Rhus, Sumac

Sumach
Sumaq (Unani)

Ortus Sanitatis, Meydenbach, 1491

New Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563

Medical Botany, Woodville, Hooker, Vol. 3, 1832

SUMAC
Squibb's Atlas of the Official Drugs, Mansfield, 1919

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Botanical name:
Rhus spp.
R. parviflora, R. coriaria (European Sumac); some American species are used similarly

Parts used:
Seed

Temperature & Taste:
Cold, dry. Sour

Classifications:
2O. ASTRINGENT
4e. STOMACHIC

Uses:
1. Clears Heat, Stops Leakage:
-bilious Diarrhea, Dysentery, Leukorrhea and all other indications for a cooling astringent.
-Polyuria and Diabetes. (Bark, fruit)
   
2. Clears Heat, Stops Bleeding:
-Hemoptysis and Vomiting of Blood.
-Uterine Bleeding and excessive Menstruation

3. Clears Stomach Heat:
-allays Choler [Bile]
-Nausea, Vomiting and Thirst associated with Stomach heat. (Bark, fruit)
-Bleeding from the Stomach
    
4. Externally:
-decoction is used to strengthen the gums
-the gum put into Teeth stops Toothache
-decoction is used as a gargle for catarrh of the Pharynx
-bark powder or ashes are used in Tooth powders.
-powder is applied to unhealthy ulcers
-also bleeding suppurating Hemorrhoids.
-bark infusion is used for viral Eyes diseases and Opthalmia.
-bark is bruised with water and applied to the forehead to stop nosebleeds
-externally to resist Putrefaction and Gangrene

DOSE:
2–4 grams in powder

CORRECTIVES:
Aniseed; Fennel seed; Mastic

SUBSTITUTES:
Barberry and Valerian (Unani)

Main Combinations:
1. Diarrhea, Dysentery:
i. Sumac with Sorrel juice, Rose, Gall, Sandalwood, Gum Arabic, Tabasheer (as in Troches of Ramich of Mesue)
ii. Chronic Diarrhea, Sumac with Pomegranate flower, Acorn, Pomegranate, Indian Spikenard, Celery seed, Gall (as in Powder for Chronic Diarrhea of Nicholas)
2. Stomach Heat, Fever, Sumac with Rose, Tabasheer, Sorrel seed, Purslane seed, Coriander seed, Pomegranate flowers, Barberry (as in Troches of Spodium of Avicenna)
3. Diabetes, Sumac with Gum Arabic, Armenian Earth, Pomegranate flower, Gum Tragacanth, Lettuce seed, Purslane seed (as in Powder for Diabetes Greater)
4. Bleeding from the Stomach:
i. Sumac with Pomegranate flower, Rose, White Sandalwood, Frankincense, Sorrel seed, Alum, Amber (as in Powder to Stop Bleeding of the Stomach of Nicholas)
ii. Sumac with Amber, Red Cora,l Pearl, Oyster shell burnt, Hematite burnt, Rose, Purslane, Coriander, Almond, Gum Arabic, Pomegranate flower, Tabasheer (as in Powder for Bleeding from the Stomach of Nicholas)
5. Bladder Ulcers, Sumac with Pomegranate flower, Horsetail, Myrtle berry, Rose, Tragacanth (Fuller)
6. Receding Gums, prepare a mouth wash of Sumac, Myrrh, Oak bark
7. Gingivitis, Sumac, Myrrh, Golden Seal, Licorice

Major Formulas:
Powder to Stop Bleeding of the Stomach (Nicholas)
Powder for Diabetes Greater (Unani)
Troches of Ramich (Mesue)
Troches of Spodium (Trochisci Spodii) (Avicenna)
Electuarium Acharistum (Nicholas)

Cautions:
1. Not used in those with Cold Stomach or Liver.

Main Preparations used:

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History

Pliny on Sumac:

'Nor yet has the tree called "rhus" any Latin name, although it is employed in numerous ways. Under this name are comprehended a wild plant, with leaves like those of myrtle, and a short stem, which is good as an expellent of tapeworm; and the shrub which is known as the "currier's plant," of a reddish colour, a cubit in height, and about the thickness of one's finger, the leaves of which are dried and used, like pomegranate rind, for curing leather.

'Medical men also employ the leaves of these plants for

the treatment of contusions, and for the cure of cceliac affections, and of ulcers of the rectum and phagedamic sores; for all which purposes they are pounded with honey and applied with vinegar. A decoction of them is injected for suppurations of the ears. With the branches, boiled, a stomatice [medicine for the mouth] is also made, which is used for the same purposes as that prepared from mulberries; it is more efficacious, however, mixed with alum. This preparation is applied also to reduce the swelling in dropsy.' (The Natural History of Pliny, trans. by Bostock and Riley, Vol. 5, 1856)