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Scrofula, Lymphatic Swellings, Goiter
Scrofula and Goiter are classed as Phlegm-Masses in Traditional Medicine. The Phlegm may be associated with Cold or Heat. The former are usually softer, cold to touch with other general signs of Cold. Phlegm-Heat manifests with red, swollen, hot or painful swellings, red tongue with a greasy or thick coating and a rapid or big pulse.
Both require Phlegm-clearing and mass-dispersing (attenuant or resolvent) medicines. Cases of Cold-Phlegm will combine Hot medicines and Hot-Phlegm will combine Heat-clearing medicines.
When chronic or in Melancholic constitutions, the Lumps become hard and fibrotic. Such cases require medicines for the Melancholy Humor (Dodder, Agaric etc).
In all systems, the importance of medicines from the Sea was long relaized as important for Scrofula, and in particular, Goiter. In the Western Tradition, Sponge, Sponge Stone, Burnt Sponge, Pumice, Cuttlefish Bone, Sea Balls etc. were used. In TCM, Kelp, Laminaria, and Pumice etc. are used. The importance of their trace minerals especially in relation to Iodine is most relevant.
By extrapolation, other Nodes and Lymphatic swellings in other parts of the body can usually be treated with similar formulas.
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Western Tradition
Simples
Simple remedies
1. Goiter: ‘The seeds of the common Nettle are a sovereign remedy for the cure of a Goiter. Dose, from 12 to 15 seeds, three times a day’. (Vitalogy) Formulas:
Scrophulas resoluunt, & delent – Scrofula Infusion for Scrofula Decoction of Self Heal Decoction of Figwort Decoction Against Scrofula (Fuller) Tincture of Rue Tincture of Bees Powder Against Scrofula (Arnold de Villa Nova) Marvelous Powder Against Scrofula (Arnold de Villa Nova) Powder of Burnt Sponge (Gabelhover) Powder for Scrofula (Palestra Pharmaceutica) Powder for Scrofula (Renodeus) Powder for Scrofula (Wirtzung) Powder for Scrofula (Pharmacopoea Argentorarensis) Electuary of Figwort (Avicenna) Oil of Sesame Oil of Wild Cucumber Diachilon Ointment of Cyclamen Plaster of Cyclamen Scrofula, Nodes and Swellings from Phlegm Tincture of Rue Tincture of Bees Powder for Scrofula (Renodeus) Powder for Scrofula (Wirtzung) Powder for Scrofula (Pharmacopoea Argentorarensis) Scrofula, Nodes and Swellings from Phlegm-Heat Powder Against Scrofula (Arnold de Villa Nova) Marvelous Powder Against Scrofula (Arnold de Villa Nova) Powder of Burnt Sponge (Gabelhover) Scrofula, Nodes and Swelling from Heat and Toxin Infusion for Scrofula Decoction of Self Heal Decoction of Figwort Decoction Against Scrofula (Fuller) Electuary of Figwort (Avicenna) Crystal Moon 37 (Zla shel so bdun) (Tibetan Medicine) |
TCM Classification
Phlegm Obstruction
Soft swelling of the neck, pale face, nausea, white coated tongue Xiao Luo Wan Er Chen Tang Heat and Toxin Red swellings, sore throat, fever, red eyes, red tongue with yellow coating. Yin Qiao Jie Du Pian Shi Wei Bai Du San Niu Huang Jie Du Pian Liver Heat Lumps in the throat that are red or quick growing, inflammation, restlessness, sweating, feels hot, fever, irritability, bulging eyes, bitter taste, red tongue with yellow coat Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San Long Dan Xie Gan Tang Blood Stasis with Phlegm Chronic hard lump of the throat, difficult to clear, dull complexion, poor appetite Hai Zao Yu Hu Tang Yin deficiency of the Heart and Liver soft swelling of the neck, grows slowly, palpitations, restlessness, nightsweat, dryness of the eyes, blurred vision, insomnia Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan Tian Wan Bu Xin Wan |