Dioscorides Materia Medica, Mathias, 1563

---

Uses:

1. Stops Bleeding, Clears Heat (TCM, West, others):

-around the world Spider web has been used in various ways for its Hemostatic properties.
-taken internally for bleeding of the Lungs. (West, TCM: Li Shi Zhen)
-internally to stop bleeding, primarily of the Lungs; rolled into a ball, or roasted to yellow, and taken with wine.
-applied to the umbilicus for Diarrhea and Dysentery
-applied topically to stop bleeding Wounds
-“The cobweb, when applied to the Wounds, stops Bleeding” (Avicenna)
-“To cure sores with Poison, and to end the bleeding of sores caused by metal objects, fry them until they have turned yellow, then grind them to powder to be ingested with wine”. (Li Shi Zhen)

2. Clears Heat, Calms Spasms (TCM, West, Ellingwood):

-Intermittant Fever, periodical Headache or Neuralgia, and Hysteria;
-delirium, restlessness and irritation associated with Fevers;
-muscular Cramps
-A strong tea was also given to stop vomiting in children.
-Epilepsy (Secrets of Alexis)

3. Malaria (TCM, West, elsewhere):

-‘More effective for Malaria than Cinchona or Arsenic’ (Graham, 1858).
-it was claimed by some to be especially effective for Chills. (Ellingwood)
-listed for Malaria by Dioscorides and in TCM

4. Clears Heat, Stops Coughs, Benefits the Lungs (TCM, West):

-severe coughs, especially coming after childbirth (TCM).
-The US Dispensatory of 1833 listed it for Asthma and Tuberculosis
-taken internally for bleeding of the Lungs.

5. Clears Heat, Astringes the Kidneys:

-Listed for ‘Nocturnal Orgasm, whether in male or female’. (Ellingwood)

6. Externally:

-applied to stop Bleeding of Wounds since classical times. (West, TCM)
-applied to creeping ulcers. (Salmon)
-applied to help heal old Ulcers.
-applied to toxic Boils and Sores (West, TCM)
-applied in preparations to Gout, and Toothache, to relieve the pain.
-applied to the umbilicus for Diarrhea and Dysentery, especially in children.
-Wounds of the Joints, boil Spider web in oil and apply (Pliny)
-“The cobweb, when applied to the Wounds, stops Bleeding” (Avicenna) 
-“decocted with rose oil and instilled in the ear for having a soothing effect in Earache” (Avicenna)
-“When used to tie up warts, they will dissolve and fall off within seven days. Proven”. (Su Gong)
-Hemorrhoids, tie up with Spider Web and they will fall away”. (Ben Cao Gang Mu)

Main Combinations:

1. Bleeding in general:
i. Typically used as a stand-alone medicine to stop bleeding
ii. taken with Shepherd’s Purse to stops Bleeding
2. Hemoptyis,
i. in the West, it was rolled into a pill and taken with wine or Plantain water.
ii. in China, the web was rolled into a ball and taken with Rice congee
iii. “whenever someone all of a sudden violently spits blood, form large spider webs to a small ball and have him swallow it with a rice beverage. This will end it immediately. This is a recipe transmitted by Sun Shaoxian“. (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
3. Nose-bleeding:
i. mix with egg white and stop into the nose’
ii. mix with Purslane juice and insert into the nose
4. Bleeding Piles, Aloe, Frankincense, Dragons Blood, Red Earth, equal parts; rub a large cobweb in the powders, then make a salve by mixing egg white (Wirtzung)
5. Diarrhea and Dysentery, crush Rue and a Spider web and apply to the navel
6. Toothache, wrap a corn of salt in a spider web and apply to a hollow tooth