Vitex sacred, or Abraham’s tree

Pharmacy name: the fruits of the Abraham tree – Agni casti fructus (formerly: Fructus Agni casti).

Botanical description: This shrub reaches 3-5 m in height, distributed from the Mediterranean to northern India. When looking at it, palmately divided leaves and dense inflorescences are striking. The flowers are pale blue, the fruits are drupes 0.5 cm in size.

Active ingredients: fatty oil, essential oil, fat-soluble flavones, iridoids. It is used primarily in homeopathy for impotence, depression and nervous weakness. An alcoholic solution of the dry extract is prescribed when breastfeeding is stopped.