Health Benefits & Medicinal Uses of Nirgundi/Chastetree

Nirgundi or Chastetree is an effective herbal medicine that contains various powerful medicinal values to treat many diseases. 

The leaves, flowers, fruits, and roots of this herb can be used in various formulations to treat many diseases. It has been used in many fields such as Ayurveda, Unani Siddha, Allopathy, and Homeopathy medicines. 

It also plays a main role in women’s health and prevents diseases. This effective herb can be used to treat asthma problems, pains, swelling, sexual problems, muscle spasms, etc. 

It contains rich amounts of nutrients and powerful properties to prevent various diseases and improves your health. 

The leaves of this tree contain many compounds such as Glyoflavonoids, Aucubin aginuside, Hydrocotylene, Alkaloids, vitamin C, organic fatty acids, Isoorientin, 5-Hydroxy, Nishindine, etc. that has many effective medicinal values.

About Nirgundi

The chaste tree is also known as the five-leaved chaste tree that is a small shrub and native to Asia, tropical Southern and Eastern Africa. 

It is widely cultivated in subtropical and temperate areas throughout the world. It is botanically known as Vitex Negundo that belongs to the Verbenaceae family. 

It grows up to 2-8 meters broadly and it contains smooth reddish bark. The bark is widely used in folk medicines in many places in Asia to treat various diseases. 

It contains multiple branches and smooth hairs. The leaves of this tree are ovate in shape, 2-6 inches length, light green in color, and contain five leaflets. The crushed leaves have a great aroma. 

The flower of this plant is 6-7 cm long and has a blue or white color with different sizes of petals. It contains fleshy fruits that are egg-shaped with 4mm diameter. 

It is primarily green in color and turns to black or purple when it ripens. The fruit includes tiny seeds that contain a 5-6 mm diameter. Apart from medicinal uses, it contains various ornamental applications.

Common Names of Nirgundi (Chastetree):

Botanical Name: Vitex Negundo
English Name: Chinese Chastetree
Tamil Name: Nochi
Malayalam Name: Indrani
Telugu Name: Sindhuvara / Vavili / Nalla-vavili / Tella-vavili
Kannada Name: Bile-nekki, Lakki Soppu, Lekki gida
Hindi Name: Nirgundi / Nisinda / Sambhalu / Sawbhalu
Punjabi Name: Banna, Mawa, Marwan, Swanjan Torbanna
Bengali Name: Nirgundi, Samalu, Nishinda
Sanskrit Name: Sinduka, Shephalika, Vanaja, Surasa

Medicinal Properties of Nirgundi (Chastetree)

• Anti-asthmatic
• Anti-inflammatory
• Analgesic
• Antimicrobial
• Anthelmintic
• Anticatarrhal
• Appetizer
• Antiandrogenic
• Discutient
• Larvicidal
• Carminative
• Emmenagogue
• Muscle relaxant
• Hepatoprotective

Health Benefits & Medicinal Uses of Nirgundi (Chastetree)

The chaste tree contains effective medicinal values, and it provides many health benefits. Every part of this tree, such as leaves, flowers, fruits, and roots, contains powerful different medicinal values and provides effective treatment for several health conditions. 

It can be used in various formulations such as powder, decoction, and paste to treat body pains, joint pain, sciatica, and arthritis. 

Smoking the dried leaves of nirgundi helps to provide great relief from headaches and catarrh. There are various health benefits of Nirgundi described below.

Promotes Fertility

Nirgundi plays a major role in women’s problems and provides better results. It increases the level of progesterone hormone, which is the main hormone that stimulates the menstrual cycle. 

It also helps to promote the production of breast milk. According to many studies, it is found that nirgundi helps to promote female fertility. 

According to the research conducted between 48 women aged 23 to 39, the chaste tree provides effective treatment. 

At the end of the research, it regulates the progesterone level that promotes pregnancy for 25 women. The rich amounts of vitamins and minerals present in the chaste tree help to improve the fertility.

Treats PMS Symptoms

There are lots of women facing PMS that provide many emotional conditions every month of 2-14 days before your period. 

By regulating the hormonal imbalance, you can reduce the symptoms of PMS effectively. Nirgundi is an effective natural remedy that provides a great treatment for PMS symptoms.

Reduces Menopause Symptoms

Menopause causes various physical and emotional disturbances for many women. It is a final stage of menstruation, and it occurs after the end of menstruation. 

It occurs after a certain age of women due to the changes in hormonal levels in women’s bodies. The combination of vitex with other herbs helps to provide better results. 

According to studies, vitex can cure the mild to severe symptoms of Menopause. Vitex improves the production of progesterone and prevents the side effects of Menopause.

