Witnessed by: TCM · Ayurveda
Three-leaved Chaste Tree (Vitex trifolia), of the Lamiaceae (formerly Verbenaceae) family. Aromatic sprawling coastal shrub with trifoliate grey-downy leaves and blue-violet flower spikes; native range: coasts and riverbanks of East and South Asia and the Indo-Pacific. Globally recognized as sinduvara / nila-nirgundi in Sanskrit, nilanirgundi, sambhalu in Hindi, man jing zi (蔓荆子) in Chinese, and blue vitex, beach vitex, simpleleaf chastetree in English. The part used is the ripe dried fruit (TCM); leaves and root (Ayurveda). Small peppercorn fruits, aromatic and slightly acrid; the leaves camphoraceous when bruised.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
THREE-LEAVED CHASTE TREE
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Three-leaved Chaste Tree
- Scientific name
- Vitex trifolia L.
- Family
- Lamiaceae (formerly Verbenaceae)
Form
- Part used
- the ripe dried fruit (TCM); leaves and root (Ayurveda)
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- pungent · bitter (acrid, aromatic)
- Ayurveda
- pungent · bitter (katu, tikta)
Temperature
- TCM
- cool (slightly cold)
- Ayurveda
- heating (ushna)
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Liver · Stomach · Bladder
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- dispels wind, clears wind-heat, benefits the head and eyes, relieves headache and dizziness
- Ayurveda
- vata-kapha-hara, shothahara (anti-inflammatory), vedanasthapana (analgesic), krimighna (anthelmintic), keshya (promotes hair)
Cautions
- Contraindications
- headache from blood or yin deficiency without wind-heat; caution in pregnancy
- Toxicity
- large doses may cause a heavy sensation in the head or gastric upset
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