Succisa, Devil’s Bit

Devils Bit Scabious, Premorse; Morsus diaboli, Praemorsa, Lacea nigra
Gart der Gesundheit, Cuba, 1485

Flora Batava, Kops, 1814

Succisa pratensis
(Photo by Christian Fischer) (Wikimedia)

Botanical name:

Succisa pratensis (syn. Scabiosa succisa)

Parts used:

Root

Temperature & Taste:

Warm, dry. Bitter, sweet

Uses:

1. Clears Heat and Poison:
-Fevers, Epidemic Diseases, Plague
-Spotted Fevers, Measles, Small Pox etc.
-Syphilis, Venereal Sores and Ulcers
-Internal Abscess; Swellings of the Neck or Throat (Matthiolus)
-Erysipelas
-Sore Throat
-Venomous Bites; Dog and Snake Bite

2. Clears Wind and Heat, Stops Spasms:
-Epilepsy, Convulsions, Vertigo, Dizziness
-Body aches and Pain (Russian folk medicine)
-Toothache

3. Clears Heat, Stops Cough:
-Cough, Hoarseness, Asthma (Matthiolus)
-inveterate Tumors and Swellings of the Throat

4. Moves the Blood, Clears Stasis:
-Pain from internal Bruising; Trauma (Lonicerus)
-Internal Ulcers
-Uterus Pain

5. Kills Worms:
-Root powder was taken to kill and expel Worms

6. Externally:
-Fresh Wounds, Trauma and Bruising, Cataplasm of the fresh Herb is applied
-decoction is used as a gargle for Sore Throat, Tonsillitis
-Ointment ripens Abscesses, and brings Tumors to suppuration
-Chronic Ulcers and Fistulas

Dose:

Root in Powder: 2–3 grams
Tincture (1:5): 5 mls, 3 times daily
Oily Tincture: 10–30 drops
Of the Juice: 2–4 oz.

Comment:

1. Generally used as Scabious
2. It has been used as a Tea substitute

Main Combinations:

1. As a gargle for Sore Throat, with Sage
2. Tumors and Swellings of the Throat, Devil’s Bit decoction with Honey of Roses
3. Herpes, Acne, Eczema, Itchiness, Distilled Water is mixed with Zinc oxide and applied as a wash

Cautions:

None noted

Main Preparations used:

Distilled Water, Fixed Salt

1. Fixed Salt:
Diuretic, Alexipharmic, Aperitive, Antifebriti; for Urinary obstruction, Gravel, to resist Poison, open the Womb, and to abate burning Fevers.
Dose: 1 scruple–half dram in the Distilled Water.