Jaundice
‘When the Gall [Bile] is obstructed it causes the Yellow Jaundice,
when the Spleen, the Black Jaundice’. (Salmon, Synopsis Medicinae, 1681)
Jaundice has been divided into ‘Yellow’ and ‘Black’ in the Western tradition, and into ‘Yin’ and ‘Yang’ in TCM. These two differentiations are fairly similar. The Yellow or Yang type Jaundice is associated with Damp-Heat obstruction of the Liver and Gall Bladder, and is most typically seen. The skin and eyes and yellow, there is a red tongue with yellow coat and other signs of heat obstructing. General treatment involves clear Bile or Damp-Heat with Bitter medicines.
The Black or Yin type manifests with a darker complexion of a dusky yellowish complexion, no signs of Heat, loss of appetite and a heavy and melancholic nature, and is associated with Damp or Melancholy obstruction. In the Black Jaundice, the person gradually wastes as in a consumption. Avicenna said Black Jaundice can be caused by obstruction of weakness of the Spleen, excess Liver heat burning the Blood humor, or excessive coldness of the Liver. Primary treatment is to open the Spleen and purge Damp and Melancholy. Black Jaundice can follow Yellow Jaundice if it becomes chronic.
Diet
If there is heat and inflammation, stewed Chicory, Spinach, Sorrel, Pumpkin etc.
If there is no Fever but Hardness and Obstruction, Bitter opening medicines such as Wormwood are given.
If coming from an abscess in the Liver, take Oxymel with Barley water
Special Formulas
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1. Four drams of Maidenhair taken in infusion of Aniseed. 2. One dram of Madder powder taken in wine. 3. Strong infusion of Calamint taken for 7 days. 4. Radish juice (2 parts), Wine (1 part). Heat them a little and take in 1 dram doses. 5. One dram of Pepper taken in Honey water. EARTHWORM DECOCTION FOR JAUNDICE Earthworm Celandine Ivy berries equal parts Decoct in white wine. SULPHUR POWDER FOR JAUNDICE Aloe Sulphur 3 drams ea. Cinnamon 2 drams PASTE FOR JAUNDICE Raisins, stoned Cumin 6 drams ea Pepper 4 drams Dill seed 2 drams Roasted Scammony 3 drams Beat together and take 1 ½ drams in Vinegar and Infusion of Wormwood. (Syrian ‘Book of Medicine‘, Budge, 1913) JAUNDICE FROM OBSTRUCTION Aloe 6 drams Stacte 4 drams Agaric Polypody Dodder Safflower 2 drams ea. Cinnamon Indian leaf Spikenard 1 dram ea Powder and with 3 times their weight of clarified Honey, form an Electuary. Dose: 2 drams in wine mixed with water if there is no Fever, or in Hot water if there is Fever. (Syrian ‘Book of Medicine‘, Budge, 1913) |
ARTEMISIA DECOCTION (Yin Chen Hao Tang) Artemisia Yin Chen Hao 15 grams Paeonia Bai Shao 15 grams Gardenia Zhi Zi 9 grams Chinese Red Dates (Da Zao) 5 pieces This is taken during seasonal outbreaks of Hepatitis. It can be used as a preventative and in treatment of early stages. ACONITE, ARTEMISIA & GINGER DECOCTION (Fu Zi Yin Jiang Tang) Aconitum Fu Zi 6 grams Ginger 6 grams Artemisia Yin Chen Hao 12 grams Decoct the Aconite for 45 mintes before adding the other herbs, and boiling another half hour. This is a special treatmwnt for Yin-type Jaundice which may be seen in chronic Hepatitis. |
Research:
1. Ethno-Medicinal Plants Used to Cure Jaundice by Traditional Healers of Mashhad, Iran