F. Emetics
Emesis is one of the most ancient medical treatments. It is the specific method to purge the Phlegm Humor from the body. Phlegm is seated in the Lungs, situated in the upper body. Therefore, purging upwards is more direct than purging downwards. Vomiting especially eliminates Phlegm of the Stomach and Lungs, and purges above the Diaphragm, but also relieves the whole body of excess Phlegm Humor.
Excess phlegm manifests as the rattling sound of Phlegm when breathing or coughing, thick wet coat on the tongue, perhaps with frothy sputum (if admixed with Wind), along with Nausea, low energy, lethargy etc.
Emetic therapy is not suited to the very old or weak.
Specifically, these medicines treat:
1. Phlegm obstructing the Lungs: obstructive Asthma, difficulty breathing
2. Phlegm obstructing the Stomach: nausea, no appetite, abdominal distention, food stagnation
3. Wind and Phlegm causing Epilepsy: in ancient times, Epilepsy caused by both Wind and Phlegm was sometimes treated by Emesis. Symptoms include wheezing due to excess Phlegm, frothy sputum, sound of Phlegm gurgling in the Throat, vomiting of phlegm. Sometimes a large amount of Phlegm was vomited and the Epilepsy cured or relieved.
4. Certain poisons, including Narcotic poisons, may be eliminated with Emetics.
5. The Ancients said that vomiting stopped violent fluxes in Diarrhea and Dysentery, and render the body soluble when constipated. Likewise, in certain cases of Edema including curable cases of Ascites, Emetics can help pass fluid off via the bowels. Both Yellow and Black Jaundice, and Cachexia, were also greatly relieved after emesis in certain cases, notably when viscous bilious obstructions were present.
Eclectic Physicians of the US viewed Emetics as useful in a number of conditions. The indications for their use include a tongue which is ‘broad. full, dirty, and especially coated at its base’; Nausea, loss of appetite; heaviness and oppression of the epigastrium. When these general symptoms are present, the following diseases were treated:
1. Evacuate the Stomach–Indigestion; when the Stomach is distended with indigestible food; an excess of mucus; redundancy of acid.
2. Febrile Diseases–early stages of Fever; Intermittent Fever; Bilious Fevers; early stages of Typhus, Measles, Scarlet Fever etc.
3. Respiratory Diseases–Asthma; Pneumonia (‘frequent gentle emetics’); Pleurisy;
4. Gout and Rheumatism–often very beneficial in these diseases when there is indigestion.
5. Liver disease–torpor or obstruction of the Liver;
6. Glandular and Lymphatic obstruction
7. Mania, Alcoholism
8. Epilepsy, Hysteria–’occasionally beneficial’ (ie. when the stomach is obstructed by Phlegm)
9. Edema–including Ascites
10. Diabetes
11. Dysentery
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Warm Salt water Betony Mustard seed Licorice Olive Oil Elder root-bark Ipecac Asarum Tartar Emetic |
Oxymel Agrimony Radish seed Calamus Sweet Almond oil Walnut root-bark White Hellebore Cyclamen Blue Vitriol (Copper Sulphate) |
Most expectorants become emetic in full doses.
Lobelia, Violet root, Squill, Tobacco, Senega, various Euphorbia species
The safest Emetics for use today include:
1. Warm salt water, followed by tickling the back of the throat
2. Strong decoction of Radish seed, or Licorice, or Calamus, followed by tickling the back of the throat
3. If a stronger medicine is needed, 500–1000mg doses of Ipecac root.
4. Tartar Emetic (Potassium Antimony tartrate) is a certain Vomit in doses of 125–250mg.
The Ancients had several rules regarding the use of Emetics:
1. They are generally only used in strong bodies.
2. Old people and people who have not vomited for a long time may have violent and uncontrollable vomiting, once started, and are therefore usually not given emetics; if they are, they are prepared by oleation (consuming oil) for several days prior.
3. Dry bodies are vomited with far greater difficulty than Phlegmatic bodies.
4. For the previous reason, it was common to prepare the body with demulcent and moistening medicines, or a Phlegm-producing diet for a day or 2 before administering emetics. Appropriate decoctions may be taken internally, and oil was applied topically, and sometimes taken internally, prior to a course of vomiting. Oleation also helps prepare the body.
5. Avoid Cold and Cold foods and drinks, stimulating drinks, Salty and Pungent foods and drinks during and after vomiting.
6. The Ancients always bled before emetics in acute diseases.
7. To stop Vomiting, or stop excessive vomiting, Salt can be taken, or copious drinks of warm liquid, or with Oil, aromatics or mild acids, taken internally, or applied to the stomach.
Contraindications for the use of Emetics from Eclectic Physicians:
1. Apoplexy, cerebral congestion
2. Heart weakness, Aneurism
3. Pregnancy
4. Gastrointestinal inflammation
5. Generally not used in Fever unless necessary; use once Fever has subsided.
Chinese Classification