The Treatment of Sterility
from De Conceptu, 1587|
De Conceptu, written in 1587 by Jacob Reuff is one of the earliest texts devoted exclusively to Obstetrics, while also dealing with some aspects of Gynecology. The section on Infertility provides differential diagnosis based on the Humors. In each case, as per Humoral Theory, medicines to prepare the Humor are used prior to Purging. Afterwards, medicines to Strengthen are given. The texts also details a number of ‘Specific’ or ‘Proven’ recipes for Sterility, most relying on Animal medicines, especially Pizzle and Testicles, various Bird Brains and Skink tails. This is similar to formulas still used today in TCM which regularly use Testicles and Gecko. While many of the formulas are not practical for today, they can serve as a basis for inspiration for treatment. |
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Sterility from PhlegmSymptoms include Coldness, Pale face and Tongue, slow pulse, fluid retention or Edema, poor appetite, loose bowels, copious clear Urine and clear Phlegm. There may be discharge and the menstrual blood is pale and watery.
To Prepare the Humor:i. Syrup Madder 2 oz. Butchers Broom Asparagus root Cyperus 1 oz. ea. Mugwort Savin Nepeta Balm Balsamitae Mint Scolopendra Maidenhair Clary Sage (Gallitrici) Marjoram Oregano Calamint Pennyroyal Valerian ½ handful ea. Siler Montane seed 6 drams Anise Caraway Fennel Ameos Spikenard 2 drams ea. Balsam wood Balsam fruit 1 dram ea. Licorice Raisins 1 oz. ea. Rosemary flower Arabian Stoechas ½ oz. ea. Ivory Calamus aromaticus Red Sandalwood ½ dram ea. Decoct in sufficient fountain water with 3 drams Vinegar and with 2 lbs. Sugar form a Syrup; aromatise with Cinnamon 1 dram, Musk 4 grains. To take, mix with 1 oz. each of waters of Mugwort, Burnet and Elder. ii. Another Syrup: Mugwort Savin Mint Oregano Calamint Hyssop Pimpinella Germander Polytrichium Elder flower Stoechas 1 handful ea. Anise Fennel Ameos Caraway Dill seed Siler Montane seed ½ oz. ea. Asparagus root Butchers Broom Madder ½ lb. ea. Red Cicer 1 pugil Celtic Spikenard Cyperus Squinanth Calamus Aromaticus 2 drams ea. Decoct in sufficient Fountain Water and form a syrup with 1 ½ lb. each of Sugar and Honey, aromatise with Cinnamon and Musk as the preceding. |
To Purge the Humor:i. Pills Foetid Pill 2 scruples Diacastoreum 1 scruple Diagrydium 2 grains Make 11 pills with syrup of Mugwort. ii. A Potion: Diacassiae ½ oz. Diaphoenicum Indian Electuary 2 drams ea. Syrup of Roots 1 dram Form a potion. iii. Another Potion: Diaphoenicum Indian Electuary Diacassia 1 dram ea. Agaric 2 drams Ginger 1 scruple Rock Salt 6 grains Infuse all in Whey of Goat milk and Honey of Rose 1 oz. for 12 hours and strain. iv. If these are ineffectual, these tablets are stronger: Rose Cinnamon Ginger 1 dram ea. White Sandal Red Sandal ½ dram ea. Colchicum Esula 1½ drams ea. Diagrydium Turbith 2 drams ea. Mastic 1 scruple White Sugar ½ lb. Mix all with juice or water of Mugwort and form Tablets. Dose: ½ oz. or 5 drams To Strengthen After sufficient purging:Tryphera Magna without Opium Diapliris Diambra Diamuscum Diasatyrion ½ dram ea. Ivory Mercury seed 2 scruples ea. Rennet of a Hare Hares Uterus ½ dram ea. Seseleos ½ scruple White Sugar ½ lb. Mix with Water of Balm that has had conserve of Citron/Lemon peel 1 oz., Conserve of Rosemary ½ oz. Form a Confection. Douche for Foetid Matrix [Uterus]In the case of Foetid Leukorrhea from Phlegm: Gall Nutmeg 3 drams ea. Clove 1 dram Musk ½ scruple Powder and infuse in 1 lb. Red Wine. Use as a wash For foul discharge from cold and damp phlegm, the Matrix will not retain semen. |
Sterility from Bile
The face and eyes are red, red tongue with a yellow coating, Fast and strong Pulse, Urine is yellow, Headaches, a tendency to anger, bright red Menstrual Blood.
