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Litharge, Mi Tuo Seng 密陀僧Mi Tuo Seng (TCM)
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Hortus sanitatis, 1491
Mineralogical Name:
Yellow Lead monoxide
Litharge (formed from fused and powdered Massicot)
Three types of Litharge were mentioned by Pliny:
1. Chrysitis (Gold colored, best; also called German Gold Litharge);
2. Argyritis (German Silver Litharge)
3. Molybditis (fused from Lead); also called Hearth Lead.
Litharge was said to be ‘an excrement arising from the refining of Silver or Gold with Lead; it is twofold: either White or Yellow (called Litharge of Silver or Gold) but they only differ in boiling; for the Yellow is that which is most boiled or burnt, and is indeed only Lead half calcined’. (Salmon)
Parts used:
Prepared Lead
Temperature & Taste:
Cold, dry
Classifications:
T. External Medicines
Yellow Lead monoxide
Litharge (formed from fused and powdered Massicot)
Three types of Litharge were mentioned by Pliny:
1. Chrysitis (Gold colored, best; also called German Gold Litharge);
2. Argyritis (German Silver Litharge)
3. Molybditis (fused from Lead); also called Hearth Lead.
Litharge was said to be ‘an excrement arising from the refining of Silver or Gold with Lead; it is twofold: either White or Yellow (called Litharge of Silver or Gold) but they only differ in boiling; for the Yellow is that which is most boiled or burnt, and is indeed only Lead half calcined’. (Salmon)
Parts used:
Prepared Lead
Temperature & Taste:
Cold, dry
Classifications:
T. External Medicines
Uses:
1. Clears Damp-Heat, Kills Parasites, Cleanses Sores and Ulcers: (TCM, Ayurveda, West)
-externally for Moist Sores with exudating fluid, and Fungal infections;
-Eczema, Scabies, and chronic and persistent Ulcers;
-dissolved in Vinegar or Rose water it is applied to Prickly Heat, Eczematous Eruptions, Acne, and to remove Freckles.
-Salmon said it ‘Generates flesh, fills up hollow Ulcers’.
-Recognised as a Specific for Syphilis and Syphilitic sores in Ayurveda (when purified).
2. Heals Fractures:
-in Ayurveda to aid in the healing of Fractures (as is Minium), and externally applied to help keep dislocated parts in their place once reduced.
3. Stops Leakage:
-diarrhea, dysentery and dysentery-like disorders;
-Salmon lists it for these and ‘other diseases of the bowels: it cures and consolidates the Intestines being hurt or exulcerated’. (TCM, West)
4. Clears Heat:
-‘It Cools the Blood and abates the heat of Urine’. (Salmon)
5. Clears Phlegm, Calms Fright:
-internal acumulation of Phlegm, and Convulsions due to fright (TCM).
-similarly used for Wind and Phlegm diseases in Ayurveda.
6. Kills Worms:
-the purified product is used for Worms in Ayurveda and Unani.
7. Promotes Hair Growth:
-Oil is prepared by boiling Litharge in it; it gives the Hair a black colour. Also applied as an ointment for Baldness and Alopecia. (Ayurveda)
8. Used in Alchemy:
-Helps to solidify Mercury in Alchemical operations.
Dose:
1–2 grams, up to 3 grams. Salmon gave a dose of ½ dram.
Unani texts give a dose of 1 mithqal (4.4 grams) followed by Sesame oil taken in the morning for Worms.
Correctives:
1. Milk
2. Sugar
3. Ghee
4. Almond or Sesame oil
Purification:. (Ayurveda)
Either of the followings methods can be used to purify Litharge:
1. Litharge is powdered well in a mortar and pestle, and put into a glass vessel. A concentrate (saturated) solution of Rock Salt is added, enough to cover the Litharge by 2 inches. This is to be stirred with a wooden spoon at least once a day. After every 7 days, the solution should be replaced. This is continued for at least 40 days (often longer). It is then well washed with pure water 7 times. The powder should be dried and kept in a properly sealed glass bottle.
2. It may also be impregnated with the juices of Citrus medica and Ginger for 3 times; this involves steeping and triturating Litharge in the juices, and allowing the juice to dry, before adding more juice and repeating; it is repeated 3 times. This is generally used externally in ointments etc., and so it not generally further prepared.
