TREATMENT OF SPECIFIC CONDITIONS

The Treatment of Infertility

from De Conceptu, 1587

De Conceptu, written in 1587 by Jacob Reuff is one of the earliest texts devoted exclusively to Obstetrics, while also dealing with some aspects of Gynecology.

The section on Infertility provides differential diagnosis based on the Humors. In each case, as per Humoral Theory, medicines to prepare the Humor are used prior to Purging. Afterwards, medicines to Strengthen are given.

The texts also details a number of ‘Specific’ or ‘Proven’ recipes for Sterility, most relying on Animal medicines, especially Pizzle and Testicles, various Bird Brains and Skink tails. This is similar to formulas still used today in TCM which regularly use Testicles and Gecko.

While many of the formulas are not practical for today, they can serve as a basis for inspiration for treatment.

Infertility from Phlegm

Symptoms include Coldness, Pale face and Tongue, slow pulse, fluid retention or Edema, poor appetite, loose bowels, copious clear Urine and clear Phlegm, low Sex drive. There may be clear discharge and the menstrual blood is pale and watery.

To Prepare the Humor:
i. Syrup
    Madder                           2 oz.
    Butchers Broom
    Asparagus root
    Cyperus                          1 oz. ea.
    Mugwort
    Savin
    Nepeta
    Balm
    Balsamitae
    Mint
    Scolopendra
    Maidenhair
    Clary Sage (Gallitrici)
    Marjoram
    Oregano
    Calamint
    Pennyroyal
    Valerian                           ½ handful ea.
    Siler Montane seed      6 drams
    Anise
    Caraway
    Fennel
    Ameos
    Spikenard                       2 drams ea.
    Balsam wood
    Balsam fruit                    1 dram ea.
    Licorice
    Raisins                             1 oz. ea.
    Rosemary flower
    Arabian Stoechas          ½ oz. ea.
    Ivory
    Calamus aromaticus
    Red Sandalwood           ½ dram ea.
Decoct in sufficient fountain water with 3 drams Vinegar and with 2 lbs. Sugar form a Syrup; aromatise with Cinnamon 1 dram, Musk 4 grains. To take, mix with 1 oz. each of waters of Mugwort, Burnet and Elder.

ii. Another Syrup:
    Mugwort
    Savin
    Mint
    Oregano
    Calamint
    Hyssop
    Pimpinella
    Germander
    Polytrichium
    Elder flower
    Stoechas                      1 handful ea.
    Anise
    Fennel
    Ameos
    Caraway
    Dill seed
    Siler Montane seed    ½ oz. ea.
    Asparagus root
    Butchers Broom
    Madder                         ½ lb. ea.
    Red Cicer                     1 pugil
    Celtic Spikenard
    Cyperus
    Squinanth
    Calamus Aromaticus 2 drams ea.
Decoct in sufficient Fountain Water and form a syrup with 1 ½ lb. each of Sugar and Honey, aromatise with Cinnamon and Musk as the preceding.

To Purge the Humor:
i. Pills
    Foetid Pill                     2 scruples
    Diacastoreum              1 scruple
    Diagrydium                  2 grains
Make 11 pills with syrup of Mugwort.

ii. A Potion:
    Diacassiae                   ½ oz.
    Diaphoenicum
    Indian Electuary       2 drams ea.
    Syrup of Roots            1 dram
Form a potion.

iii. Another Potion:
    Diaphoenicum
    Indian Electuary
    Diacassia                     1 dram ea.
    Agaric                        2 drams
    Ginger                        1 scruple
    Rock Salt                     6 grains
Infuse all in Whey of Goat milk and Honey of Rose 1 oz. for 12 hours and strain.

iv. If these are ineffectual, these tablets are stronger:
    Rose
    Cinnamon
    Ginger                        1 dram ea.
    White Sandal
    Red Sandal                 ½ dram ea.
    Colchicum
    Esula                            1½ drams ea.
    Diagrydium
    Turbith                         2 drams ea.
    Mastic                          1 scruple
    White Sugar               ½ lb.
Mix all with juice or water of Mugwort and form Tablets.
Dose: ½ oz. or 5 drams

To Strengthen After sufficient purging:
    Tryphera Magna without Opium
    Diapliris
    Diambra
    Diamuscum
    Diasatyrion                  ½ dram ea.
    Ivory
    Mercury seed             2 scruples ea.
    Rennet of a Hare
    Hares Uterus              ½ dram ea.
    Seseleos                     ½ scruple
    White Sugar               ½ lb.
Mix with Water of Balm that has had conserve of Citron/Lemon peel 1 oz., Conserve of Rosemary ½ oz. Form a Confection.

Douche for Foetid Matrix [Uterus]
In the case of Foetid Leukorrhea from Phlegm:
    Gall
    Nutmeg                       3 drams ea.
    Clove                            1 dram
    Musk                            ½ scruple
Powder and infuse in 1 lb. Red Wine. Use as a wash
For foul discharge from cold and damp phlegm, the Matrix will not retain semen.

