Spongii, Sponge
Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578
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Botanical name:
Phylum porifera
Spongia officinalis
Spongia lacinulosa (of the Red Sea, Mediterranean and Indian Ocean was said to be most used). Many sponges have been used
Parts used:
whole dried Sponge; Sponge ashes; Sponge stone, a stone at the center of the Sponge.
Temperature & Taste:
Cold, dry. Salty
Phylum porifera
Spongia officinalis
Spongia lacinulosa (of the Red Sea, Mediterranean and Indian Ocean was said to be most used). Many sponges have been used
Parts used:
whole dried Sponge; Sponge ashes; Sponge stone, a stone at the center of the Sponge.
Temperature & Taste:
Cold, dry. Salty
Uses:
1. Clears Phlegm and Heat, Resolves Masses:
-Scrofula, Swollen Lymph Nodes and Lymphadenitis
-‘... for ‘tis certain, that in this distemper [scrofula] many remarkable cures have been performed by it’. (Pharmacopoeia Universalis, R. James, M.D., London, 1743)
-Burnt Sponge was also for congealed or stagnant Blood
-Sponge may be decocted; Sponge ashes were most commonly used in powder form
2. Promotes Urine, Clears Stones:
-Gravel and Stones of the Bladder and Kidneys. (Sponge Stone, Sponge ashes)
3. Externally:
i. burnt Sponge makes an excellent Tooth Powder.
ii. stops bleeding topically
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PREPARATION:
1. Wash and clean, tie it with a strong when still wet and dry carefully, then keep in a dry place.
2. Wash, clean, dry. Then cut into long strips and dip into egg white before drying. (Pharmacopoeia Hispana, 1798)
3. Wash, clean, dry. Then cut into long strips and dip into mucilage of gum arabic before drying. (Pharmacopee Usuelle, Louvain, 1821)
4. BURNT SPONGE: Wash, dry, cut into small pieces to remove foreign matter, then enclose in a covered iron vessel and burn until black and friable, then reduce to a very fine powder. (London)
SUBSTITUTE:
Kelp can be used instead of Sponge.
CORRECTIVES
1. Ginger, Pepper
2. Aniseed
1. Wash and clean, tie it with a strong when still wet and dry carefully, then keep in a dry place.
2. Wash, clean, dry. Then cut into long strips and dip into egg white before drying. (Pharmacopoeia Hispana, 1798)
3. Wash, clean, dry. Then cut into long strips and dip into mucilage of gum arabic before drying. (Pharmacopee Usuelle, Louvain, 1821)
4. BURNT SPONGE: Wash, dry, cut into small pieces to remove foreign matter, then enclose in a covered iron vessel and burn until black and friable, then reduce to a very fine powder. (London)
SUBSTITUTE:
Kelp can be used instead of Sponge.
CORRECTIVES
1. Ginger, Pepper
2. Aniseed
Main Combinations:
1. Scrofula:
i. Sponge with Madder
ii. Sponge with Figwort
iii. Sponge with Pumice and Cuttlebone
iv. Sponge with Juniper and Rose hip
v. Burnt Sponge, calcined Cuttlefish bone
vi. Burnt Sponge, Pill Millipedes, Potassium nitrate
2. Goiter and Testicular swelling, Burnt Sponge, Tartar, Alum, Pumice (Pharmacopoeia extemporanea, Augustin, 1822)
3. Asthma, Sponge ashes with Fumitory, Gum Ammoniac, Flower of Sulphur (Formulaire Magistral et Memorial Pharmaceutique, 1823)
4. Congealed Blood, Sponge with Madder, Lacca, Rhubarb, Red Earth
Major Formulas:
Powder of Burnt Sponge (Gabelhover)
Powder for Scrofula (Pharmacopoea Argentorarensis)
Powder for Scrofula (Arnold de Villa Nova)
Powder for Scrofula (Palestra Pharmaceutica)
Powder for Scrofula (Bononiense)
1. Anti-Strumous Powder:
i. Burnt Sponge (3 oz.), White Sugar (1 oz.). Mix. Dose: ½–1 dram, 2–3 times daily. (Dispensarium electorale Hassiacum, 1806)
ii. Burnt Sponge (6 drams), Oleosaccharum of Anise (4 drams). Mix. Dose: 30–50 grains, twice daily. (Nouveau Formulaire Medicale et Pharmaceutique, 1820)
iii. Burnt Sponge, Calcined Sponge Stones (equal parts), Mix. Dose: ½ scruple–2 scruples. (Niemann)
iv. Black Beans (8 oz.), Sugar Candy (4 oz.), Sponge (6 oz.). Burnt together in a covered vessel and powder. Dose: ½ dram. (Nouveau Formulaire Medicale et Pharmaceutique, 1820)
v. Burnt Sponge (1 oz.), Calcined Cuttlefish bone, Sugar Candy (½ oz. each). Mix. Dose: 1–2 scruples. (Pharmacopoeia Sardoa, 1773)
vi. Burnt Sponge (9 oz.), Potassium Sulphate (2 oz.), Swallow-wort root (1 oz.), Cinnamon (2 drams). Mix. Dose: 1–2 scruples. (Pharmacopoeia Wirtembergica, 1798)
vii. Madder (1 scruple), Burnt Sponge (½ scruple). Mix for a dose. (Pharmacopoeia extemporanea, Augustin, 1822)
viii. Burnt Sponge, prepared Wood Lice (½ oz. each), Potassium Nitrate, Corsican Sea-Moss (2 drams each), White Sugar (½ oz.). (Dispensatorium Pharmaceuticum, 1777)
ix. Sponge, Rose hip (2 oz. each), burn to ashes. To every ounce of the ashes add: Cinnamon (½ oz.), Burnt Pepper (2 drams), Red Coral (1 and a ½ drams), Mix. (Niemann)
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Cautions:
Cold, so not suitable for Cold constitutions or weakness of the Stomach.
Main Preparations used:
Sponge ashes
Cold, so not suitable for Cold constitutions or weakness of the Stomach.
Main Preparations used:
Sponge ashes