TRADITIONAL INTERNAL MEDICINE – DISEASES & FORMULAS

Pleurisy

Pleurisy in inflammation of the Pleura, causing pain when Breathing due to loss of lubrication. It can be associated with Pneumonia and various other diseases of the Lungs or Abdomen.

The Classical symptom pattern is difficulty Breathing, Cough, pain of the sides and Fever.

Opening the Basilic Vein on the opposite side often brings good relief after taking a mild purge such as Cassia Fistula.

Western Tradition

Simples

Violet
Poppy seed
Rue

Maidenhair
Licorice
Periwinkle

External:

From The Treasury of Health, 1550:
1. Apply Figs beaten with Suet or Oil of Gum Arabic and form a plaster.
2. Make a plaster of Marshmallow, Fenugreek and Hemp seed.
3. Boil powdered Linseed and Fenugreek in Oil of Violets, add Butter, Mallows and Pig fat and form a plaster.

Pleuresi conferunt–Pleurisy
Barley Water
Decoction of Hyssop and Rue
Decoction for Cough (Gabelhover)
Pectoral Decoction (Augustana)
Julep of Violet
Julep of Jujube
Syrup of Hyssop (Mesue)
Syrup of Endive
Syrup of Licorice (Mesue)
Syrup of Chicory juice
Syrup of Sweet Pomegranate
Syrup of Maidenhair
Syrup of Prune
Syrup of Jujube (Mesue)
Syrup of Violet
Syrup of Hyssop Compound (Mesue)
Syrup of Licorice (Mesue)
Syrup of Violet (De morbus internis curanda)
Lohoch of Poppy (Lohoc de Papavere)
Lohoch of Squill
Tincture of Rue
Hiera Pachi, or Hiera Archigenis
Hiera Logadii
Temperate Cordial Powder of Gems
Haly’s Powder
Sugar Penid Compound with Spices (Nicholas)
Tragacanth Cooling Powder (Diatragacanth Frigidum)
Troches for Pleurisy (Mesue)
Troches for Pleurisy from Heat with Vehement Fever
Troches for Pleurisy when not from Vehement Heat
Electuary of Hyssop (Diahyssopum) (Nicholas)
Antidotum Asthmaticus (Nicholas)
Philonium Romanum (Philonium Nicolai) (Nicholas)
Deer Horn Bhasma (Kushta Qarnulaiyal)

Oil of Violet
Oil of Orris
Oil of Water Lily
Ointment of Marshmallow

Pleurisy with Phlegm and Heat
Syrup of Jujube (Mesue)

Pleurisy with Strong Heat
Syrup of Violet Compound
Syrup of Violet (De morbus internis curandis)
Haly’s Powder
Troches for Pleurisy from Heat with Vehement Fever

Pleurisy with Tough Phlegm
Syrup of Hyssop (Mesue)

Pleurisy with Deficiency
Sugar Penid (Diapenidon Frigidum) (Nichoals)
Antidotum Asthmaticus (Nicholas)
Tragacanth Cooling Powder (Diatragacanth Frigidum)

To Purge in Pleurisy
Pectoral Decoction with Agaric
Electuary of Prunes (Diaprunis lenitiva) (Nicholas)
Electuary of Dates (Diaphoenicum) (Mesue)
Catholicum (Diacatholicum) (Nicholas)

Tio Strengthen after
Pectoral Decoction
Decoction of Fruits and Flowers
Decoction to Strengthen the Lungs
Syrup of Marshmallow (Fernelius)
Electuary of Orris (Diaireos Salomonis) (Nicholas)
Electuary of Pine Nuts (Looch de Pino) (Mesue)
Electuary for the Lungs (Lemery)

TCM Classification

Primary Medicines for Phlegm
Er Chen Tang
Liu Jun Zi Tang

Phlegm in the Chest
Dao Tan Tang

Phlegm & Heat in the Chest
Xiao Chai Hu Tang
Xiao Xian Xiong Tang
Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan

Special Formula

1. Remove the core of an Apple, put 3–4 grains of Frankincense inside then cover with the piece removed. Bake until the apple is cooked, beat to mash then eat the apple. This formula appears in numerous texts and was often accounted very successful.
2. Take Costus 1 dram in Dill infusion and a spoonful of Olive oil. (Syrian “Book of Medicine“, trans. by Wallis Budge, 1913)
3. Steep 1 handful of Periwinkle in white wine for 2 hours, strain and drink. (Lemery)
4. Purge them with some Cassia Fistula, then let Blood in the Basilic Vein of the arm on the opposite side. (Alexis)
5. Take 3 large round Horse Dung pieces, boil in a quart of wine until 1 pint has boiled away. Sweeten and take a cupful three times a day.
6. A method of Cure:
    Senna                                 6 drams
    Blessed Thistle                half handful
    Ginger
    Sugar                                 ½ oz. ea.
Infuse overnight in whey. Take 4 oz. warm morning and evening. After 3 days, bleed the Liver vein, their drink during this time is a decoction of Hyssop, Violet, Licorice and Raisins. (The English Unparalleled Physician, Border, 1651)

DECOCTION FOR PLEURISY
    Barley                                 3 oz.
    Blessed Thistle                 1 handful
    Rose
    Violet                                  1 oz. ea.
    Licorice                              3 drams
    Figs                                     3
    Raisins                                1 ½ oz.
Boil in 16 pounds water until 2 has wasted.

DECOCTION FOR PLEURISY
    Hyssop
    Maidenhair
    Figs
    Dates
    Sebestens
    Raisins
    Barley
    Licorice                               equal parts
Decoct and add Manna, or Cassia pulp, or Honey.

SYRUP OF MADDER FOR PLEURISY
    Madder
    Plantain
    Calamint
    Hyssop
    Squill
    Orris
    Pine nuts
    Birthworts (both)
    Licorice
    Poppy seed                         20 drams each
Decoct in water, strain, add Honey and boil gently to the thickness of Honey. Add 10 drams of Starch and a little Mastic, and mix well.
Used for Cough, pain in the Chest, coughing up Pus, Throat pain and benefits the Voice. It also opens obstructions of the Liver. Dose: 1 spoonful. (Syrian “Book of Medicine“, trans. by Wallis Budge, 1913)

ELECTUARY FOR PLEURISY.
    Lohoch of Pine nuts.          2 oz.
    Diapenidion                         1 ½ drams
    Elecampane roots
    Orris roots                            2 drams ea.
    Licorice juice                       2 ½ drams
Form an Electuary with Syrup of Horehound. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)

ELECTUARY FOR PLEURISY:
    Cinnamon
    Costus
    Galbanum
    Castoreum
    Poppy juice
    Black Pepper
    Long Pepper
    Storax                                   equal parts
Powder and form an Electuary with Honey.
Used for Coughing Pus or Blood, Pleurisy, pain in the Lungs; also for pain in the Stomach, Bladder or Uterus, Diarrhea, Intermittent Fever (taken an hour before the attack), also against Poison and Venomous Bites.
Dose: as much as a bean. (Syrian “Book of Medicine“, trans. by Wallis Budge, 1913)

ELECTUARY FOR PLEURISY OF MENESTIUS
    Gentian
    White Pepper                     2 drams each
    Saffron
    Opium
    Aniseed                               3 drams each
Powder and with sufficient Honey, form an Electuary. (Poppy seed could replace Opium in this case). Take as much as a bean with Licorice infusion. (Syrian “Book of Medicine“, trans. by Wallis Budge, 1913)

TO CLEANSE THE CHEST IN PLEURISY:
Gum Ammoniac 1 ½ drams
Saffron ½ dram
Make 15 pills with Oxymel of Squill, the dose being one pill each morning. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)

FOMENTATION FOR PLEURISY:
    Nettle
    Mallow
    Camomile
    Flax seeds                            2 handfuls ea.
    Myrrh                                     2 drams
    Gum Ammoniac                  1 ½ drams
Boil in 2 parts water, 1 part vinegar and apply warm to the painful part.

OINTMENT FOR PLEURISY:
    Linseed oil                           2 oz.
    Gum Ammoniac
    Myrrh                                    1 ½ drams
Dissolve the gums in vinegar, strain, heat with the oil and with wax make an ointment.