Diseases of the Uterus

“The Womb is Author of a thousand sad Sorrows and innumerable Calamities”. (Democritus)

From Ancient times it was realised that so many diseases of women are rooted in the Uterus (and Ovaries). Not only Menstrual and Fertility issues, but Mental, Emotional and a host of Physical ailments too.

Women’s health depends so much on a smooth and regular menstrual cycle. Many diseases of women can be treated or cured by promoting and regulating Menstruation, and the hormones related to it.

Differential Diagnosis:

From The Practice of Physick, 1663:

“A Cold Distemper of the Womb, is hereby known, In that the woman longs not after Carnal Embracements, and feels little pleasure therein; her Face is soft, whitish, and cloudy; her feeling is dull about her share, Loins, and Thighs; she voids thin and crude Sperm, and with little pleasure; her Courses are suppressed, or they come very sparingly, and keep no constant orderly time, and they are pale and discolored. Add hereunto. Diet preceding of a cooling nature, consisting of a long use of Fruits and Herbs, with much drinking of cold small Drink”.
“A Moist distemper of the Womb is known by the lax, and flap, flaggy, soft habit of the womans body, her much sitting, frequent and almost continual flux of Whites; plenty of Courses, thin and watery; no appetite to fleshly Conjunction; heaviness of her Loins, aptness to miscarry, plenty of Urine, and a moist Diet”.
“A Hot Distemper [of the Womb] is known, by the manly and strong habit of the womans Body, such as is seen in Viragoes and Amazons; by a ruddy countenance, black hair of the Head and Eye-brows; a strong and manly voice; she is frequently disposed to be angry, over prompt to all kind of actions, her thirst cannot be satisfied, her Urine is yellow, her Courses few. their color is a dark red, their heat and acrimony so great, that oftentimes they exulcerate the secret Passages; their Privities itch, and they are prone to carnal Embracements; they are quick and sudden in the voiding of their Seed; they have frequent Pollutions, and lustful Dreams”.
“A Dry distemper of the Womb is known by the small quantity of Courses; Dryness, Itching, and choppings of the Mouth of the Womb, little excretion of Sperm in the Genital Embracement; trouble arising from over much carnal Conjunction, and Leanness”. ’

Special Formulas

UTERINE PAIN AND CRAMPING
1. Take a Sweet Apple, make a hole and put in powdered Nutmeg, Mace, Cinnamon, (½ dram ea.) and Clove (½ scruple). and a little Sugar. Roast in embers and give it to eat. “Very good and well known of Women”. (Secrets of Alexis)

A DECOCTION
    Calamint
    Motherwort
    Camomile
    Sage
    Rosemary                           of each a handful
Decoct in wine.
The same may be decocted in Lye water and used to wash the legs, or used as a foot bath.

A POTION
    Motherwort                       1 oz.
    Carrot (seed)                     ½ oz.
    Clarified Honey                2 oz.
Seethe them together (with a little water), then strain and press hard. Add 2 oz. of Chicken broth and 3 oz. of Aniseed Decoction. Give it for 10 days (Secrets of Alexis)

“ANOTHER TRIED OF SOME WOMEN”:
    Nutmeg                             1 dram
    Motherwort root               1 ½ drams
    Indian Spikenard.             1 scruple
Seethe in white wine until one-third is consumed, then strain and add white sugar. Give it every morning and when she has pain. (Secrets of Alexis)

ULCERS OF THE UTERUS

1. “Pills of Bdellium given to a dram at a time, or every day, or once in two days one scruple, do very much good, and stop the blood in case it flow”. (The Practice of Physick, 1663)
2. “Trochisci Alkekengi [Troches of Winter Cherries] … with Opium, are likewise (being powdered) given to drink down, where the Patient is troubled with great pain”.

DECOCTION FOR UTERINE ULCERS
    Senna
    Dodder
    Red Rose
    Indian Myrobalan
Decoct and sweeten with Sugar. Dose: 5 oz.
A physician of Amsterdam cured a women of a Uterine Ulcer with this decoction, while simultaneously useing cleansing douches.

DECOCTION TO HEAL UTERINE ULCERS
    Mugwort, Plantain. 
      Yarrow                           1 handful ea.
    Rhapontic                       ½ oz.
    Agnus Castus seed       1 dram
Decoct in white wine, strain and sweeten with sugar. Give 2–3 oz. in the morning.

PILLS FOR ULCERS OF THE WOMB
    Bdellium                         3 drams
    Myrrh
    Frankincense                  1 dram ea.
    Sarcocolla
    Storax
   Amber
   Chebulic Myrobalans    ½ dram ea.
   Red Coral                         2 scruples
With Syrup of Poppies form pills. A little Opium was added if there is much pain. Give a scruple every other day. (Platerus)

PILLS FOR OLD ULCERS OF THE WOMB
    Comfrey root                   1 oz.
    Plantain
    Yarrow
    Bay leaf                            1 handful ea.
    Agnus Castus                  1 dram
    White Wine                     1 quart
    Honey                               1 pint
Boil and skim it until half is consumed. Give to drink often and apply topically. (Platerus)

MAGISTERIAL SYRUP OF UTERINE ULCERS
    Comfrey root, Polypody 1 oz.
    Citron peel dried             6 drams
    Plantain, Periwinkle,
      Ladies Mantle, Sorrel,
      Maidenhair                     1 handful ea,
    Licorice, Raisins               1 oz. ea.
    Senna                                6 oz.
    Safflower seed bruised  2 oz.
    Agaric                                10 drams
    Musk melon seed
      Aniseed                           3 drams ea.
Decoct in Barley water, strain and infuse Rhubarb ½ oz., Cinnamon 1 dram. Add enough Sugar (or Syrup of Damask Rose and Sugar), to form a Syrup. Take 2 or 3 ounces twice per month.

A DRYING HEALING DOUCHE FOR ULCERS
    Comfrey, Bistort, Plantain,
      Agrimony, Shepherd’s
      Purse, Horsetail, Sanicle,
      Pyrola, Yarrow, Knotgrass,
      Tansy, Bramble, Olive leaf,
      Sumac, Swallow-wort,
      Rose                                3–4 handfuls ea.
    Raisin, Myrrh                    1 oz. ea.
Boil them in steeled Water for an Injection. (Platerus)