Agnus Castus, Medicinal Plant, 1737

Agnus Castus, Medicinal Plant, 1737

"A Curious Herbal", Plate 139. The agnus castus or chaste tree, as its name suggests, was once believed to preserve chastity. However, Blackwell states that "this age has left that medicine out of the dispensatory as useless." The leaves, flowers, and seed "helps the hardness of the liver and spleed, exprells wind & brings down ye catamenia (stimulates menstruation)". It is used for menstrual cycle irregularities, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and symptoms of menopause. It is also used for treating "lumpy" (fibrocystic) breasts, female infertility, preventing miscarriage in women with low levels of a hormone called progesterone, controlling bleeding and helping the body force out the placenta after childbirth, and increasing breast milk.It is also used for acne, nervousness, dementia, joint conditions, colds, upset stomach, spleen disorders, headaches, migraine, eye pain, body inflammation, and swelling. Elizabeth Blackwell (1707-1758) was a famed Scottish illustrator and author who was best known as both the artist and engraver for the plates of "A Curious Herbal" (1737).

ILLUSTRATION • Medical: History

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