TRADITIONAL INTERNAL MEDICINE – DISEASES & FORMULAS
Scrofula, Lymphatic Swellings, Goiter
Scrofula and Goiter are classed as Phlegm-Masses in Traditional Medicine. The Phlegm may be associated with Cold or Heat. The former are usually softer, cold to touch with other general signs of Cold. Phlegm-Heat manifests with red, swollen, hot or painful swellings, red tongue with a greasy or thick coating and a rapid or big pulse.
Both require Phlegm-clearing and mass-dispersing (attenuant or resolvent) medicines. Cases of Cold-Phlegm will combine Hot medicines and Hot-Phlegm will combine Heat-clearing medicines.
When chronic or in Melancholic constitutions, the Lumps become hard and fibrotic. Such cases require medicines for the Melancholy Humor (Dodder, Agaric etc).
In all systems, the importance of medicines from the Sea was long relaized as important for Scrofula, and in particular, Goiter. In the Western Tradition, Sponge, Sponge Stone, Burnt Sponge, Pumice, Cuttlefish Bone, Sea Balls etc. were used. In TCM, Kelp, Laminaria, and Pumice etc. are used. The importance of their trace minerals especially in relation to Iodine is most relevant.
By extrapolation, other Nodes and Lymphatic swellings in other parts of the body can usually be treated with similar formulas.
See also:
Treatment of Goiter (Wirtzung)
Western Tradition
Simples
Maidenhair
Orris
Bryony
Burnt Sponge
Pumice
Self Heal
Opopanax
Black Hellebore
Sponge stone
Cuttlefish bone
Simple remedies
1. Goiter: ‘The seeds of the common Nettle are a sovereign remedy for the cure of a Goiter. Dose, from 12 to 15 seeds, three times a day’. (Vitalogy)
2. Scrofula, mix Camomile powder with Honey and take a spoonful morning and night. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1595)
3. Polypody powder taken with Wine or Honey twice daily for 21 days.
4. “The Troches of Vipers and ashes of Vipers, or the skin of the same, are esteemed consumers of Scrophula”. (Platerus)
Formulas
Scrophulas resoluunt, & delent – Scrofula
1. Troches of Diaireos held in the mouth.
Infusion for Scrofula
Decoction of Self Heal
Decoction of Figwort
Decoction Against Scrofula (Fuller)
Tincture of Rue
Tincture of Bees
Elixir Salutis, Elixir of Health
Water for Cancer
Powder Against Scrofula (Arnold de Villa Nova)
Marvelous Powder Against Scrofula (Arnold de Villa Nova)
Powder of Burnt Sponge (Gabelhover)
Powder for Scrofula (Palestra Pharmaceutica)
Powder for Scrofula (Renodeus)
Powder for Scrofula (Wirtzung)
Powder for Scrofula (Pharmacopoea Argentorarensis)
Electuary of Figwort (Avicenna)
Triphala Electuary of Glands (Itrifal Ghudadi).
Oil of Sesame
Oil of Wild Cucumber
Diachilon
Ointment of Cyclamen
Plaster of Cyclamen
Kanchanara Guggulu
Scrofula, Nodes and Swellings from Phlegm
Tincture of Rue
Tincture of Bees
Elixir Salutis, Elixir of Health
Powder for Scrofula (Renodeus)
Powder for Scrofula (Wirtzung)
Powder for Scrofula (Pharmacopoea Argentorarensis)
Kanchanara Guggulu
Scrofula, Nodes and Swellings from Phlegm-Heat
Water for Cancer
Powder Against Scrofula (Arnold de Villa Nova)
Marvelous Powder Against Scrofula (Arnold de Villa Nova)
Powder of Burnt Sponge (Gabelhover)
Kanchanara Guggulu
Scrofula, Nodes and Swelling from Heat and Toxin
Infusion for Scrofula
Decoction of Self Heal
Decoction of Figwort
Decoction Against Scrofula (Fuller)
Elixir Salutis, Elixir of Health
Water for Cancer
Electuary of Figwort (Avicenna)
Crystal Moon 37 (Zla shel so bdun) (Tibetan Medicine)
TCM Classification
Phlegm Obstruction
Soft swelling of the neck, pale face, nausea, white coated tongue
Xiao Luo Wan
Er Chen Tang
Hai Zao Yu Hu Tang
Heat and Toxin
Red swellings, sore throat, fever, red eyes, red tongue with yellow coating.
Chai Hu Qing Gan Tang
Yin Qiao Jie Du Pian
Shi Wei Bai Du San
Niu Huang Jie Du Pian
Liver Heat
Lumps in the throat that are red or quick growing, inflammation, restlessness, sweating, feels hot, fever, irritability, bulging eyes, bitter taste, red tongue with yellow coat
Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang
Blood Stasis with Phlegm
Chronic hard lump of the throat, difficult to clear, dull complexion, poor appetite
Hai Zao Yu Hu Tang
Yin deficiency of the Heart and Liver
soft swelling of the neck, grows slowly, palpitations, restlessness, nightsweat, dryness of the eyes, blurred vision, insomnia
Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan
Tian Wan Bu Xin Wan
Special Formula
EXCELLENT POWDER FOR SCROFULA
Sesame seed powder
Chicken bones, dried and powdered
Take equal parts and give a spoonful night and morning in white wine. “It is a very excellent secret” (The Secrets of Alexis, 1595)
TOPICALLY
1. “The fat which drips from a roasting Goose which was first stuffed with many mice is highly commended”. (Platerus)
2. “The Mistletoe of the Oak, or Pear tree beaten into an ointment, with Oil of Turpentine, does soften and cure all hard Impostumes and Scrophulas”.
3. Powder of the burnt clay of an Oven mixed with vinegar and applied.
GALEN’S PLASTER FOR SCROFULA
Bdellium
Gum Ammoniac
Mustard seed
Nettle seed
Birthwort
Pumice
Sulphur equal parts
Make a plaster with Oil and Wax.
OINTMENT OF SULPHUR
Sulphur ½ oz.
Saltpeter
Pumice
Mustard seed 2 drams ea.
Nettle seed
Marcasite 1 dram ea.
Make an ointment.