Treats Amenorrhea

Amenorrhea is a case that occurs due to the sudden end of the menstrual cycle of reproductive-age women. The unexpected end of the menstruation cycle indicates some problems in women. 

It occurs due to many reasons, such as a high amount of prolactin in your body that may lead to the deficiency of estrogen hypoestrogenism. Consuming Nirgundi helps to change the prolactin and provides a great balance between progesterone and estrogen.

Treats Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a condition of severe pain that occurs due to the growth of endometrial cells unnecessarily in the uterus lining. 

This growth generally stimulates the scarred tissue formation. According to studies, the vitex contains significance to reduce the pain and other conditions related to Endometriosis. 

The powerful properties present in vitex helps to decrease pain and other symptoms of Endometriosis. Consuming 400 mg of this effective herb on an empty stomach in the morning for six weeks helps to prevent pain.

Helps Respiratory System

Chaste tree is an effective remedy to treat asthma and all respiratory diseases by eliminating phlegm in the respiratory tract. Drinking chaste tree tea helps to clear all the blockages, improves ventilation, and regulates breathing. 

Thus, the leaves of the chaste tree is an effective remedy in Ayurveda to treat asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 

The oil extracted from the chaste tree is a strong antihistamine that helps to eliminate congestion in the neck, chest, and nose for those who have been affected by asthma.

Improves Lactation

The fruit of this herb is an effective remedy to improve lactation in Europe. According to studies, it is found that the Chaste tree helps to increase the production of the milk amount without any pregnancy difficulties. 

Chaste tree is an effective herb that increases the flow of breast milk called Galactagogue. According to the research, it is proven that consuming 15 drops of chaste tree tincture for thrice a day helps to promote the production of milk for mothers.

Treats Digestive Diseases

Chaste tree is an effective medicinal herb to treat digestion-related diseases. It helps to strengthen and promote the digestive system. 

It stimulates appetite and enhances digestion by eliminating the formation of gas in the intestine. It contains powerful anthelmintic action and acts as an effective cleaning agent of the digestive system. 

The extract of the chaste tree provides great relief from stomach pain caused due to the excess gas formation.

Relieves Uterine Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are the non-cancerous tumors that occur in the walls of the uterine. It changes the shape of the size of the uterus with severe symptoms. 

It occurs due to the hormonal imbalance on your body. Chaste tree is an effective remedy that prevents uterine fibroids by balancing the hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Relieves Pain and Inflammation

Vitex is an effective remedy to provide great relief from pain. The powerful anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties present in the chaste tree helps to decrease pain and inflammation in joints, muscle spasms, and arthritis. 

It also helps to cure the fractures. The root and extract of the chaste tree contain compounds such as alkaloid nishindine that provide effective treatment. Consuming Nirgundi helps to cure ulcers and other inflammations.

Treats Enlarged Prostate

Harmless prostatic hyperplasia is an enlargement of the prostate gland associated with age that causes difficulty during urination. 

After a certain age, the prostate becomes enlarged due to the hormonal changes in the body. According to the research, it is found that the extract of chaste tree fruits helps to provide effective treatment for enlarged prostate and also prevents prostate cancer. 

The bio-active compounds present in the chaste tree clear all the cells that cause prostate cancer and prevent proliferation. 

Relieves Acne

Many women face acne problems, and it is considered a serious problem in some situations. It can break out any time and cause pain and black marks in your face. 

In women, acne occurs particularly due to the fluctuation and hormonal imbalances. For many women, PMS is also one of the main reasons for acne and pimples. 

Vitex is an effective remedy to reduce acne by balancing the hormones at a perfect level. Studies found that Vitex has the capacity to cure premature acne and regulates hormone levels.

Relieves Health Disorders

Chaste tree contains rich amounts of vitamin C that has powerful anti-biotic and anti-inflammatory action. 

It helps to improve the immunity power and decrease the body temperature. It cures fever, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, and orchitis. Consume the boiled water of the Chaste tree leaves three times per day to get immediate relief from fever. 

Prevents Anxiety and Improves Nervous System

Nirgundi helps to decrease anxiety, tension, stimulates sleep, and prevents mood swings and insomnia. The high amount of fatty acids and flavonoids present in Nirgundi helps to improve intelligence, concentration, and memory capacity of your brain. 

It acts as an excellent brain tonic. Consuming Nirgundi helps to promote your nervous system and cures mild headaches.

Relieves Menstrual Cramps

The chaste tree is the most effective herb that plays a major role in women’s health conditions. It promotes the production of hormones and regulates the hormonal imbalance. 

