Nom. Vulg.--_Lagundi_, Tag.; _Gapasgapas_, Vis.; _Dangla_, Iloc.
_Vitex Negundo_, L. (_V. Leucoxylon_, Blanco.)
Nom. Vulg.--_Lagundi_, _Malawin_, Tag.
Uses.--Both species are used medicinally in the Philippines and both
enjoy high repute. A variety of the first that seems to possess the
same virtues is the _V. repens_, Blanco, called _lagunding gapang_
by the Tagalos.
_V. trifolia_ is regarded in India as the most powerful species and
Bontius has extolled it highly, calling attention to the anodyne,
diuretic and emmenagogue properties of the leaves. These are very
effective applied in fomentation to rheumatic joints and their use
is extensive both in India and the Malay Archipelago. A decoction
of the leaves is used locally and as a vapor-bath in the treatment
of beriberi. A large earthen pot is filled with leaves and water and
brought to a boil; the pot is then placed under a chair in which the
patient sits enveloped in a sheet or blanket. If necessary the pot may
be removed 2 or 3 times, heated and replaced until abundant sweating
is induced. An apparatus to conduct the steam under the chair would
be much handier, but it is unsafe to place a small stove or lamp
under the chair for fear of setting fire to the cloth.
In India and the Philippines there is a peculiar inflammation localized
in the soles of the feet and characterized by an intense burning
rather than pain, not described in the textbooks, but called by the
natives "burning of the feet" ("quemadura del pié" or "ignipedites");
in our own experience and according to the consensus of the physicians
of India, the application of these leaves 3 or 4 times a day to the
soles of the feet has afforded marked relief. The leaves are heated
in an earthen pot without the addition of water, and when sufficiently
hot are applied and held in place by a bandage.
Dr. W. Ingledew states that the natives of Mysore (south of
India) treat rheumatism and febrile catarrhs by steam baths of the
decoction of vitex. A decoction of the leaves is in common use in
the Philippines, Malay Islands and India as a bath for women in the
puerperal state.
The dry leaves are smoked for headache and catarrh. According to
creditable authority the application of the heated leaves in orchitis
produces good results. The root is tonic, febrifuge and expectorant
and the fruit nervine and emmenagogue according to the Sanscrit writer.
Botanical Description.--_V. trifolia_ is a small tree, 3-4
meters high. The fruit and leaves are said to emit the odor of
rosemary. Leaves ternate. Leaflets oval, entire, hoary below, no
secondary petioles. Flowers purplish in forked panicle. Corolla
bell-shaped with palate. The lower lip 3-lobed, the middle lobe
larger; upper lip smaller, 2-lobed. Stamens 4, free, didynamous. Ovary
free. Style simple, with stigma-bearing lobules. Berry-like drupe,
with 4-celled nut, one seed in each cell.
Habitat.--Common on the seashore. Blooms in June.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account