Infertility from Bile

The face and eyes are red, red tongue with a yellow coating, Fast and strong Pulse, Urine is yellow, Headaches, a tendency to anger, bright red Menstrual Blood.

To Prepare the Humor:

i. Syrup
    Syrup of Vinegar
    Oxysaccharum
    Endive water                1 oz. ea.
    Chicory water
    Hop water
    Bugloss water              2 oz. ea.
Mix and aromatise with a little Yellow Sandalwood, Cinnamon and Mace.

ii. Decoction
    Bugloss flower
    Borage flower
    Rose
    Violet
    Lettuce
    White Poppy leaf
    Endive
    Chicory                        1 handful ea.
    Endive seed
    Lettuce seed               ½ oz. ea.
    4 Cold Seeds               6 drams
Mix and form a Decoction in Fountain water, or with Pomegranate wine 1 ½ oz. and Vinegar 4 oz. added. With 2 lbs. Sugar form a syrup, aromatising with Yellow Sandal, Cinnamon and Ambergris of each 1 scruple.
Dose: 3 oz. morning and night.

To Purge the Humor:
i. A Confection:
    Electuary of Juice of Roses
    Diamannae                  3 oz. each
    White Sugar                qs
Mix and divide into 3 parts.
If it is required stronger, add:
    Diaphoenicum
    Indian Electuary
    Pills of Rhubarb
    Pil. Aggregative

After purging:

i. Tablets:
    Diatriasantalum            2 dram
    Ivory
    Mistletoe
    Bull penis powder
    Uterus of a Hare          2 drams ea.
    White Sugar                ½ lb.
Dissolve the Sugar in Rose water, add the rest in powder and form Tablets.

ii. An Electuary
    Conserve of Rose      ½ oz.
    Borage
    Water Lily flower
    Bugloss flower            3 drams ea.
    Diarrhodon Abbatis
    Diatriasantalum
    Aromaticum Rosatum 1 scruple ea.
    Pearl
    Gem powder
    Ivory
    Mistletoe of the Oak ½ scruple ea.
Powder and mix with Syrup of Rose to form an Electuary

iii. This bath may be used:
    Both Mallows with roots
    Violet
    Water Lily
    Quince leaf                   1 handful ea.
    Fenugreek                    ½ lb.
    Common Salt
    Roch Alum                    2 drams ea.

Infertility from Blood Humor

Excess Blood Humor will have rosy cheeks, full veins, and big pulse. There may be other signs of Heat.

Tablets
    Cinnamon
    Mercury seed
    Rose
    Ivory
    Pearl                               1 dram ea.
    Red Coral
    Powder of Gems          2 scruples ea.
    Three Sandalwoods    ½ dram
    Sugar                       ½ lb.
Dissolve Sugar in Rose water, boil until the water has reduced, add 1 oz. of Conserve of Rose and the rest in powder and form Tablets.

Electuary
    Conserve of Rose        1 oz.
    Conserve of Bugloss
    Conserve of Borage   2 drams ea.
    Diatriasantalum
    Diarrhodon Abbatis      3 drams ea.
Mix powders with Syrup of Rose and form an Electuary adding a little Gold leaf.

Fomentation
    Rose
    Galls
    Sumac
    Plantain seed & leaf
    Comfrey                       ½ handful ea.
    Sealed Earth
    Armenian Earth
    Roch Alum                   ½ oz. ea.
Boil in water and apply

Infertility from Melancholy

There will be a dull or dark color to the face, pulse is low and weak, menstrual Blood is dark, thick and clotted. There may be Depression or Sadness, a sense of Heaviness with dry mouth, skin and bowels.

To Prepare the Humor:

i. Syrup
    Vinegar Syrup of
      Five Roots                    2 oz. ea.
    Fumitory                        1 oz.
    Scolopendrium water
    Mugwort water              2 oz. ea.
Mix and aromatise with Cinnamon

ii. Another
    Bugloss water
    Pimpinella water
    Fumitory water
    Mugwort water
    Scolopendra water      3 oz. ea.
    Vinegar                           1 oz.
    White Sugar                  4 oz.
Form a Syrup and aromatise with Cinnamon
Dose: 4 oz.

iii. Another
    Calamint
    Oregano
    Stoechas
    Agrimony
    Borage flower
    Mugwort
    Bugloss
    Germander
    Scolopendra
    Broom root
    Ash bark                          ½ handful ea.
    Raisins                            1 oz.
Decoct, adding towards the end Dodder 1 oz. Strain, and with Sugar 1 lb., clarified Honey ½ lb., and Vinegar 2 oz., form a syrup to be aromatised with Cinnamon.
Dose: 1 ½ oz.

iv. To prepare for Purging and as an Emollient
    Maidenhair
    Borage flower
    Bugloss flower
    Violet flower
    Germander
    Scolopendra                   ½ handful ea.
    Raisin                                ½ oz.
Decoct, strain and add:
    Cinnamon                        1 dram ea.
    Cassia extract
    Manna
    Confectio Hamech          2 drams ea.
    Syrup of Violet                1 oz.
Dose: 1 ½ oz.

