CHINESE CLASSIFICATION of the MATERIA MEDICA
E. Laxative, Purgatives and Cathartics
Promote Bowel movement
This class of medicine promotes Bowel movement. They are divided into 3 classes:
- Laxatives–gently loosen, mild and safe
- Purgatives–actively purge; detrimental in overdose or chronic use
- Cathartics–pass water via the bowels; only used in strong bodies and serious conditions
i. Laxatives
This class is the safest of the ‘bowel-cleansers’. They gently lubricate the bowels, while supplying nutrient to tonify the membranes, and often containing fiber (in the case of the fruits) or fatty oils (in the case of seeds). Mucilage is common throughout most of this group also.
Together, they make the perfect medicines to use in the old, young, weak, and pregnant, for those whose stomach cannot take stronger purgatives, and as a general kitchen-remedy which can safely be prescribed for people to make at home as needed.
They were very often used as the basis for stronger purgative or cathartic medicines. They are also important medicines for the long-term treatment of chronic bowels disorders such as Irritable Bowel, Colitis, Ulcerative Colitis etc.
Note that stronger purgative medicines used in small dose can also be classed as Laxative (ie. gentle purges).
Sample Combinations
1. Senna leaf (2 drams), dried Lemon peel (3 drams); boil in 10 oz. water to 6 oz. (adding Senna towards the end)
2. Tamarind (1 oz.), Senna leaf (1 dram), boil in 12 oz. water to 8 oz. (adding Senna towards the end)
3. Castor oil, Barley Water (1 oz. each). Mix
4. Castor oil, Tincture of Senna, Mint Water (2 oz. each). Mix
5. Epsom Salts (2 drams), Rhubarb powder (1 scruple), Mint Water (2 oz.). Mix
Others include Mango, Mulberry, Raisins, Sebesten, Walnut, Almond, Fumitory, Rose, Violet
ii. Purgatives
The purgatives are a classic group of medicines whose use goes back millennia, whose praise has been extolled to the heavens, whose correct use have been claimed to have achieved countless miraculous cures and have doubtless helped cure countless thousands of souls.
They are moderate-to-harsh in action, and have been shunned by various practitioners such as the Nature Cure doctors of the late 20th century. Nevertheless, they are an important and useful group of medicines, helpful in the greater treatment of numerous diseases. They have the following functions in general:
- Purge the Bowels
- Reduce accumulations and open obstructions
- Cleanse the Blood, remove debris from the body
- Clear Heat and Toxin
- Promote a “downward” action
They are therefore useful in various cases of heat, inflammation, infection, pain caused by heat or obstruction, obstructions of any of the visceral organs. They can be useful in the management of various chronic diseases. They can be taken in a short course of pills, say, one day a week, or one week a month, or sometimes 3-4 weeks a year. Several older authors noted that if a short course of these types of medicines were taken once a year in spring (some said twice a year, spring and autumn), then no fever or infectious disease would attack the person that year, and if it did, it would be mild. Typically, Pills such as Imperial Pills or Common Pills were used for this purpose.
iii. Hydragogue Cathartics
This group represents a harsh, irritant and formidable part of the arsenal of traditional medicine. They are strong-to-violent in action, able to promote severe catharsis and violent abdominal pain when misused or overdosed, and can even cause bleeding from the bowels.
However, they again have been praised by their advocates, and have been regularly used by countless practitioners in the past with no untoward effects when administered by experienced hands. Their use was often in large compounds with various ‘softeners’ and correctives added, as well as medicines to support the body during the use of such medicines. The Arab physicians Mesue and Nicholas in particular had elaborate purgative medicines which often combined laxatives, purgatives and cathartics, along with corrective medicines. They are effective but without harsh side effects. They purge deeply but without weakening. These types of preparations are the only suitable way for these medicines to be used in normal clinical situations.
In addition, various processing methods were often employed for these types of irritant medicines in all traditional medicines systems. Some practitioners made preparations which were said to maintain the beneficial effects while removing the negative effects. Seeds such as Castor and Croton have been pressed to remove the oil, thereby lessening their violence. Others such as the Euphorbias or Spurges, used as cathartics in many countries, have been prepared with vinegar, while Scammony was prepared with Quince juice.
Sample Combinations:
1. Elaterium (12 grains), Syrup of Ginger (qs) to form 6 pills.
2. Squill powder (10 grains), Calomel (3 grains), Conserve of Rose (qs); form a bolus.
