Scordium, Water Germander

Garlic Germander
Saqurdiun (Unani)
Picture Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578

Picture Dietrich, Flora regni borussici, 1834

Picture Teucrium scordium
(Photo by Fornax) (Wikimedia)

Botanical name:


Teucrium scordium (syn. T. palustre, T. arenarium, Chamaedrys scordium)
Lesser and Greater varieties were known.

Parts used:


Herb

Temperature & Taste:


Warm, dry. Pungent, Bitter
attenuates, cleanses

Classifications:


3A. SUDORIFICS & DIAPHORETICS
4f. SPLENETIC
A. Clear the Exterior

Uses:


1. Clears Wind-Cold, Resists Poison:
-‘It is a counter Poison against all Poisons and Infections of Contagious and Epidemic Diseases, as Stingings or Bitings of Serpents, Mad Dogs, &c. all sorts of malign Fevers, the Measles, Small-Pox, Purples, Spotted Fever and Calenture, as also the Plague or Pestilence’ (Salmon, Botanologia, 1710)
-Alexipharmic, Sudorific: Plague, Epidemic diseases, Malignant Fevers (preserves and cures)
–‘one of the most important parts [in the cure] of the pestilence and Pestilent fever.’ (Matthiolus)
-Abscesses, chronic eruptive skin diseases
-Lupus
-“Boiled with wine it is good for snakebite and poisons” (Dioscorides)
-also an antidote for poison herbs including Mandrake
-‘heals up big and malignant Ulcers’. (Avicenna)
-Running Sores or Ulcers (Salmon)
-Resists Putrefaction; Sepsis, Gangrene and Ulcers (Hecker, Practical Medicine, 1814)

2. Clears Phlegm, Stops Cough:
-‘expectorates rotten matter out of the Chest’. (Salmon)
-chronic Cough, Asthma, Wheezing, Shortness of Breath, Pleurisy
-some have advocated it for Tuberculosis and Lung Ulcers
-Syrup is most used, and also relieves Hoarseness

3. Moves the Qi, Opens Obstructions:
-Opens obstructions of the Liver and Spleen
-digestive disorders from qi stagnation and damp
-difficult urination (Dioscorides)
-‘especial Herb against the Strangury’ (Salmon, Botanologia, 1710)
-Hernias

4. Stops Bleeding, Moves the Blood:
-promotes and regulates Menstruation
-Uterine Bleeding
-Diarrhea with Blood

5. Benefits the Qi:
-‘in cases of extreme weakness after typhus or lung tuberculosis, and in diseases which occur as a result of severe exhaustion during and after infection, such as icterus [jaundice], hydrops [edema], and cachexia. (Bohn, 1920)
-Tincture was regarded as ‘Highly Cordial’, good for weakness
-‘Exhilarates the Heart’ and promote Cheerfulness

6. Kills Worms:
-the leaves have been given for Worms

7. Externally:
-cleanses Wounds (ointment)
-powder can be applied to Ulcers, Fistulas, Running Sores and Ulcers
-Erysipelas
-a strong decoction as a wash to Gangrene and Septic Ulcers
-applied to Joint pain; applied with vinegar (Dioscorides)
-herb infused in oil is applied to Paralysis, Numbness and Trembling of the limbs


Dose:


Expressed Juice: 2–4 spoonfuls in wine
Powder: 1–3 grams
Decoction: 3–9 grams
Tincture (1:5): 1–3 drams
Acid Tincture: add enough to water, wine or broth to give a pleasant acidity. The acid tincture was highly regarded to cure epidemic diseases including the plague, but also to prevent infection.

Substitute
Germander is used similarly.

Main Combinations:


1. Against Infection during Epidemics:
i. Vinegar of Scordium applied to the Nose and Pulses (Herbarium Horstianum, 1630)
ii. Syrup of Scodium with Blessed Thistle water (Herbarium Horstianum, 1630)
iii. Scordium with Angelica, Blessed Thistle
iv. Scordium with Burnet Saxifrage, Carline Thistle, Angelica, Masterwort, Elecampane, (Dispensatorium medico pharmaceuticum Palatinatus, 1764)
v. Scordium with Red Earth, Cinnamon, Gum Arabic, Galbanum, Tormentil, Bistort, Storax, Gentian, Long Pepper, Ginger made into an Electuary with Honey (as in Diascordium)
2. Cough, Asthma, Wheezing, Lung Ulcers, Scordium powder (1 lb.), Cress juice syrup made with Honey (3 lbs.), Rosin in fine powder (half lb.). Dose is an ounce. (Dioscorides, via Salmon)
3. To clear Pussy matter of the Chest, Scordium, Garden Cress, Pine resin, Honey, formed into lozenges (Dioscorides)
4. Chronic Diarrhea, Scordium with Centaury, Orange peel, Myrrh, Zedoary, Nutmeg (Hoffman)
5. Dysentery, Scordium, Tormentil
6. Worms, Fern root, Mulberry bark (2 drams each), Scordium (1 scruple), Syrup of Wormwood, sufficient to form a Bolus. (Memorial Pharmaceutique, 1824)
7. Fomentation, Scordium with Camomile
8. Gout, apply with vinegar (Dioscorides)

Major Formulas:


Electuary of Scordium
Powder of Madder
Electuary of Saffron Greater (Diacrocon Majores) (Mesue)
Electuary for Crass and Viscid Humors (Azaricon)

1. Swiss Purgative:
i. Wormwood, Betony, Bugle, Mint, Vervain, Water Germander, Germander, Hyssop, Ground Ivy, Yarrow, Marjoram, Periwinkle, Rosemary, Sanicle, Sage, Thyme, Wild Thyme, Arnica flowers, Coltsfoot flowers  (equal parts)
  This is a gentle cleanser which may safely be taken on an extended basis. It clears Heat and Phlegm, regulates the Stomach and Bowels, cleanses the Liver and Spleen etc. It is not debilitating as are stronger purgatives medicines, but rather works by stimulating healthy function. A tablespoonful may be steeped in a cup of boiling water, and honey added to taste.

Cautions:


None noted

Main Preparations used:


Distilled Water, Dehydrated Juice, Syrup of the Juice, Compound Syrup, Conserve of the Flowers, Electuary Diascordium, Salt from the Ashes