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Terebinth, Turpentine

Pinus sylvestris
Koehler, F.E., Medizinal Pflanzen, vol. 1 (1887)

Botanical name:
A number of Pinus spp. and related conifers have been used as a source of Turpentine:
  1. Common Turpentine: Pinus sylvestris, P. abies
  2. Strasburg Turpentine: P. picea
  3. Venice Turpentine, Larch Turpentine: P. larix
  4. Chian Turpentine: Pistachia terebinthus
  5. Hungarian Turpentine: Pinus pumilo, P. mughos
  6. Carpathian Turpentine: P. cembra
  7. Canadian Turpentine: P. canadensis, Abies balsamica
In general, they share similar uses; however, there are slight variations.

Parts used:
'Turpentine' refers to 2 things:
  1. Crude or Gum Turpentine: the gum that exudes from the tree when cut
  2. Oil or Spirits of Turpentine: distilled from the gum or wood. That left after distillation is called Rosin

Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Bitter, pungent

Classifications:
2D ATTENUATERS OF CONGEALED BLOOD     2L. EMOLLIENT     2T. GLUTINATE     2U. SUPPURATIVES     2W. SARCOTICS
3M. ARTHRITICS
4k. ARTHRITIC
TCM:
T. External Medicines

Uses:
1. Clears Wind and Damp, Eases Pain:
-Arthritic and Rheumatic diseases (internally and topically)
-Edema, fluid retention
-urinary dysfunction

2. Clears Phlegm, Stops Cough:
-cold-type Cough, Asthma
-Catarrh, Colds, Laryngitis
-Scrofula, Lymphadenitis

3. Externally:
-arthritic and rheumatic diseases, lumbago (leaves in bath, Oil)
-neuralgia, pain (oil)
-acne, carbuncles, eczema, itch, scabies
-Candida
-cramps
-inflammations


Dose:
Rarely used internally.
5–15 drops of Oil of Turpentine (up to 20 drops), well diluted in syrup, egg yolk or Honey.
One method of administration is to make an Electuary of Turpentine Oil with 8 times its weight of clarified Honey (1 dram per ounce). This can be taken in teaspoonful doses in rheumatism, etc.
It is common to form an emulsion with Egg yolk to help mix into waters and syrups.

Main Combinations:
1. Pain, inflammations, arthritis pains: often combined in ointments or plasters with Oil and Wax or animal fat. To these are often added:
i. Turpentine with Camphor, for pain and inflammation
ii. Turpentine with Chili for Cold-Damp types pain
iii. Turpentine with Oil of Rosemary, muscles and joint pain
iv. Turpentine with Saltpeter as a plaster for heat-type pain
v. Pain from Trauma or Blood Stagnation, Turpentine with Camphor, Frankincense, Myrrh
2. Arthritis Pain:
i. prepare Pills with Ground Pine and Colchicum, made up with Turpentine oil
ii. Arthritic pain, Turpentine with Camphor, Ground Pine, Germander, St. Johns Wort
iii. Arthritic Pain, Turpentine with Earthworms
iv. Gout and Arthritis (externally) add: Betony, Agrimony, Sage, Comfrey, Frankincense, Orris, and Turpentine, made into a Plaster with Wax and Oil (as in Betony Plaster)
3. Urinary Obstruction, Dysuria: Turpentine with Rhubarb, Licorice, Amber, Cinnamon
4. Fractures, mix Pig Bile, Salt, Oil, Vinegar and Turpentine, apply (Salmon)
5. Chronic Wounds and Ulcers, as an ointment Turpentine with Wax, Resin, Betony, Vervain
6. Plaster for Hernia. Turpentine, Mastic, Comfrey root, Cypress nuts, Armenian Earth
7. Plaster for hardness and tumors:
i. Hard Swellings, Tumors, Scrofula: Turpentine with Marshmallow, Linseed and Fenugreek (as in Ointment of Marshmallow of Nicholas)
ii. Gum Ammoniac, Olibanum, Mastic, Zinc oxide, Pyrethrum made into a plaster with Pitch, Turpentine and Wax. (Pharmacopoeia Wirtembergica, 1798)
8. Simple Plaster, powdered Calamine (1 ½ lb. each), Yellow Wax (6 oz.), Goat Suet, Turpentine (1 ½ oz. each). Liquify and mix perfectly. (Pharmacopoeia Danica, 1805)
9. Tumors and Cancer of the Uterus, (infused) Oils of Wallflower, Feverfew, Saffron, Myrrh, Opopanax, Turpentine, made into a salve with Celery juice (Wirtzung)

Cautions:
Most used externally. If used internally use cautiously and avoid overdose.

Main Preparations used: