TRADITIONAL INTERNAL MEDICINE – DISEASES & FORMULAS
Trauma & Burns
Illustration from The Book of Distillation, Brunschwig, 1532
See also:
Sprains & Strains
Bruising
Fractures
Herbal Functions useful in the treatment of Wounds
- Antibacterial
- Antioxidant
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antiseptic
- Depurative or Detoxicant
- Immunostimulatory
- Astringent
Primary Traditional Herbs for Wounds & Trauma
Aloe
Angelica
Basil
Bugle
Calendula
Centella
Comfrey
Cyperus rotundus
Dragons Blood
Eclipta
Frankincense
Licorice
Madder
Mullein
Myrobalan, Belleric
Myrobalan, Chebulic
Myrrh
Neem
Red Sandalwood
St. Johns wort
Turmeric
Yarrow
Trauma, Wounds
Western Tradition
Internal Medicines
1. “Very useful to treat injury from a blow struck against the side is a mixture of Cassia Fistula and Almond oil with Endive water”. (Rhazes)
Vulnerary Infusion
Common Decoction
Decoction for Wounds
Vulnerary Decoction
Vulnerary Decoction (Wirtzung)
Universal Vulnerary Decoction (Joseph Du Chesne)
Traumatic Decoction (Fuller)
Traumatic Decoction (Pharmacopoeia Pauperum)
Syrup of Comfrey Compound
Tincture of St. Johns wort
Tincture of Myrrh
Tincture of Myrrh and Aloes
Tincture of Frankincense
Elixir of Camphor
Bruise Powder (Mesue)
Powder for Bruises (Lemery)
Powder to Move Blood (Wirtzung)
Powder for Wounds
Trauma Powder
Electuary for Internal Bruising
Ointment for Trauma
Trauma and Wounds of the Sinews & Ligaments
Universal Vulnerary Decoction (Joseph Du Chesne)
Oil of Frankincense
Basilicum Ointment Magnum
Trauma and Wounds of the Nerves
Wine of Squill
Gratia Dei
Oil of Walnut
Oil of St Johns wort simple
Oil of St Johns wort compound
Oil of Frankincense
Plaster of Comfrey
Diachilon
To Heal Wounds
1. Egg Yolk
Barley flour
Honey of Roses
Mix and apply. It cleanses, purifies, and is good for delicate bodies.
2. Head Wounds:
Frankincense
Saffron
beat with Egg white and apply.
3. Head Wounds:
Madder
Cumin
beat with Egg White and apply.
4. Golden Plaster
Colophone (Pine resin)
Sulphur
Frankincense equal parts
Mix with Egg White, apply on paper or gauze and bind to the wound.
5. “A Precious Oil to Heal Wounds in 24 Hours”
St. Johns wort flowers
Rosemary flowers 1 handful ea.
Put in a glass, cover with Oil, seal and sit in the sun for 3 days. Strain, add Ginger (1 dram) and a little Saffron dissolved in wine. Seal again and leave in the sun for 18 days. Strain and keep.
To use, apply warm twice daily. (Secrets of Alexis)
6. Balm Oil
Turpentine 1 pound
Frankincense 4 oz.
Gum Elemi 6 oz.
Bay berries 4 oz.
Mastic
Galangal
Cinnamon
Clove
Nutmeg
Cubebs 1 oz. ea.
Powder the herbs and gums, mix with Turpentine oil and distil. First and Second comes Balm Water, finally comes Balm Oil.
It heals all Wounds, especially of the sinews, as well as Cancer, Fistulas, Leprosy, Lupus, annointed on twice daily. It heals Carbuncles and Boils. Put into Wounds it draws out broken bones and heals. Applied to the temples, it improves Memory. (Secrets of Alexis)
Syrup of Dodder of Thyme (Mesue)
Ointment of Linseed
Arabian Plaster
Ointment Daceraseos
Putrefied Wounds
Egyptian Ointment Magnum
Old Sores
Oil of the Philosophers
Foul or Putrid Sores
Pills for Melancholy (Unani)
TCM Classification
Internal Medicines
Die Da Wan
Huo Luo Xiao Ling Dan
Fu Yuan Huo Xue Tang
Qi Li San
Yunnan Baiyao
Trauma or Bruising to Specific Organs in Tibetan Medicine
Heart: Aloeswood 8 (A gar brgyad pa), Tsan dan gsum thang
Lungs: Sandalwood 8 (Tsan dan brgyad pa), Three Reds Decoction (Dmar po gsum thang)
Liver: Bezoar 9 (Gi Wan 9), Safflower Garuda (Gur khyung phyag rdor), Safflower Supreme 7 (Gur gum mchog bdun)
Spleen: Chebula 7 (A ru bdun pa)
Kidney: Chebula 10 (A Ru 10), Three Reds Decoction (Dmar po gsum thang), Antidotal 18 (Gnyen po bco brgyad) , Chebula 18 (A Ru bcu brgyad),, Aloeswood 17 (A gar bcu bdun)
Burns & Scalds
Topical Simples:
Expressed Oils of Walnut, Pumpkin seed, Linseed, Sea Buckthorn, Coconut
Infused oils of: St. Johns wort, Calendula
Wash made of a Decoction of any of: Barley, Ivy leaf, Camomile, White Lily, Linden tree bark, Poplar leaf or bark, Elm bark, Fir tree bark, Wood Sorrel, Galls
