WESTERN CLASSIFICATION of the MATERIA MEDICA
4i. UTERINE
Medicines for the Uterus
These are medicines appropriated to the Uterus. These were also called Hysteric Medicines (from the Greek Hysterikos, for ‘Womb’).
Aphorisms on Uterine Medicines, collected by Culpeper, (Composita, 1656):
- The Womb resembles the Brain and Ventricle [Stomach], that it manifestly draws to Cephalics and Aromatics, and flies from their contraries.
- For this is confirmed by daily experience, that in the fits of the Mother [Hysteria], which is the Womb turned upwards*, stinking things applied to the Nose, and sweet things to the Matrix [Uterus], reduce it, but sweet things applied to the Nose, and stinking things to the Matrix produce it.
- In fallings out of the Womb [prolapse] we use the contrary.
- The Stomach is offended with stinking things, and a man that has no smell will vomit them up again; why, because they are obnoxious to it. So also the Womb is offended with stinking things, not because it smells them, but because they are adverse to its nature.
- So then those Medicines are Hysterical, which by binding stop the Terms [menstruation], or by inciding provoke them, or such as are grateful to the Womb, which are known by a sweet and aromatical savor.
* The concept of the Uterus “rising” or “turning upwards” was by some thought to be the physical rsiing of the Uterus in the abdomen. However, this clearly illustrates the effect of hormones associated with the Uterus and Ovaries rising up to affect the Brain, being the cause of Hysteria, PMS etc.
Warming Uterine Medicines
Warming Uterine Compounds
Cooling Uterine Medicines
| Houseleek | Water Lily |
| Galls | Violet |
| Sandalwood | Rose |
| Knotgrass | Pomegranate flowers |
| Purslane | Quince |
| Endive | Red Coral |
Cooling Uterine Compounds
| Syrup of Agnus Castus | Tincture of Dried Roses |
| Diarrhodon Abbatis | Diatrionsantalum |
| Diamargariton Frigidum | Troches of Agnus Castus |
