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Uses:

1. Moves the Blood, Strongly Promotes Menstruation, Eases Pain:

-primarily used for amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea and uterus obstruction
-to clear a Dead Fetus and induce Abortion; even the smoke of the burning leaves does the same (Dioscorides)
-externally for diseases of the Uterus
-small doses have been used for profuse menstruation (Fernie, 1897)
-it has been used for other types of pain from blood stagnation
-“Sabina tincture, 10 drop doses in water, is a safe and certain remedy for Amenorrhoea, and in 5 drop doses, equally good for Menorrhagia” (The medical genius, Jones, 1887)
-“It provokes the menstruation of women more than any other herb”. (Dorsetn, 1540)

2. Clears Wind-Damp, promotes Urine:

-urinary disorders with cold and damp obstruction
-Ancients praised it highly for Jaundice (Apuleius)
-Wind-Cold-Damp type Arthritis, Sciatica, Hip pain
-“excellent for Chronic Gout and Rheumatic stiffness of the joints.” (The medical genius, Jones, 1887)

3. Clears Wind-Cold:

-“It also helps with catarrh caused by a cold cause”. (Dorsetn, 1540)
-Cough and Asthma
-closely related Chinese species is used for Cold and Flu

4. Kills Worms

-oil applied to the abdomen of children

5. Externally:

-to remove Freckles and spots of the Face and skin, topically with Honey (Dioscorides)
-“The leaves, smeared with honey, remove black spots, and other skin blemishes”. (Dorsetn, 1540)
-“have the virtue of reducing and eroding Gangrene in putrid wounds. It cleanses even fetid wounds, if the powder is tempered with honey and applied to them”. (Dorsetn, 1540)
-“Creeping [cancerous] Ulcers”
-the fresh leaves beaten to a paste are applied to running or fretting Cancers to “kill and destroy them”. (Pemell, Tractus de Facultatibus simplicium, 1653)
-applied topically to Warts and Corns (volatile oil)
-the Distilled Water is applied to Spots and Marks of the skin.
-applied to Boils and Carbuncles; “It dissolves carbuncles when applied with honey”. (Dorsetn, 1540)
-“When powdered, and added to ointments which are conducive to purulent Scabies, it gives relief”. (Dorsetn, 1540)
-the crushed herb or strong decoction is applied to skin infections.
-beaten with Hogs lard to form a catapalsm, it is applied to Scabby Heads of children.to dry up sore the Heads of children (applied with Cream)
-applied to the pubis for Strangury or Dysuria (Herbarius latinus, Petri, 1485)

Main Combinations:

Gynecology

1. To promote Menstruation:
i. Savin with Dittany of Crete, Myrrh and Gum Ammoniac
ii. Savin with Mugwort and Saffron
iii. Savin with Mugwort, Marjoram, Balm
iv. Savin with Myrrh, Cinnamon, Celery seed, Parsley seed, Spikenard (as in Powder to Promote Menstruation)
v. Savin with Cyperus, Angelica, Valerian, Madder, Mugwort, Pennyroyal, Carrot seed, Cinnamon, Saffron (as in Emmenagogue Decoction)
vi. Savin with Cinnamon, Myrrh, Celery seed, Parsley seed, Spikenard, Asarum, Rhubarb, Saffron, Madder, Rue, Pennyroyal, Mugwort (as in Tincture for Suppressed Menstruation)
vii. Savin with Mugwort, Orange flower, Rue (Emmenagogue Potion, from Formulaire Magistral et Memorial Pharmaceutique, 1823)
viii. Savin juice clarified (2 oz.), Cinamon (2 drams), Saffron (4 grains), Distilled Water of Radish root (2 oz.). Divide into 2 doses. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)
2. Amenorrhea with weakness and atony of the Uterus, Savin with Valerian, Cinnamon, Saffron (Sobernheim, 1840)
3. Powerfully promote Menstruation
i. Savin with Ginger and Borax
ii. Savin, Ginger (1 dram each), Potassium sulphate (2 drams). Make 6 doses.
iii. Savin, Camomile extract (1 ½ drams each), Iron oxide, Aloes (15 grains each). Make pills of 2 grains. Dose: 6 pills
iv. Savin with Borax, Myrrh, Birthwort and Pennyroyal

Obstetrics

4. To promote Labor
i. Savin with Cinnamon, Saffron
ii. Savin with Marjoram, Indian Spikenard, Lavender (as in Decoction for Difficult Childbirth)
iii. Savin with Pennyroyal, Mugwort, Cassia Fistula, Saffron, Cinnamon, Myrrh (as in Powder to Facilitate Birth)
5. To cleanse the Afterbirth, Savin with Cinnamon

Joint Disease

6. Hip or lower back pain, Sciatica, Savin with Germander, Myrrh, Black Pepper, Ivy leaf, Honey (Nicholas)
7. Arthritis: Savin (1 dram), Calamus (2 drams), Honey (2 oz.) (Anti-Arthritic Electuary, Pharmacopoeia Pauperum Hamburgensis, 1804)

Other

8. Pain due to blood stagnation, Savin with St. Johns wort, Feverfew, Peony, Rue and Costus
9. Tremors, Shaking, Savin with Black Myrobalan, Cyperus, Calamus (as in Expert Confection for Tremors)
10. To promote Urine:
i. Savin with Celery seed, Madder, Parsley seed, Asarum, Indian Spikenard, Bitter Almond, Melon seed (as in Pills to Promote Urine)
11. To clear Cold and Wind, Savin, Calamus, Ammi seed, Cinnamon, Frankincense (equal parts, made into an Electuary with Honey). This is called Electuary of Savin. (Pharmacopoeia Persica)

Externally

12. Fomentation for Worms, Savin with Wormwood, Lavender, Tansy, applied to the abdomen
13. Condylomata, topically Savin with Copper sulphate, equal parts
14. Freckles and spots of the face, leaves are applied with Honey (Dioscorides)
15. Scabies, “Sabina, reduced to powder, and mixed with Litharge, Sulphur, and a small amount of Plantain, with a little pork fat added, is made into an ointment against scabies, is very beneficial”. (Dorsetn, 1540)
16. Strangury, Dysuria, Savin with Dill seed and Mallow herb boiled in wine and applied. (Herbarius latinus, Petri, 1485)

Major Formulas:

Decoction for Difficult Childbirth (Barbette)
Decoction for the Womb (Schroder)
Emmenagogue Decoction (Riverius)
Syrup of Mugwort Lesser (Bononiense)
Syrup of Mugwort (Augustana)
Powder for Warts
Powder to Facilitate Birth (Renodeus)
Powder to Cleanse the Afterbirth
Powder of Gum Lacca Lesser of Rhasis (Dialacca Minor) (Rhasis)
Powder of Gum Lacca Greater (Dialacca Majores) (Mesue)
Powder of Madder (Salmon)
Troches for the Womb
Expert Confection for Tremors
Antidote Proven for Hip Pain (Nicholas)

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