To Purge the Humor:

They may be purged with Confectio Hamech or Pills of Lapis Lazuli if required.

A Bath that may be used:
    Camomile
    Meliot
    Germander
    Ground Pine
    Hyssop
    Bay leaf
    Lavender                        2 handfuls ea.
    Mugwort                        4 handfuls
    Mallow with root           5 handfuls
    Linseed
    Fenugreek                      1 lb. ea.
    Valerian root                  ½ lb.
After the bath, or each day morning and evening, take the following confection:
    Powder of 5 Precious
      Stones                           2 drams
    Mercury seed
    Ivory                                1 dram ea.
    Bull penis
    Rennet of a Hare
    Hares Uterus                  2 scruples ea.
    White Sugar                   ½ lb.
Dissolve in Bugloss water, add Conserve of Bugloss ½ oz., Conserve of Borage 3 drams and Cinnamon 1 dram.

General Remedies for Infertility

These remedies are suitable for use after due purging. In some cases, here is no obvious Humoral excess and in such cases these remedies may be used directly.

It is useful to note the reliance of Animal medicines to promote Fertility. The use of Pizzle and Testicles is very similar to the use in TCM to promote Kidney Yang. The use of Hare (or Rabbit) Uterus and Skink tails is likewise similarly seen in TCM where Gecko is used in place of Skink.

The use of Sparrow Brains as an Aphrodisiac and to promote Fertility was well known in the West, and there are references to the same in TCM classics such as the Ben Cao Kang Mu. However, the Brains of various birds are added to the Electuary listed below. The Brains may be useful sources of hormonal substances.

A Pessary
    Gentian
    Saffron
    Myrtle
    Aloes                                    2 drams ea.
    Linseed oil                         qs
Form a pessary. Use after Menstruation.
There are reports of conception taking place a few days after using this medicine.

A Powder
    Testicles of a Fox
    Castoreum
    Dried Hare Uterus            2 drams ea.
    Ginger                                ½ drams
    Galangal
    Long Pepper                    2 drams ea.
    Sugar                                weight of the rest
Powder; take a snail shell full morning and night every day with wine.

Decoction:
    Satyrion (Orchis)               ½ lb.
    Dates                                  4 oz.
    Mint
    Confected Ginger
    Jujubes                              3 drams ea.
Decoct in (sheep) milk

Pills Proven to Promote Fertility
    Rocket seed
    Radish seed
    Parsley seed
    Nettle seed
    Savory                                1 dram ea.
    Fox Testicles
    Bull penis                          2 dram ea.
    Skink tails
    Lizard tails                        1 dram ea.
    Sparrow brains
    Duck Brain
    Rooster Brain
    Pigeon Brain                      ½ oz. ea.
    Pepper
    Galangal
    Long Pepper                     1 ½ drams ea.
    Satyrion (Orchis)               ½ oz.
    Euphorbium
    Castoreum                        1 scruple ea.
Powder, mix with Honey and form Pills; Dose ½–1 dram

“Electuary Proven Many Times to Promote Fertility”
    Fox Testicle cleansed       6 oz.
    Red Chickpea
    Mint
    Savory
    Wild Rocket seed
    Acorus root
    Wild Parsnip root
    Gladioli root
    Balm
    Nasturtium
    Basil
    Pennyroyal
    Nettle seed
    Fennel seed                        2 oz. ea.
Decoct all in Sheep milk to form an Electuary, then:
    Brains of a Pigeon
      of a Hen
      of a Cock
      of a Sparrow
      of a Duck
      of a Pheasant
    Testicles of a Bull
      of a Goat
      of a Cock
      of a Boar                            3 oz. ea.
Similarly decoct in sheep milk with a little fresh butter and 2 egg yolks beaten; when done:
    Sweet Almond
    Hazel nut
    Walnut
    Pine nut, roasted                1 oz. ea.
    Coconut
    Dates                                    1 ½ oz. ea.
Cut and beat all well, then::
    Dried Bull Pizzle
    Rocket seed                        ½ oz. ea.
    Seeds of Anise
    Parsnip
    Asparagus
    Ash tree
    Celery
    Parsley                                2 drams ea.
    Long Pepper
    Ginger                                  3 drams ea.
    Orchis, of each type          ½ dram
    Tail of a Skink                      5 drams
    Tail of a Lizard                    1 ½ drams
Powder all finely; prepare all into an Electuary with 6 lbs sugar to each 2 lbs. of the above; or 4 lbs Honey clarified to 2 ½ lbs. of the above
To be taken by men and women; very useful if every morning fasting they take as much as a Hazel nut.

View or Download the entire text:

De Conceptu 1587 (Latin) (Google Books)
De Conceptu 1580 (Latin) (Google Books)