To Prepare the Humor:i. Syrup Syrup of Vinegar Oxysaccharum Endive water 1 oz. ea. Chicory water Hop water Bugloss water 2 oz. ea. Mix and aromatise with Yellow Sandalwood, Cinnamon and Mace qs. ii. Decoction Bugloss flower Borage flower Rose Violet Lettuce White Poppy leaf Endive Chicory 1 handful ea. Endive seed Lettuce seed ½ oz. ea. 4 Cold Seeds 6 drams Mix and form a Decoction in Fountain water, or with Pomegranate wine 1 ½ oz. and Vinegar 4 oz. added. With 2 lbs. Sugar form a syrup, aromatising with Yellow Sandal, Cinnamon and Ambergris of each 1 scruple. Dose: 3 oz. morning and night. To Purge the Humor:i. A Confection: Electuary of Juice of Roses Diamannae 3 oz. each White Sugar qs Mix and divide into 3 parts. If it is required stronger, add: Diaphoenicum Indian Electuary Pills of Rhubarb Pil. Aggregative |
After purging:i. Tablets: Diatriasantalum 2 dram Ivory Mistletoe Bull penis powder Uterus of a Hare 2 drams ea. White Sugar ½ lb. Dissolve the Sugar in Rose water, add the rest in powder and form Tablets. ii. An Electuary Conserve of Rose ½ oz. Borage Water Lily flower Bugloss flower 3 drams ea. Diarrhodon Abbatis Diatriasantalum Aromaticum Rosatum 1 scruple ea. Pearl Gem powder Ivory Mistletoe of the Oak ½ scruple ea. Powder and mix with Syrup of Rose to form an Electuary iii. This bath may be used: Both Mallows with roots Violet Water Lily Quince leaf 1 handful ea. Fenugreek ½ lb. Common Salt Roch Alum 2 drams ea. |
Sterility from Blood Humor
Excess Blood Humor will have rosy cheeks, full veins, and big pulse. There may be other signs of Heat.
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Tablets Cinnamon Mercury seed Rose Ivory Pearl 1 dram ea. Red Coral Powder of Gems 2 scruples ea. Three Sandalwoods ½ dram Sugar ½ lb. Dissolve Sugar in Rose water, boil until the water has reduced, add 1 oz. of Conserve of Rose and the rest in powder and form Tablets. Electuary Conserve of Rose 1 oz. Conserve of Bugloss Conserve of Borage 2 drams ea. Diatriasantalum Diarrhodon Abbatis 3 drams ea. Mix powders with Syrup of Rose and form an Electuary adding a little Gold leaf. |
Fomentation Rose Galls Sumach Plantain seed & leaf Comfrey ½ handful ea. Sealed Earth Armenian Earth Roch Alum ½ oz. ea. Boil in water and apply |
Sterility from Melancholy
There will be a dull or dark color to the face, pulse is low and weak, menstrual Blood is dark, thick and clotted. There may be Depression or Sadness, a sense of Heaviness with dry mouth, skin and bowels.