1–2 grams, up to 3 grams. Salmon gave a dose of ½ dram.
Unani texts give a dose of 1 mithqal (4.4 grams) followed by Sesame oil taken in the morning for Worms.
Correctives:
1. Milk
2. Sugar
3. Ghee
4. Almond or Sesame oil
Purification:. (Ayurveda)
Either of the followings methods can be used to purify Litharge:
1. Litharge is powdered well in a mortar and pestle, and put into a glass vessel. A concentrate (saturated) solution of Rock Salt is added, enough to cover the Litharge by 2 inches. This is to be stirred with a wooden spoon at least once a day. After every 7 days, the solution should be replaced. This is continued for at least 40 days (often longer). It is then well washed with pure water 7 times. The powder should be dried and kept in a properly sealed glass bottle.
2. It may also be impregnated with the juices of Citrus medica and Ginger for 3 times; this involves steeping and triturating Litharge in the juices, and allowing the juice to dry, before adding more juice and repeating; it is repeated 3 times. This is generally used externally in ointments etc., and so it not generally further prepared.
Main Combinations:
1. Rosacea, with Sulphur in Rose water or a cooling ointment topically.
2. Abscesses, with Frankincense, made into an ointment with Wax and Oil.
3. Abscess of the Vagina, with Aloe, Myrrh, Frankincense, Dragon's Blood, Zinc oxide, made into a salve with wax and oil of Roses
Cautions:
1. Lead is virtually obsolete because of its accumulative and toxic effects.
2. Never used in pregnancy or young children.
3. In cases where it is used internally, it should not be used for more than 1–2 weeks without a break in treatment.
4 However, some external preparations may still be applicable as lead forms insoluble compounds when it comes into contact with albumen.
Toxicity:
Lead Bhasma was studied for toxicity. Short-term use showed no toxic effects in Albino rats when histopathologically studied post-mortem. High doses or long-term use did show some pathological changes of the vital organs.
Main Preparations used:
Salt of Litharge
SALT of LITHARGE. (Paracelsus)
‘It is done with distilled Vinegar, as Salt of Lead, decanting the solution, filtering, and inspissating’.
‘It cures Diarrheas, Dysenteries, Lienteries, Ulcers in the Guts &c. Cools the Blood and heat of the Urine, and has all the virtues of Saccharum Saturni. Dose: ½ dram in Mithridate or any Sudorific Electuary’. (Paracelsus, Salmon)
1. Lead is virtually obsolete because of its accumulative and toxic effects.
2. Never used in pregnancy or young children.
3. In cases where it is used internally, it should not be used for more than 1–2 weeks without a break in treatment.
4 However, some external preparations may still be applicable as lead forms insoluble compounds when it comes into contact with albumen.
Toxicity:
Lead Bhasma was studied for toxicity. Short-term use showed no toxic effects in Albino rats when histopathologically studied post-mortem. High doses or long-term use did show some pathological changes of the vital organs.
Main Preparations used:
Salt of Litharge
SALT of LITHARGE. (Paracelsus)
‘It is done with distilled Vinegar, as Salt of Lead, decanting the solution, filtering, and inspissating’.
‘It cures Diarrheas, Dysenteries, Lienteries, Ulcers in the Guts &c. Cools the Blood and heat of the Urine, and has all the virtues of Saccharum Saturni. Dose: ½ dram in Mithridate or any Sudorific Electuary’. (Paracelsus, Salmon)
Salmon, Seplasium:
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'It is of two sorts, 1. Litharge of Silver, which is white; and Litharge of Gold, which is yellow. But they are both made in the purification of Silver with Lead, differing only in the boiling, for the yellow (which is called Litharge of Gold, from its color) is that which is most boiled; so that it is only a kind of burnt Lead'.
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'It thickens, softens, fills up hollow Ulcers, represses the Excrescencies of the Flesh, cicatrizes, refrigerates, and stops Fluxes of Humors. It is used in a Collyrium for the Eyes, takes away Spots, Wrinkles, Scabs, Tetters, and other deformations of the Face and Skin. It is repercussive, Detersive, and Sarcotic, filling Ulcers up with flesh'.
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