Wax, Cera

La 蜡 (TCM)
Madhuchista (Ayurveda)
Shehad ke chattay ka mom (Unani)
Picture Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578

Picture Dioscorides Materia Medica, Mathias, 1563

Pharmacetical name:
Cera from Apis, the Bee.

Parts used:


Clarified Beeswax

Temperature & Taste:


“Moderate in temperament” (Avicenna)

Classification:


T. External Medicines

Uses:


1. Softens Hardness, Soothes Irritation:
-mildly softening and dissolvent (Avicenna)
-softens hardness of the tendons, ligaments and nerves
-applied to the chest (or licked or taken internally) for “roughness of the chest” (Avicenna)
-prevents coagulation of Milk in nursing mothers. (Avicenna)
-it has been taken internally for Hard Swellings

2. Resists Poison, Stops Leakage:
-“It is said that wax absorbs the poisons” (Avicenna)
–internally Diarrhea and Dysentery with Blood or Mucus
-applied to poison arrow wounds to absorb the poison.
-bleeding during Pregnancy

3. Strengthens the Body:
-prevents Hunger and slows up Senility (TCM)
-regarded as a strengthening tonic for the organs, strengthening the body (TCM, West)
-‘all kinds of Beeswax soften, warm and also regenerate the Human body, fresh wax being the most useful’ (Pliny)
-“Increases Sexual desire” (Avicenna)
-Taken constantly, it was said to lighten the body (old TCM)

4. Used in Pharmacy:
-important for the formation of Ointments and Plasters
-pills covered with melted wax can last much longer.
-it is an effective preservative

5. Externally:
-applied to all type of hardness
-used to fill hollow teeth
-for burns, scalds, fractures and wounds, and is also applied to Frostbite
-The fumes from burning wax was inhaled for coughs and to stop hiccups


Dose:


Used topically in Ointments, Plasters etc.
It has been taken internally by forming into pills the size of millet and taking 10 pills as a dose.

Preparation:


It is heated an strained to remove foreign matter.

Main Combinations:


Used with Oil (Olive, Sesame etc.) as a basis for Ointments and Plasters
Used with Honey to form an ointment (Ceromel) for Wounds and Ulcers

1. Intestinal Ulcers, take 10 small pills of Wax (the size of a millet seed) with Rice water.
2. Indolent Ulcers, prepare a plaster of Honey with Wax (Ceromel)
3. Lupus, apply a plaster of Honey with Wax (Ceromel)

Major Formulas:



Cautions:


None noted

Main Preparations used:



Nothing at Present
Chinese researchers isolated 3 blood-lipid lowering compounds from the Beeswax of Apis mellifera and A. cerana