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Fox Lungs

Wa yi glo ba (Tibetan Medicine)
Riat at talab (Arabic)
(Mivart, St. George Jackson, 1890)

Zoological name:
Vulpes spp.

Parts used:
Dried Lungs

Temperature & Taste:
Neutral

Uses:
1. Strengthens the Lungs, Stops Cough and Wheezing: (West, Tibetan)
-Chronic Cough, Chronic Bronchitis, Asthma, Wheezing, Breathlessness
-Lohoch of Fox Lungs was commended 'above all other remedies' to strengthen the Lungs (Wirtzung) (since Dioscorides)
-strengthening in Chronic Lung disease; causes deep breath
-"Fox Lungs are useful in Asthma if taken orally in dried form". (Avicenna)

2. Clears Heat, Nourishes Lung Yin: (West, Tibetan)
-Wasting, Consumption
-purulent pleurisy, Lung Abscess, Empyema
-Hemoptysis, Lung Ulcers
-"The lungs of wa (fox) ... stop Hemoptysis" (Four Tantras of Tibetan Medicine)

3. Strengthens the Heart, Moves the Blood:
-Palpitations
-Heart Weakness
-Pain of the Spleen (Secrets of Alexis)


Dose:
Prepared and Powdered Lungs: 1–3 grams, up to 5 grams (1–2 drams was traditionally used)
10–20 grains (650mg–1300mg) of dried Lamb Lungs was used by Organotherapists in the treatment of chronic Lung diseases.

Preparation:
Prepared Fox Lungs
The Lungs are removed, cleansed of their membranes, then well washed in wine and dried. Some recommended washing in brandy and hanging to dry. The best way is to cut them into strips, wash in brandy, then dry in a low oven, dipping them again in brandy and repeating the heating until thoroughly dry.

Substitute:
Other animal Lungs, such as Lamb Lungs (which were used by Cell Therapists for similar indications) can be used.

Main Combinations:
1. Chronic Cough, Asthma:
i. "Take the Lungs of a Fox, dry and pound them, and administer in the form of a draught with wine. It is beneficial." (Syrian "Book of Medicine", 12th century)
ii. Fox Lungs (2 drams) taken with Honey water (Ruffus)
iii. Fox Lungs with Lohoch of Pine nuts
iv. Fox Lungs with Diatragacanth Frigidum, Diaireos Simplex, Licorice powder, Aniseed, Fennel seed
v. Fox Lungs, Pennyroyal, Celery seed, Laurel, Rhoicissus rhomboidea, mixed with Fig Honey to form pills (Dispensatory of ibn at Tilmid)
vi. Fox Lungs, Maidenhair, Licorice juice, Aniseed, Fennel seed (Lohoch of Fox Lungs)
vii. Fox Lungs, Cordyceps, Astragalus Huang Qi, Jujubes (Da Zao)
2. Difficulty Breathing, Fiox Lungs, Lungwort, Aniseed, Fennel seed, Licorice, Elecampane, Ginger (equal parts), powder and mix with equal their weight of Sugar and form an Electuary. (Secrets of Alexis)
3. Wind of the Lungs (acute and spasmodic Cough etc.) Fox Lungs, Sea Buckthorn, Tabasheer, Nutmeg, Aloeswood, Stellaria (Tibetan Medicine–Buryat Tibetan Medicine)
4. 'Lungs Ulcers', with spitting of Blood, coughing up foul sputum fever: Fox Lungs, Conserve of Rose, Comfrey root, Armenian Earth
5. Consumption: Lungwort, prepared Fox Lungs (half oz. each), Sugar (2 oz.); form a powder (Wirtzung)
6. Hectic Fever: Fox Lungs, Lohoch of Pine nuts, Lohoch of Poppy, Orris root, Centaury; mix and take with Barley water.
7. Empyema (Pus in the Lungs), Fox Lungs, Turpentine and Honey (Wirtzung)
8. Heart weakness, Fox Lungs, Cinnamon, Saffron
9. Palpitations, Fox Lung, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Clove, Ginger (Gabelhover)
10. Pain of the Spleen: " Take the Lungs or Lights of a Fox made into powder and use to give the patient to drink or to eat of in good white wine and he shall be healed" (Secrets of Alexis)

Major Formulas:
Lohoch of Fox Lungs

Cautions:
None noted

Main Preparations used:
Extract of Fox Lungs

1. EXTRACT of FOX LUNGS.
  Fox Lungs sliced; Paul's Betony,
    Hyssop, Scabious                          half handful ea.
  Anise and Fennel seeds                1 dram ea.
Boil them in a large glass in B.M. half a day, or until it is liquified. Strain, evaporate down and add enough sugar to make an Electuary.
  Good for Lung weakness with Cough, Wheezing, Asthma, shortness of breath etc.
Dose: 1–2 drams (Salmon)