Chastetree Fruit (Manjingzi)
| Pharmaceutical Name: | Fructus Viticis |
| Botanical Name: | Vitex trifolia L. var. simplicifolia cham. Vitex trifolia L. |
| Common Name: | Vitex fruit, Chastetree fruit |
| Source of Earliest Record: | Shennong Bencao Jing |
| art Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: | The fruit is gathered in summer, dried in the shade and baked until yellow or black. |
| Properties and Taste: | Pungent, bitter and neutral |
| Meridian: | Liver, stomach, and urinary bladder. |
| Functions: | To disperse wind and clear heat To clear and benefit the head and eyes. |
| Indications and Combinations: | 1. Headache and unilateral headache due to invasion by exogenous wind and heat. *Use with Ledebouriella root (Fangfeng), Chrysanthemum flower (Juhua) and Chuanxiong rhizome (Chuanxiong). 2. Upper disturbance of liver-yang manifested as red, painful and swelling eyes, excessive tearing, dizziness and blurred vision. *Use with with Chrysanthemum flower (Juhua), Cicada slough (Chantui) and Tribulus fruit (Baijili). 3. Wind-damp bi syndrome manifested as joint pain and cramping or heaviness of limbs. *Use with Ledebouriella root (Fangfeng), Large-leaf gentian root (Qinjiao) and Chaenomeles fruit (Mugua). |
| Dosage: | 6-12 g |
| Cautions: | This herb should be used with caution for headaches or eye problems due to deficiency yin or blood. |