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Castoreum
Gart der Gesundheit, Cuba, 1485

Materia Medica Animalia, Peter Peyto Good, 1853
Zoological name:
Castor fiber (Eurasian); C. canadensis (North American)

Parts used:
Aromatic Gland, dried

Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Pungent, Bitter
The genuine has a highly aromatic, fetid, strong, unpleasant scent

Uses:
1. Clears Wind-Damp, Opens the Orifices:
-Convulsions, Epilepsy, Apoplexy
-benefits Brain and Memory
-Tinnitus

2. Clears Cold-Phlegm:
-Cough, Catarrh
-also for Wind-Damp Joint pain

3. Moves the Qi, Opens Obstructions:
-Colic, Griping
-abdominal distention and pain

4. Moves the Blood, Promotes Menstruation:
-Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea
-promotes Labor; cleanses the Afterbirth

5. Resists Poison:
-Snake Bites, Rabid Dog Bites


Dose:
Powder: 300–650mg (5–10 grains) was the usual dose

Substitutes:
1. Valerian
2. Styrax;
3.. Asafetida (Galen)
4. Rue, Calamus equal parts with half part Pepper (Avicenna)
5. Fox testes (Salmon);
6. Musk
7. Gum Ammoniac

Adulterants:
Adulterants are common and may include Gum Ammoniac, Blood and powdered Beaver Kidneys.

Main Combinations:
1. Paralysis, Castoreum with Cowslip, Lavender, Cress, Walnut (Salerno)
2. Epilepsy, Castoreum with Peony and Sea Holly root
3. Wind-Damp Joint Pain, Castoreum with Costus, Agaric and Ginger (as in Antidote for Hip Pain and Arthritis of Nicholas)
4. To promote Menstruation:
i. Castoreum with Motherwort, Pennyroyal, Mugwort, Balm
ii. Castoreum with Saffron, Mugwort
iii. Castoreum with Myrrh, Storax, Savin, Cinnamon (Wirtzung)
5. Hysteria, and to promote Labor, Castoreum with Lavender, Rosemary, Cinnamon, Clove
6. Abdominal distension from Wind and Cold, Castoreum with Oregano and Caraway seed (equal parts). Dose is 3 grains (Avicenna)

Major Formulas:
Decoction for the Womb (Schroder)
Compound for Paralysis (Salerno)
Powder for Epilepsy (De Medicis Pulveribus)
Hiera Logadii
Electuary of Bayberries (Electuarium de Baccis Lauri)
Electuary of Frankincense (Diaolibanum) (Nicholas)
Electuary for Crass and Viscid Humors (Azaricon)
Antidote Proven for Diverse Diseases (Nicholas)
Antidote for Hip Pain and Arthritis (Nicholas)
Foetid Pills Minor of Galen
Pills of Opopanax (De morbus internis curandis)

Cautions:
Avoid during Pregnancy

Main Preparations used:
Oil of Castoreum, Tincture of Castoreum

1. OIL of CASTOREUM.
  Castoreum             1 oz.
  Oil                            1 lb.
  Wine                       4 oz.
Heat them gently until the wine is evaporated.
    
2. TINCTURE of CASTOR.
  Castor                      1 oz.
  Rectified Spirit        1 pint.
Macerate for 7 days in a closed vessel, stirring occasionally. Strain, press and filter. Add enough Rectified Spirit to make 1 pint. Dose: 1–2 fluid drams.