Mucilage of Quince seed, Fenugreek, Linseed, Tragacanth, Gum Arabic
Fresh juices of Aloe Vera leaf, Houseleek, Purslane, Elder berry
1. Apply Ice Cold Vinegar for instant relief and to prevent blisters.
“Vinegar is of value above all things for Burnings”. (The Treasury of Health, 1550)
2. Salt beaten with Oil and applied eases burns.
2. Thickened Beet root juice mixed with Oil
3. Paste of Bitter Gourd mixed with Vinegar
4. Onion juice, or Onion juice mixed with Salt applied twice daily heals in 4 days.
6. “Burns are cured by the agency of Plantago”. (Pliny)
“The leaves of Ribwort [Plantain] stamped and plastered are a singular help”. (The Treasury of Health, 1550)
7. Nettle infusion or tincture (diluted with equal parts of water) is a good application to Burns
8. Comfrey: ‘In ulcerative conditions and burns its utility is confirmed by numerous observers’ (Lancet, 1912)
10. Ashes of the rind of an Elm tree sprinkled on burns “heals mightily the burnings without Scars”. (The Treasury of Health, 1550)
9. Oil of Walnuts mixed with Wax and appleid.
10. “The yolk of an Egg tempered with oil and so applied asswages all burnings”. (The Treasury of Health, 1550)
10. Ashes of a dry Cucumber applied to Burns :has great efficacy to heal the same”. (The Treasury of Health, 1550)
9. Arum leaves with wine and oil are applied to Burns (Pliny)
10. Arab doctors applied beaten leaves of Black Nightshade
11. Licorice powder is mixed with Ghee and applied to Wounds, Bruises, Burns
12. Oil or Ointment of Datura
13. Oil of Earthworms
14. Beat Snails and apply; or the ashes of Burnt Snails applied.
15. Apply raw chicken fat
16. Calamine Ointment
17. mix Talcum with Whey and apply topically
Sunburn
TO PREVENT SUN BURN
1. Beat egg whites with a little starch and apply. After being in the sun, it is washed off with Barley water.
2. Some applied Walnut oil the night before to prevent sunburn.
TO MAKE SUNBURNED FACE WHITE
1. Beat 10 Egg whites until they come to water, put in a glazed vessel adding 1 oz. of Sugar Candy. Before bed, annoint the face with it and wash off in the morning.
2. Another way: rub the sunburnt face with Melon rinds. Melon seeds bruised and applied are more effective.
Formulas:
1. Poppy seed, Costus, Resin, powder and mix with oil and apply. (Ayurveda)
EGG WHITE OINTMENT
“Take the white of an Egg raw, and oil Olive stir them about so long together till it become into a thick ointment, anoint it upon the place, and thee shall appear no Scar”. (The Treasury of Health, 1550)
CARRON OIL
“Wash Quick lime in several waters 9 times, and that which remains in the last water mingle with, common oil, mightily stirring it about and anoint the place. This. experiment has been proved”. (The Treasury of Health, 1550)
This was in long use under the name Carron Oil, prepared with Lime water (Calcium hydroxide solution) and Linseed oil. It was still used into the early 20th century.
OINTMENT TO HEAL BURNS WITHOUT SCARS
Egg Whites 2
Tutty (Zinc oxide) 2 oz.
Quicklime washed 2 oz,
Wax 1 oz.
Form an Ointment with sufficient Oil of Roses. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)
To Draw out Splinters, Thorns etc.
This section deals with medicines used to draw out Splinters, Thorns and other things that have penetrated into the body. They were reckoned to have a drawing property to draw out such things from the skin and flesh. Some of these were also used to draw broken bones out of Wounds.
1. Southernwood with Grease mix and applied draws out Thorns and Splinters.
2. Rocket seed powdered and mixed with Fat and applied
3. Polypody with Pig Fat made into an ointment and applied.
4. Betony applied draws bones out of Wounds.
5. Ashes of Fumitory mixed with Honey and applied, draws out broken Bones.
6. Wild Poppy and Figs beaten to a plaster and applied, draws out broken bones from Wounds.
7. Ashes of Earthworms mixed with Honey and applied, draws out broken Bones.
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