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Paralysis

Palsy


Paralysis is a loss of function of a part or the whole body, sometimes with a loss of sensation. It may be a single part such as the hand or tongue, or of half of the body 9such as the left, right or lower body), or of the whole body.

Several types were recognised:
  • Palsy: Paralysis
  • Dead Palsy: Paralysis with loss of sensation
  • Shaking Palsy: Parkinsonism

Paralysis can come from Disease, Injury or Poison. Brunschwig (1561) gave a number of causes which we have added a TCM equivalent diganosis:
  1. Anger: Liver Heat–clear Liver Heat
  2. Cold: Wind-Cold-Damp–avoid Cold foods, use warming medicines internally and externally
  3. Excess Eating and Drinking: Phlegm and Damp obstruction–Fasting, Purging
  4. Excess Blood which overwhelms the Heart: Liver Heat causing Wind–Bleeding is indicated
  5. Excess Sex: Kidney Deficiency–abstinence, Kidney tonics
  6. Unresolved Trauma: Blood Stagnation, or damage to a Nerve–Nourish Yin
Other causes include excess Joy or Fear, excess Labor or Rest, or an excess of any of the Humors.

Brunschwig then gives this interesting note:
'Sometimes is the cause, that the two Strings, coming down from the Brain through the backbone to the feet: through the one goes the Natural Heat [Yang], and through the other the Cold [Yin], that the same Strings are stopped, either the one or both. Wherefore, in whatsoever member is stopped this String, that the Natural Spirit [Qi] can not come into the same, its wastes lame'.
This clearly indicates Yin and Yang channels and the flow of Qi to each part.

As it is generally classed as a Wind disease, it is treated with medicines that settle Wind in combination with medicines appropriated to the individual.

In addition to Medicine, internal and external, Cupping, Massage, Bloodletting, Acupuncture, Moxa, Baths etc. can be very useful. When Bloodletting is used, it is often performed on the opposite side to the Paralysis.

Pig feet made into a Soup with Turnips strengthens Sinews in lamness associated with Paralysis.


Western Tradition

Paralysi prosunt–Benefit Paralysis

Decoction for Paralysis (Praxis Medicinae)

Decoction to Strengthen the Head (Wirtzung)
Syrup of Stoechas (Judeus)
Syrup of Stoechas (Fernelius)
Syrup of Ivy
Syrup of Sage juice

Conserve of Calamus

Tincture of Juniper Berry
Tincture for Paralysis
Powder of Rosemary Compound (Dianthos) (Nicholas)
Powder for Paralysis and Vertigo (Nicholas)
Compound for Paralysis (Salerno)
Confection of Alfesera (Diabryonias) (Democrites)
Electuary of Calamus (Diacorum) (Mesue)
Electuary for Paralysis (Wirtzung)
Electuary for Crass and Viscid Humors (Azaricon)
Wonderful Confection for Cold Nerve Diseases
Blanca (Nicholas)
Confection of Musk
Diacastoreum

Theriac of 4 Ingredients (Diatessaron)
Hiera Hermetis

Hiera Logadii
Pills of Opopanax
Pills of Euphorbium
(Mesue)
Mithridate

Oil of Pepper
Oil of the Philosophers

Oil Against Paralysis
Oil of Castoreum
Oil of Foxes
Oil of Earthworms

Ointment of Bdellium

Ointment Martiatum

Confect of Musk with Gems (Dawaul Misk Har Jawahar)
Pills of Mother of Pearl (Tibetan Medicine)
Pills of Nux Vomica (Habbe Azaraqi)
Electuary of Nux Vomica (Majun Azaraqi)
Catechu 25 (Seng ldeng 25) (Tibetan Medicine)
Wish-fulfilling Jewel (Bsam phel nor bu) (Tibetan)


Paralysim purgant–Purge in Paralysis

Blanca (Nicholas)
Hiera Hermetis

Hiera Logadii
Pills of Sagapen
Pills of Euphorbium (Mesue)
Pills of Opopanax



Paralysis from Deficiency

Decoction to Strengthen the Head (Wirtzung)
Tincture for Paralysis
Powder of Rosemary Compound (Dianthos) (Nicholas)
Electuary of Calamus (Diacorum) (Mesue)
Electuary for Paralysis (Wirtzung)
Wonderful Confection for Cold Nerve Diseases

Catechu 25 (Seng ldeng 25) (Tibetan Medicine)


Paralysis from Wind and Heat

Pearl 25 (Mu tig nyer lnga) (Tibetan Medicine)
Wish-fulfilling Jewel (Bsam phel nor bu) (Tibetan)


Paralysis from Wind and Phlegm

Confection of Alfesera (Diabryonias) (Democrites)
Electuary for Crass and Viscid Humors (Azaricon)
Pills of Opopanax (De Morbis internis curanda)
Pills of Colchicum Greater (Habb E Suranjun Kalan)

Powder of Three Peppers (Diatrion Piperion) (Mesue)


Externally:
1. Boil Brandy with Sage in it and let the vapor go to the part. This can be used for various types of Paralysis including Shaking Paralysis. (Brunschwig, 1561)
2. Cold-Damp Paralysis: Lavender, Sage, Cowslip, Rue, Juniper (1 handful each). Cover with a pint of Spirit and 1 quart of White Wine, put in a sealed pot and sit in a water bath. Rub the parts twice daily.

TCM Classification

Paralysis

Internal Wind
Paralysis with headache, dizziness, vertigo, tremors, tinnitus, hemiplegia

Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin
Qian Zheng San


Pearl 25 (Mu tig nyer lnga) (Tibetan Medicine)


Internal Wind with Yin Deficiency
Paralysis with low energy, dry mouth and skin, crimson and dry or cracked tongue, night sweats, very weak pulse


Da Ding Feng Zhu


Cold, Wind and Damp Obstruction
Numbness, stiffness and Paralysis, coldness, heaviness in the lower back and legs, maybe moving pains, Pale tongue with a white, moist coat and a tight or wiry or soft pulse.

Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang
Xiao Huo Luo Dan

Shi Xiang Fan Sheng Wan


Yin and Yang deficiency
Paralysis, marked weakness, flaring heat due to Yin deficiency with hot symptoms in the upper body and cold and weakness in the lower body with back pain and weakness of legs; dry mouth, red tongue with greasy coat and a deep, weak, slippery pulse.

Di Huang Yin Zi


Blood Stasis with Qi Deficiency
Paralysis of lower body, weakness, atrophy, frequent urine or incontinence, purplish color of lips, tongue and nails


Bu Yang Huan Wu Tang


-------------------------------------

Hemiplegia

Wind-Heat

Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin

Pearl 25 (Mu tig nyer lnga) (Tibetan Medicine)


Cold, Wind and Damp Obstruction

Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang
Qian Zheng San
Xiao Huo Luo Dan



Blood Stasis with Qi Deficiency

Bu Yang Huan Wu Tang


-------------------------------------

Facial Paralysis

Wind-Heat

Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin


Wind obstruction

Qian Zheng San


Cold, Wind and Damp Obstruction

Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang
Qian Zheng San



Blood Stasis with Qi Deficiency

Bu Yang Huan Wu Tang


Special Formula:

SAGE & LAVENDER WINE OR SPIRIT
    Sage
    Lavender                    3 handfuls each
Steep in 3 pints of Wine for 2 weeks. It can be distilled into a spirit or taken as it is.

SYRUP FOR PARALYSIS:
    Calamus.                     half oz.
    Cowlsip                       3 handfuls
    St. Johns wort
    Sage
    Betony
    Balm
    Rue
    Bay leaf                      1 handful each
    Siler Montane
    Balsam Wood
    Balsam fruit
    Basil seed                  2 drams each
    Licorice
    Currants
    Lavender flowers
    Amaranthus.              1 oz. each
With Water (12 oz.) and clarified Honey (6 oz.), form a Syrup. (Wirtzung)


SYRUP FOR PARALYSIS
    Calamus                      2 oz.
    Stoechas
    Hyssop                        1 oz.
    Calamint
    Oregano
    Aniseed
    Fennel seed
    Cinnamon                   3 drams
    Fennel root
    Parsley root
    Asparagus root          ½ oz.
    Sage
    Balm
    Betony
    Avens                          1 handful each
    Sugar                          1 pound
Prepare a Syrup.
Dose: 1½ ounces, taken with Infusion of Nutmeg. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)

DECOCTION AGAINST PARALYSIS OF SERAPION
    Celery root
    Fennel root                 10 drams
    Schoenanth                 6 drams
    Fennel seed
    Anise
    Parsley seed
    Seseleos
    Costus
    Centaury
    Pyrethrum
    Ginger
    Bishop's Weed
    Cardamon                    4 drams
    Rue seed
    Nasturtium seed         3 drams
    Stoechas
    Belleric Myrobalan
    Emblic Myrobalan      8 drams
Decoct in 7 lbs water to 1 lb. Give for 21 days with oil of Pepper or of Costus
Dose: 1–2 oz. (De Morbis Internis Curandis, Mesue, 1551)

PILLS OF EUPHORBIUM
    Agaric
    Colocynth pulp
    Euphorbium
    Sagapen
    Bdellium                         3 drams each
    Aloes.                               2 drams
Rub into a pill mass with Cabbage juice.
Dose: 1 scruple–half dram. (Syrian "Book of Medicine", trans. by Wallis Budge, 1913)

ANOTHER PURGATIVE:
    Gum Ammoniac.          
    Bdellium
    Sagapen
    Aloes
    Opopanax
    Castoreum
    Rue seed                        4 drams each
    Euphorbium                   3 drams
    Colocynth pulp             7 drams
Rub into a pill mass with Cabbage juice.
Dose: 1 dram. (Syrian "Book of Medicine", trans. by Wallis Budge, 1913)

AN UNGENT FOR PARALYSIS:
    Pepper
    Pyrethrum
    Euphorbium
    Castoreum                  equal parts
Beat them and mix with oil and use as an Ointment. (Syrian "Book of Medicine", trans. by Wallis Budge, 1913)

PERSIAN OINTMENT
    Resin                          45 drams
    Camphor oil              20 drams
    Wax                            16 drams
    Opopanax                   4 drams
    Galbanum                   4 drams

Form into an ointment. Apply on strips of linen cloth and apply to the part.

See also
Treatment of Paralysis (Praxis Medicinae Theorica et Empirica)

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