Vulpes, Fox

Fox
(Mivart, St. George Jackson, 1890)

Zoological name:

Vulpes spp.

Parts used:

Principally the oil of the whole animal; also Genitals / Testes.
Most used was Fox Lungs, which has its own Monograph

Uses:

BILE:

1. Applied to Leprosy
2. Smelling its bile relieves Madness (Unani)

BLOOD:

1. “The blood of a Fox, dried and powdered, and so drunken is good for the stone in the Kidneys and Bladder”. (Similar use to Goat’s blood) (Turners Herbal)
2. applied warm for pains of the kidneys. (Magic of Kirani)
3. Applied to Alopecia (Unani)

FAT:

1. Melted and dropped in for Earache. (Dioscorides)
2. “If one would not have his hands or feet hurt by cold, let him annoint them with Fox grease’”. (Mizald)
3. Applied to Gout, Trembling, Convulsions, Cramp, and Palsy. (Salmon)
4. “Its fat perfectly cures an Alopecia, or falling of the Hair”. (Magic of Kirani)

GENITALS (Cool. Sweet. Dried and powdered):

1. Aphrodisiac; for Impotence etc.
2. Prolapsed uterus, and to promote delivery; Also for swollen or painful penis or testes in children (TCM)
3. Applied with the fat as a plaster to Alopecia. (Magic of Kirani)
Dose: 1–3 grams in powder; 3–9 grams in decoction

LUNGS:

See the separate Monograph on Fox Lungs

SKIN:

1. Burned Skin is applied to Ulcers, Burns and Wounds. (Unani)

TESTICLES:

1. Used to promote conception in women (see the Genitals). (Salmon)
2. The dried and powdered testicles were also used as an Aphrodisiac: the right being given to women, the left to men.
3. Taken for Epilepsy, and Spasms and Pain of the Back (Unani)
4. The testicles were made into plaster and applied to ‘Parotides, or swellings under the ear’. (Magic of Kirani)
Dose: 1–3 grams in powder

WHOLE ANIMAL:

1. Pectoral; Used similarly to the Lungs (Ashed, Salmon)
2. Whole animal decocted in water to a decoction is drunk for Gout and Arthritis. (Unani)
3. Whole animal boiled in oil was famously applied to all types of Joint and Muscles pain, Arthritis, Lameness, and Pain of the Hands and Feet. (West)
4. The Oil was applied to the legs of Children to help them walk more quickly. (Unani)

Main Combinations:

1. To strengthen the Nerves and Joints, Paralysis, Convulsions, Cramps, Arthritic pain, Stiffness, decoct a whole Fox in Water, Wine and Oil, with Dill, Thyme, Sage and Rosemary added (as in Oil of Foxes)
2. For Lameness and withering of the Limbs, decoct a whole Fox in oil, add 100 burned Scorpions, a bowlful of washed Earthworms, and a handful each of St. John’s wort, Marshmallow and Wallwort, and Saffron, 1 ounce. Boil gently until the flesh falls from the bones. After straining, add 1 pound of Pig Marrow, half a dishfull of Oil of Roses, Mastic 3 oz., Gum Elemi 2 oz., Wax 8 oz., and boil gently half an hour.
This is good for all cold diseases, Arthritis, Muscle and Joint Pain, for all contractions or shriking of the limbs and sinews. It was reportedly used on one whose arm was completely withered and dry, and by its use, became whole again.
The text recommended add 3 Tortoises when boiling the Fox if it were to be used for Arthritis. (The Secrets Alexis, 1595)
3. Paralysis, Oil of Foxes with Oil of Earthworms.
4. Back pain and Spasm, take Fox Testicles with Pepper and Wine. (Unani)

Cautions:

None noted

Main Preparations used:

Prepared Fox Lung, Ashes of Fox, Oil of Foxes, Ointment of Foxes

1. OIL OF FOXES.:
    1 Fox (Skinned, with Bowels removed;
     cut the flesh, break the bones.)
    White wine and Spring Water,          6 lbs. ea.
    Sea salt                                                 3 oz.
    Dill tops, Thyme, and Chamepitys   1 handful ea.
Boil until half is gone. Strain, press, and boil the liquid again with:
    Old Oil                                                    6 lb.
    Flowers of Sage and Rosemary        1 handful ea.
Boil until the water is consumed. Strain it very well, and separate the Oil. Very healing and strengthening; used for Paralysis, dead palsy, convulsions, and cramps; Also for gout and joint pains, stiffness, numbness, back pain and various swellings and nodes.
In older times, a whole live Fox was boiled in Old oil until the flesh fell from the bones; this was applied to Gout and old sciatic pains. There were many variations of Oil of Foxes. (Salmon, Wirtzung etc).
2 OINTMENT OF FIXES. (Gilbert0
Seethe Fox flesh in wine until if fall from the bones, then stamp the flesh well, and press out the juice, then gently boil the juice until it is as thick as an ointment, adding to it Wax, Mastic, castoreum, Myrrh, Bay berries, and a little Euphorbium and Musk and mix it well to form an ointment.
“This ts a most assured ointment against al old Gouts [arthritis] and Joints sickness, and against the Palsy [paralysis]”. (The Treasury of Health, 1550)

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