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Musk, Moschus, She Xiang 麝香

Musk
Muska (Persian)
Mushk (Unani)
Mrgamadah (Sanskrit)
Gla Rtsi  གླ་རྩི  (Tibetan)



Above: Container traditionally used to transport Musk pods. (Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578)
Left: Musk Deer (Shaw, G. Zoological Lectures delivered at the Royal Institution, 1809)
Left: Tonkin Musk; Right: Russian Musk
Handbook of Pharmaceutical Practice, Hager, 1878
Musk Pods with grains of Musk
(Adam, 2009)

Uses:
1. Opens the Orifices, Clears Phlegm, Regulates the Mind, Stops Spasms (West, TCM, Ayurveda, Tibetan):
-Convulsions, Epilepsy, Nervousness, Unconsciousness, Coma and Cerebral Palsy
-it restores the lost sense of smell
-Prolonged treatment cures Nightmare
-Hysteria and sleeplessness
-used for numerous chronic or stubborn diseases related to obstruction
    
2. Moves the Blood, Clears Obstructions and Tumors (West, TCM, Ayurveda, Tibetan):
-severe pain in the chest or abdomen, immobile abdominal masses
-Angina Pectoris, Heart disease
-Avicenna used it for ‘Coldness of the Heart’.
-Tumors and Tuberculosis Lymphadenitis.
-clears the circulation in chronic joint diseases such as Rheumatism, Arthritis, as well as chronic stiffness of the neck etc.
-‘A circulatory stimulant benefiting the muscles and bones’.
-fixed pain and bruising from Trauma
-obstinate skin diseases including Leprosy.
    
3. Clears Heat and Toxin (West, TCM, Ayurveda, Tibetan):
-infectious and febrile diseases including common cold, Typhoid fever, Malaria, Meningitis and advanced stages of other febrile diseases
-toxic heat diseases such as Tonsillitis.
-‘destroy Evil things and expel Evil Parasites’ (TCM)
-bites of Snakes, Rats, and other venomous creatures; some have claimed it specific in Hydrophobia.
-topically or internally for sores, abscesses, carbuncles, and all kinds of boils with pus.
-various types of Worms and Parasites.
    
4. Warms the Kidneys (West, TCM, Ayurveda, Tibetan):
-traditionally used as a sexual stimulant (the Oil being commonly applied externally for this purpose);
-Leukorrhea, Spermatorrhea, nephritis and general weakness.
    
5. Promotes Labor, Expels the Afterbirth:
-induces and quickens Labor (best not used for this purpose now: read below)
-removes a dead Fetus, helps promote Expulsion of the Placenta
-Tibetan Medicine also uses it for pain during or after delivery
-abortifacient
-potent Uterine Stimulant


DOSE:
60–100mg (up to 200mg with a maximum single dose of 1 gram)

CORRECTIVES:
1. Rose water
2. Tabasheer. (Unani)
3. Sandalwood (Unani)

SUBSTITUTES:
1. Storax is considered in TCM to be a suitable plant substitute; Musk and Storax are often combined in traditional formulas. Storax is best for Phlegm and Damp obstructing the mind, nerves and senses.
2. In cases where a purely ‘opening’ effect is desired, especially in formulas intended for Heat, Fever, Delirium etc., Camphor may be used, especially if combined with Storax.
3. Ferula sumbul ('Musk root') was previously commonly used as a substitute for Musk
4. Cinnamon tamal leaf ('India leaf') has been used in Unani.
5. Castoreum and Civet may also be used similarly (if they are easier to get).
6. ‘American Musk’ derived from the Muskrat or Musquash, and called Fiber zibethius has been used in place of Musk, but is far inferior.
7. In perfumery, Labdanum is an accepted vegetable substitute for Musk.
8. Synthetic Musk has been used in place of the natural product and is commonly used in modern Traditional medicine.
9. An Artificial Musk was prepared from Amber oil: Oil of Amber (2 parts), Nitric acid (6 parts). Digest 24 hours, then wash with cold water. (Dispensarium Lippiacum, 1792)

Main Combinations:
Mind, Brain, Nerves
1. Musk with Aloeswood and Ambergris to strengthen the Heart and Brain, promote circulation and open Obstructions. (Gallia Moschata)
2. Vertigo, Falling Sickness, Convulsions, Palsy, Sadness, Melancholy, Fainting and Swooning from Wind and Cold, Musk with Saffron, Galangal, Aloeswood, Pearl, Amber, Red Coral, Basil seed, Nutmeg, Cinnamon (as in Sweet Powder of Musk)
3. Spasms and Convulsions:
i. Musk with Valerian
ii. Tremors and Convulsions, Musk, Antelope horn (Ling Yang Jiao), Cinnabar (Zhu Sha) (TCM)
iii. Musk (16 grains), Valerian (1 scruple), Camphor (6 grains). (Pharmacia rationalis, 1806)
4. Nervous rashes and itching, Musk with Valerian
5. Depression, Musk with Camphor
6. To enhance Memory, Musk with Calamus, Nutmeg, Frankincense
7. Hysteria, and to promote Menstruation, Musk with Asafetida

