Chinese Chaste Tree

Chinese Chaste Tree

This genus includes about 250 species of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs, occuring mainly in tropical and subtropical regions. Both V. agnus-castus and V. negundo are fine ornamental shrubs for warm temperate regions or sheltered positions in colder parts. They have elegant, compound leaves, and spikes of mauve flowers. Vitex agnus-castus has long been associated with chastity, white-flowered plants in particularly being a symbol of virtue in S Europe. Ground seeds were used in monasteries as a condiment to suppress libido, hence the common names, "monk's pepper" and "chaste tree". The fruits have hormonal effects on both men and women, inhibiting male androgens, and increasing female progesterone, although it is not exactly clear which constituents are responsible for these effects. Vitex negundo is a very variable species, with seven or more recognized variants. The cut-leafed or hemp-leafed variety, var. cannabifolia (often treated as synonymous with var. heterophylla by Western botanists) is listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (1985) as a different drug, mu jing, which has expectorant, anti-tussive, anti-asthmatic, sedative, anti-spasmodic, and anti-bacterial effects. Vitex canescens and V. quinata are used as a substitute for V. negundo in Tibet. Chinese herbalists also use V. trifolia and V. rotundifolia, which are both known as man jing zi.

Deciduous, bushy shrub with 4-angled stems and palmate leaves divided into 3-5 lanceolate, pointed leaflets, to 10cm (4in) long. Small, tubular lavender flowers are borne in upright spikes, to 22cm (9in) long, in late summer and early autumn, followed by small, fleshy fruits.

Common Name:

Chinese Chaste Tree

Botanical Name:

Vitex negundo

Genus:

Vitex

Family:

Verbenaceae

Native Location:

E Africa, E Asia

Cultivation:

Well-drained to poor dry soil in sun. Cut back the previous year's growth to 2.5-5cm (1-2in) in spring. Tolerates hard pruning.

Propagation:

By seed sown when ripe or in spring; by semi-ripe cuttings in summer.

Harvest:

Leaves are picked in early summer, and used fresh as juice, or in infusions and poultices, or dried for use in decoctions. Stems are cut in late summer or autumn and dried for use in decoctions and charcoal powder. Roots are lifted in late summer or autumn, and dried for use in decoctions. Fruits are collected in autumn, and used fresh or dried in decoctions or powder. Oil is extracted mainly from V. negundo var. cannabifolia.

Height:

3-5m (10-15ft)

Width:

3-5m (10-15ft)

Variations:

cannabifolia
Has leaves resembling those of Cannabis sativa (See, Marijuana).

heterophylla
(cut-leafed/hemp-leafed chaste tree)
Has a more northern distribution, and leaflets with deeply toothed margins, which in some plants are almost divided into segments.

Hardiness:

Z6-10

Parts Used:

Leaves, stems, roots, fruits (huang jing zi), oil.

Properties:

A sedative, cooling, detoxifying herb that lowers fever, relieves pain, improves digestion, and is expectorant and anti-bacterial.

Medicinal Uses:

Internally for poisonous bites, malaria, arthritis, and breast cancer. Externally for ringworm (leaves), rheumatic and arthritic pain, toothache, and sore throat (stems), colds and coughs (all parts); asthma and digestive disturbances (leaves, roots, fruits), bronchitis (roots, fruits, oil), hemorrhoids, migraine, and eye problems (fruits). In Ayurvedic medicine, internally for headache, mucus, and gonorrhea (leaves), fevers and bronchial congestion (roots); externally for ulcers (juice of leaves), and sores (medicated oil).

Economic Uses:

Fresh leaves are burned with grass as a fumigant for mosquitoes.

Warning:

Not given to patients with heart disease or hypertension.

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