12 Formulas for Trauma
The Purpose of our ’12 Formulas’ Pages are to illustrate
various formulas used to treat a specific condition on one page.
This can be useful to help Practitioners develop their own Formulas.
Ancient Physicians noted that unresolved Trauma often comes back later in life. A damaged joint often becomes arthritic in later life while damage to the sinews or nerves may cause problems in the limb or part later in life also. Likewise Tumors can sometimes develop as a result of a part being damaged. Therefore, resolving acute Trauma is viewed as very important in Traditional Medicine. TCM has a number of famous formulas used specifically following Trauma, to promote healing and resolve the Blood Stasis. These formulas are examples of those used in the West.
The following formulas are a good representation of Formulas used for Trauma, Bruising and Blood Stagnation. They can be used for Bruising, Strains and Sprains, as well as to help after Fractures or Dislocations. Some are also effective for Internal Blood Stagnation. Within the formulas, some clear Heat, some stop Bleeding, while some are more effective for Inflammation or moving the Blood.
In addition, based on the herbs used in each formula, it can be deduced what part of the body each formula is more specific to. Those with Comfrey and Centaury may be more suited to the bones and joints; those with Comfrey and Plantain are suited to wounds and bleeding of the Lungs; those with Mugwort and Ladies Mantle may be used for Trauma or Damage to the female reproductive organs etc.
See also
Vulnerary Herbs
Trauma, Bruising, Wounds
Tincture of Myrrh and Aloes
| Myrrh Aloes Spirit of Wine (Brandy) | 1 oz. each 1 pound. |
Prepare a tincture. 30 drops are taken in wine or another suitable vehicle.
Lesser Powder for Bruising
| Lacca Myrrh Armenian (Red) Earth | 2 scruples each 1 ½ drams |
Powder. Take 1 scruple–1 dram with wine.
Powder to Move Blood
| Dragon’s Blood Myrrh Frankincense Saffron | 2 drams each ½ dram |
Powder. Take 1 scruple–½ dram with wine. (Wirtzung)
Bruise Powder of Mesue
| Rhubarb Mumiya (Shilajit) Madder | 1 dram 2 grains 1 ½ grains |
Powder. Take 1 scruple–1 dram with wine.
Powder for Bruising
| Rhubarb Mumiya (Shilajit) Madder Sealed Earth Armenian (Red) Earth Dragon’s Blood Pomegranate flower Comfrey root | 1 dram ½ dram ea. 1 dram ea. 2 scruples ea. 1 ½ drams |
Powder. Take 1–2 drams with wine. (Antidotarium Bononiense, 1641)
Powder to Break Blood Above & Below
| Comfrey root Dragon’s Blood Cardamon Hematite Red Coral Burnt Deer horn | 10 drams each 8 drams each |
Powder. Take 1–2 drams with wine. (Nicholas)
Powder Against Bruising
| Madder Scabious St John’s wort Rhubarb Costus Nutmeg Armenian Earth Sealed Earth Cumin prepared | 6 drams ½ oz. each 2 drams 1 ½ drams ea. 4 scruples ea. 1 dram |
Cumin is steeped in vinegar for 24 hours, then dried.Powder them all Take 1 dram with wine.
Lesser Vulnerary Potion for the Belly
| Armenian Earth Comfrey Bugle Galangal | ½ oz. 1 handful ea. 2 drams |
Prepare a standard Decoction. Used for Trauma of the abdomen. (AntidotariumSpeciale, Wecker, 1588)
Vulnerary Decoction (1)
| Comfrey root Plantain Marshmallow Pimpinella Veronica Sanicle Licorice Figs | 2 oz. 3 drams half handful 3 drams 7 |
Decoct. Take a small cupful 2 or 3 times daily.
Vulnerary Decoction (2)
| Sanicle Golden Rod Soloman’s Seal Plantain Sage Pennyroyal Century | 1 handful each |
Prepare a standard decoction. Bruising, Trauma, and damaged to the soft tissue of the joints. (Wirtzung)
Universal Vulnerary Decoction
| Tormentil Comfrey Lemon Sanicle. Wintergreen Vervain Ladies Mantle Persicaria Periwinkle Herb Robert Flowers of Verbascum St. John’s wort Centaury Mumiya (Shilajit) | 1 oz. each 1 handful each ½ handful each ½ oz. each 2 pugils each ½ oz. |
Prepare a standard Decoction. This would be better made into a tincture.
Vulnerary Tincture
| Golden Rod Wintergreen Sanicle Fragaria Mugwort Ladies Mantle Agrimony Plantain | 1 handful ea. ½ handful ea. |
Form a Tincture with Wine. (Antidotarium medico chymicum reformatum 1620)