Move the Blood
8. Amenorrhea:
i. Musk, Paeonia rubra Chi Shao Yao, Dang Gui, Safflower (Hong Hua) (TCM)
ii. from Cold and Blood Stasis, Musk with Cinnamon and Saffron
9. Chest Pain from Blood Stasis, Angina Pectoris, Myocardial Infarction:
i. Musk with Aloeswood, Saffron
ii. Musk with Storax, Aloeswood, Camphor
iii. Musk, Costus (Mu Xiang), Peach kernel (Tao Ren) (TCM)
iv. Musk, Ginseng, Bezoar, Cinnamon, Styrax, Toad Venom, Borneol Camphor (as in She Xiang Bao Xin Wan)
10. Trauma with Pain and Bruising:
i. Musk with Frankincense, Myrrh, Notoginseng San Qi and Borneo Camphor
ii. Musk with Dragon's Blood, Frankincense, Myrrh, Safflower, Catechu, Borneol Camphor (as in Qi Li San)

Other
11. Asthma, Musk with Storax, Benzoin, Aloeswood, Tragacanth, form Troches (used internally and as a fumigation of Asthma)
12. Spasmodic Asthma, Angina Pectoris, Musk, with Ammonium carbonate, Asafetida, Guiaiacum resin, Valerian, Cinnamon (Sobernheim, 1840)
13. Aphrodisiac:
i. Musk with Confectio Alkermes
ii. Cinnamon (half oz.), Ginger, Nutmeg, Long Pepper (1 dram each), Musk (1 scruple), White Sugar (4 oz.). Mix. (Memorial Pharmaceutique, 1824)

Toxin
14. Acute Sore Throat:
i. Musk, Bezoar
ii. Musk, Coptis Huang Lian, Rhubarb (Da Huang), Licorice
15. Rabies, Musk (16 grains), Cinnabar (12 grains). Supposedly a Chinese recipe. (Pharmacopoeia Wirtembergica, 1798)
16. Toxic Swellings, Musk with Bezoar, Frankincense, Myrrh (as in Xi Huang Wan of TCM)

Major Formulas:
Powder of Musk Sweet (Diamoschu Dulce) (Mesue)
Powder of Musk Bitter (Diamoschu Amarum) (Mesue)
Aloeswood Powder for Palpitations
Warming Powder of Gems (Mesue)
Aromatic Musk Compound Aromaticum Moschatum (Mesue)
Troches of Musk (Gallia Muscata) (Mesue)
Troches of Musk (Gallia Muscata) (Nicholas)
Troches of Musk (Trochisci Moschata) (Rhasis)
Surgeon’s Musked Troches (Alipta Muscata) (Nicholas)
Cooling Electuary of Musk (Rhazes)
Antidote Proven for Diverse Diseases (Nicholas)
Royal Confection of Kermes (Mesue)

Liu Shen Wan
Zhi Bao Dan
An Gong Niu Huang Wan
Qi Li San
Su He Xiang Wan
Zi Xue Dan
Xi Huang Wan
Zhen Xiang Jiao Nag (Precious Aromatic Capsules) (TCM)

Costus Garuda (Ru khyung) (Tibetan Medicine)
Garuda 5 (Khyung Lnga) (Tibetan Medicine)
Garuda 8 (Khyung lnga mchu sder can) (Tibetan Medicine)
Coptis 5 Pill (Tibetan Medicine)

Cautions:
1. Not used during Pregnancy
2. Caution in very deficienct people and Yin deficiency.
It has been used to promote Labor in the past and has a proven potent uterine stimulant effect, especially on the pregnant uterus. However, without being in a hospital setting it is best not used for this purpose in case its use is associated with complications during childbirth. Also, its use is potentially toxic to the fetus (Chen & Chen, 2001)

Main Preparations used:
Troches of Musk, Sweet Powder of Musk, Gallia Moschata

1. Tincture of Musk:
i. Musk in powder (2 drams), Rectified Spirit (1 pint). Digest 7 days, filter.
ii. it is advisable to repeat the extraction with fresh alcohol to exhaust the Musk; this liquors can be added and carefully evaporated to one pint.