To Prepare the Humori. Syrup Vinegar Syrup of Roots 2 oz. ea. Fumitory 1 oz. Scolopendrium water Mugwort water 2 oz. ea. Mix and aromatise with Cinnamon ii. Another Bugloss water Pimpinella water Fumitory water Mugwort water Scolopendra water 3 oz. ea. Vinegar 1 oz. White Sugar 4 oz. Form a Syrup and aromatise with Cinnamon Dose: 4 oz. iii. Another Calamint Oregano Stoechas Agrimony Borage flower Mugwort Bugloss Germander ½ handful ea. Scolopendra ½ handful Broom root Ash bark ½ handful ea. Raisins 1 oz. Decoct, adding towards the end Dodder 1 oz. Strain, and with Sugar 1 lb., clarified Honey ½ lb., and Vinegar 2 oz., form a syrup to be aromatised with Cinnamon. Dose: 1 ½ oz. |
iv. To prepare for Purging and as an Emollient Maidenhair Borage flower Bugloss flower Violet flower Germander Scolopendra ½ handful ea. Raisin ½ oz. Decoct, strain and add: Cinnamon 1 dram ea. Cassia extract Manna Confectio Hamech 2 drams ea. Syrup of Violet 1 oz. Dose: 1 ½ oz. PurgingThey may be purged with Confectio Hamech or Pills of Lapis Lazuli if required. BathCamomile Meliot Germander Ground Pine Hyssop Bay leaf Lavender 2 handfuls ea. Mugwort 4 handfuls Mallow with root 5 handfuls Linseed Fenugreek 1 lb. ea. Valerian root ½ lb. After the bath, or each day morning and evening, take the following confection: Powder of 5 Precious Stones 2 drams Mercury seed Ivory 1 dram ea. Bull penis Rennet of a Hare Hares Uterus 2 scruples ea. White Sugar ½ lb. Dissolve in Bugloss water, add Conserve of Bugloss ½ oz., Conserve of Borage 3 drams and Cinnamon 1 dram. |
General Remedies for Infertility
These remedies are suitable for use after due purging. In some cases, here is no obvious Humoral excess and in such cases these remedies may be used directly.
It is useful to note the reliance of Animal medicines to promote Fertility. The use of Pizzle and Testicles is very similar to the use in TCM to promote Kidney Yang. The use of Hare (or Rabbit) Uterus and Skink tails is likewise similarly seen in TCM where Gecko is used in place of Skink.
The use of Sparrow Brains as an Aphrodisiac and to promote Fertility was well known in the West, and there are references to the same in TCM classics such as the Ben Cao Kang Mu. However, the Brains of various birds are added to the Electuary listed below. The Brains may be useful sources of hormonal substances.
PessaryGentian Saffron Myrtle Aloes 2 drams ea. Linseed oil qs Form a pessary. Use after Menstruation. There are reports of conception taking place a few days after using this medicine. PowderTesticles of a Fox Castoreum Dried Hare Uterus 2 drams ea. Ginger ½ drams Galangal Long Pepper 2 drams ea. Sugar weight of the rest Powder; take a snail shell full morning and night every day with wine. DecoctionSatyrion (Orchis) ½ lb. Dates 4 oz. Mint Confected Ginger Jujubes 3 drams ea. Decoct in (sheep) milk Pills Proven to promote FertilityRocket seed Radish seed Parsley seed Nettle seed Savory 1 dram ea. Fox Testicles Bull penis 2 dram ea. Skink tails Lizard tails 1 dram ea. Sparrow brains Duck Brain Rooster Brain Pigeon Brain ½ oz. ea. Pepper Galangal Long Pepper 1 ½ drams ea. Satyrion (Orchis) ½ oz. Euphorbium Castoreum 1 scruple ea. Powder, mix with Honey and form Pills; Dose ½–1 dram |
‘Electuary Proven Many times to Promote Fertility’Fox Testicle cleansed 6 oz. Red Chickpea Mint Savory Wild Rocket seed Acorus root Wild Parsnip root Gladioli root Balm Nasturtium Basil Pennyroyal Nettle seed Fennel seed 2 oz. ea. Decoct all in Sheep milk to form an Electuary, then: Brains of Pigeon Hen Cock Sparrow Duck Pheasant Testicles of a Bull Goat Cock Boar 3 oz. ea. Similarly decoct in sheep milk with a little fresh butter and 2 egg yolks beaten; when done: Sweet Almond Hazel nut Walnut Pine nut, roasted 1 oz. ea. Coconut Dates 1½ oz. ea. Cut and beat all well, then:: Dried Bull Pizzle Rocket seed ½ oz. ea. Seeds of Anise Parsnip Asparagus Ash tree Celery Parsley 2 drams ea. Long Pepper Ginger 3 drams ea. Orchis, of each type ½ dram Tail of a Skink 5 drams Tail of a Lizard 1½ drams Powder all finely; prepare all into an Electuary with 6 lbs sugar to each 2 lbs. of the above; or 4 lbs Honey clarified to 2 ½ lbs. of the above To be taken by men and women; very useful if every morning fasting they take as much as a Hazel nut. |
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De Conceptu 1587 (Latin) (Google Books)
De Conceptu 1580 (Latin) (Google Books)
See also:
Fertility