammatory
(1; PH2); Antipyretic (1; EFS; PH2); Antiseptic (1; FNF; PH2); Antitumor (1; PH2); CNS-
Depressant (f; MAD); CNS-Stimulant (f; MAD); Cyanogenic (f; PH2); Emetic (f; DEP); Laxative
(1; DEP); Lipolytic (1; PH2); Parasiticide (f; EFS); Piscicide (f; HHB); Sedative (f; EFS; PH2).
Indications (Chaulmoogra) — Adenopathy (f; MAD); Arthrosis (f; MAD); Bacteria (f; KAP);
Bruise (f; DEP); Cancer (1; JLH; PH2); Dermatosis (f; HHB; KAB; PH2); Diabetes (f; PH2);