It provides great relief from menstrual cramps that is the common problem faced by many women. The rich amounts of terpenoids present in the chaste tree help to balance the hormones in females. It also treats fertility and uterine fibroids, as mentioned above.

Chaste tree Uses for Hair

The oil extracted from the leaves of the chaste tree acts as a hair tonic that helps to promote the hair growth. 

Regular consumption of Nirgundi helps to strengthen your hair and prevents hair fall. Many Ayurvedic practitioners recommend the chaste tree as an effective remedy for baldness.

Treats Skin Disorders

Vitex provides effective treatment for various skin diseases. Vitex Negundo contains many effective bio-active compounds and powerful medicinal properties that help to treat leprosy, vitiligo, and leucoderma. The leaves, bark, root, and fruit of vitex provide better results.

Chaste tree Uses

Chaste tree or Nirgundi is an effective medicinal herb that not only provides medicinal benefits and also contains various applications.

• Keeping the dried leaves of the chaste tree inside the clothes prevents the damage of insects.
• Burning the leaves act as a mosquito repellent.
• The leaves of chaste trees work as biopesticides.
• It is also used as a natural alternative for the chemicals.

Other Traditional Uses of Chaste tree

• Applying the heated paste made by the leaves of the chaste tree externally provides great relief from rheumatoid, headache, orchitis, and osteoarthritis.
• The roots of Vitex acts as an anthelmintic that provides relief from dyspepsia and rheumatism.
• The decoction made by the chaste tree used to take a bath in the cases of rheumatic and catarrhal. 
• Chaste tree is an effective herbal medicine for female disorders.
• The root of Nirgundi provides effective treatment for piles and dysentery.
• The leaves and roots of Nirgundi contain a powerful tranquilizing effect to treat several disorders in Ayurveda.
• The Vitex flowers are effective to treat fever, diarrhea, and liver problems.
• The juice extracted from the leaves of the chaste tree used to prevent fetid discharges and the worms that cause ulcers. The oil made from the juice of the leaves helps to cure scrofulous sores and sinuses.
• The leaf extract of the chaste tree contains powerful antitumor and bactericidal action.
• The decoction of the chaste tree helps to treat mouth gargling and provides effective relief from oral ulcers and throat pain.
• The juice extracted from the root of the chaste tree helps to promote the growth of hair.
• The fruit of Vitex used to treat cold, cough, angina, and rheumatic problems.
• The fresh berry of the chaste tree is used to treat Premenstrual syndrome symptoms and promotes fertility.
• It helps to treat asthma, chronic bronchitis, and other respiratory diseases.
• Smoking the dried leaves provides effective relief from headaches and catarrh.
• The seeds and leaves of Vitex used to treat spider spites and snake bites.
• The decoction prepared by the stem of the chaste tree helps to treat scalds and burns.

Dosage of Chaste tree

Dosage of Chaste tree or Nirgundi can vary from person to person based on the condition, age, and severity. Thus, you should consult your doctor before taking a chaste tree because they will check your body conditions and recommend the proper dosage. However, the general dosage of the chaste tree is as follows.

Leaf Decoction	50-100 ml twice a day
Leaf Powder	1.5-3 g twice a day
Leaf Juice	10-20 ml twice a day
Dried Fruit Extract	40 mg
Root Bark Powder	3-6 g twice a day
Fluid extract	0.5-1.0 ml daily
Fruits	3-9 fruit in decoction
Seeds Powder	1-3 g twice a day
Dry leaves extract	300-600 mg twice a day
Tincture	40 drops

Chaste tree Side Effects

Chaste tree is considered as safe to consume when taken in the proper dosage. It may cause some side effects when taken by overdose. It may also stimulate allergic reactions. The side effects are as follows.

• Mild Stomach upset
• Headaches
• Itching
• Sleepless
• Nausea
• Increases Weight
• Acne
• Rashes

Pregnancy & Lactation

Consuming a Chaste tree during pregnancy and lactation may cause side effects. It also affects both the mother and babies. It can interfere with the hormones and estrogen levels. Thus, it is better to avoid the Chaste tree or Nirgundi during pregnancy and lactation period.

Interactions

According to research, it may interact with the following conditions.

• Birth control medicines
• Antipsychotic drugs
• Hormone Replacement Therapy

Conclusion

Chaste tree or Nirgundi is an effective natural remedy that is widely used to treat many diseases. It is used in Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and other folk medicines. It is effectively used to improve fertility, regulates hormones, and treats all women’s problems. It provides excellent relief from joint pain, muscle spasms, menstrual cramps, and arthritis. Apart from medicinal benefits, it contains various applications in many fields.