Lapis Spongii, Sponge Stone

Picture Museum Museorum, Valentini, 1704

Picture Aldrovandi, Musaeum metallicum, 1648

Picture Spongia officinalis
Medical Zoology and Mineralogy, Stephendon, 1832

Picture Spongia officinalis
Photo by Liez

Botanical name:


Lapis Spongii sourced from various Sponge spp.

Parts used:


Stony core from the center of a sponge

Temperature & Taste:


Cold, dry. Salty.

Classifications:


3F. Lithontriptics

Uses:


1. Promotes Urine, Clears Stones:
-a long-time specific for Gravel and Stones of the Bladder and Kidneys.
    
2. Clears Heat and Phlegm, Resolves Masses:
-Scrofula, Swollen Lymph Nodes and Lymphadenitis
-Sponge stone and Sponge ashes were both used for this function

3. Clears Stomach Heat:
-Heartburn, Acid Reflux, Stomach Pain

4. Kills Worms:
-worms in Children


Dose:


Of the finely levigated Powder: 500mg–2 grams

Substitutes:


Pumice can replace in some cases.

Main Combinations:


1. With Jew’s Stone (Lapis Judaicus) and Amber for gravel and Stones.
2. With burnt Sponge, Pumice stone, Pepper, Ginger for Scrofula and Phlegm-Heat nodules
3. With Cuttlebone and Pumice for Phlegm-Heat nodules including Scrofula

Major Formulas:


Stone–Breaking Powder (Lithontripticon) (Nicholas)
Powder for Gravel of Dr. Maghenbuch
Powder for Scrofula (Wirtzung)
Powder for Scrofula (Pharmacopoea Argentorarensis)
Powder for Scrofula (Arnold de Villa Nova)

Cautions:


Cold and hard-to-digest, therefore not suitable for a cold and weak Stomach.

Main Preparations used:


Prepared powder
  • Extra Info
  • History
Dioscorides:
‘Stones found in sponges (taken as a drink with wine) break stones in the bladder’.

Salmon, Seplasium:
Called in Greek Lithos en tois Spongis; in Latin Spongitis, Lapis Spongiae, Cysteolithos; in English Sponge-Stone.

It is found in the places where Sponges are found and is a part of the Sponge that is hardened (probably the root part of the sponge that attaches to rock). It is brittle,white or gray. It extenuates
 without heating.

Principally used for Gravel and Stone of the Bladder or Kidney. The levigated powder absorbs acids, and hinders the formation of Stones.

It is also effective against Scrofula being taken every morning with urine, or wine with Rock Salt and Tartar.

It cures Heartburn and vehement pains of the Stomach.