Purging the Humors
Purging the Humors is at the center of Humoral Theory. Excess, stagnant or ill-formed Humors are the cause of many or most diseases in Humoral Theory, and thus they must be purged.
Proper Purging requires:
1. Preparing the Humor;
2. Purging the humors;
3. strengthening afterwards to ensure there is no return.
Aphorisms on Purging, collected by Culpeper (Composita, 1656):
Of Purging Medicines:
- These two Questions must be answered: 1. What Humor is to be purged; 2. What Medicine to do it by.
- For as the same Peccant Humor is not in all, so neither does the same medicine agree with all.
- Then you must consider by what way to bring it forth; for all Humors are not brought forth one and the same way; for some are brought out by lenitive, some by cleansing, some by sweating.
- The Ancients thought all Purges to be Hot, but the moderns have found out by experience that some are cold.
- But this is certain, all Purges have a certain Pravity [corruption, or harshness] in them, which is inimical to the Ventricle [stomach] and Bowels, and this conduces much to their purging property, for it makes nature hasten expulsion.
- The differences of Purges are various; for some are addicted to Phlegm, some to Choler [Bile], others to Melancholy, and some to Watery Humors, and they are all of the same nature with those humors they Purge.
- Some purge gently, some violently, because some are more inimical to nature than others.
Of the Choice of Purges:
- The skill of a Physician is to appropriate the purging medicine to the Humor offending.
- The Humors to be Purged (are) … Phlegm, Water, Choler [Bile], and Melancholy.
- Such Medicines as are cutting, are convenient for thick and gross Humors, as Phlegm and Melancholy; but Lenitive will serve for Choler [Bile] and Water, because they are fluent [fluid] and fit to be purged out.
- Therefore such things as purge Choler [Bile], add cutting things to them, and they purge Melancholy; such as purge Phlegm, take away the cutting things, and they purge Water.
- There are besides, things which properly purge Water, called Hydragoga, which violently call Water from remote parts, being of an exceeding hot penetrating quality, and dangerous, if not regulated by an able brain.
- Medicines of a binding [astringent] quality, are deadly enemies to Phlegm and Melancholy, because they congeal the gross humors; but very apt for Choler and putrified Phlegm, for they often cause Fluxes.
- Also the color will in part show the operation of the Medicine, as Yellow purges Choler [Bile], Black, Melancholy, White, Phlegm. Whitness Rhubarb, Black Hellebore, and Agaric.
- And whereas some medicines work violently, others gently, if the humors be tough and remote, use such as are violent, else not.
- Lastly, some purges work by Stool, others by Vomit.
- Vomits are appropriated to crudities in the Stomach, yet they weaken the Stomach, Breast and Lungs, and spoil the Eyes.
Of the Correction of Purges
- Many things in Purges want correction, some of them are known before the Purges given, and some after.
- All Purges almost are inimical to nature, correct that with such things as strengthen the Stomach and Heart.
- Lenitive Purges breed wind, correct them with such things as expel Wind.
- Yea even Purges which are not windy of themselves, yet by their heat they stir up the wind that is in the body, therefore correct them
- Such as by their sharpness corrode the Bowels, correct them, not with astringents, but such things as lenifie and make thick, or with Gum Tragacanth is notable.
- For astringent things detain them long in the body, and does mischief that way.
- The vices of Purges is known afterwards by their working too fast, or too slowly.
- If hot broths will not perform the latter, a Clyster [enema] will.
- The former is done by such things as bind and strengthen.
Of the Time of Purging
- If the Humor be tough and viscous, prepare them first by cutting Syrups
- Yet do this with wisdom too, lest the peccant matter be thrust into the veins, and procure a Fever.
- If the Purge be strong, empty the Bowels first with a Clyster [enema].
- Let the Piurge be given two or three hours before meat [food], neither let any sweet thing be given after it, lest it convert into aliment [nutrition].
Of the Manner of Purging
- Medicines made up in a dry form, are best to purge remote place of the body; and the reason is, because they stay longest in the body.
- For the contraries give liquids; wether you boil them or not, it matters not. That must be drawn from the matter purging; for the infusion of some things is better then the decoction, as Rhubarb, and Polypody is contrary.
- If the matter be tough and tenacious, you cannot purge it away at once, but must do it by degrees; judge the like, if it lie in remote places; for if you go about to do it at once, you will sooner consume the natural strength, then the peccant Humor.
- And this is the reason Melancholy diseases cannot speedily be removed.
- The dose of Purging Medicines cannot be determined, for they are various both in respect of their own nature, the nature of the Disease, the strength of the Diseases, the part afflicted, the Humor afflicting, the age, and strength, and sex of the patient, the season of the year, &c.
- Some things help nature to evacuate by their sweetness or fair language, as Prunes, Sebesten, Tamarinds, Cassia, Manna.
- Other carry away ill Humors, by sympathy with them, as Agaric, Aloes, Myrobalans.
- Other fiercely force them out by their Acrimony, Nature being willing to part with the worst first. As Scammony, Colocynth, Elaterium, Euphorbium, &c.
For a More Detailed listing of Preparers and Purgers of the Humours see the following:
Preparers and Purgers of Bile
Preparers and Purgers of Phlegm
Preparers and Purgers of Melancholy