Suppositories

In the main, suppositories are, solid cylindrical objects designed to help evacuate the bowels by slightly irritating the mucous membranes of the rectum, Shaped solid glycerine or soap cylinders will accomplish this. This will stimulate bowel movements and can replace irrigation by water (enema).

In folk medicine there is an ancient tradition of insertion of healing and/or astringent herbs to topically relieve specific rectal or vaginal pain or discharges. One such herb that comes to mind is the powdered bark of the slippery elm which has been used for centuries to help overcome many vaginal problems. Here, a small amount of tepid water is added to make a rather thick paste which is then molded into 1 inch cylinders. Several are inserted into the vagina, and leakage is prevented by use of a sanitary napkin. After three days the vagina is douched with water to cleanse it.

In the late 1880's, Sir J. Y. Simpson of Edinburgh discovered that cocoa butter had unique attributes for medicated suppositories (pessaries). These suppositories are available by prescription at the advice of your physician. The following is my grandmother's version of such a remedy, and while it should not replace prescriptions advised by your physician, the recipes may prove to be useful in remote areas, or during emergencies when professional attention is not available.

Cocoa Butter

Cocoa butter is made from the expressed oil of the chocolate nut (ground seeds of Theobroma Cacao). It is usually used for cosmetics, and soothes skin affected by either windburn or sunburn. It can be purchased in one ounce round cylinders in drug stores. It has a tallow consistency, a white to yellow color, is bland, healing, and has a most agreeable smell. It is ideal for medicated insertion into both the vagina and/or rectum (except in the case of an allergy to topical use of cocoa butter) because it melts quickly when heated, combines readily with powdered, grated herbs, and is quickly shaped into pencil shaped suppository cylinders. Once inserted into the rectum or vagina, the combined cocoa butter and herb has the advantage of melting slowly at body temperature. Depending on the internal need, either healing or astringent herbs may be added. Astringent herbs help to clear up discharges. Use pads of absorbent cotton or a sanitary napkin to catch discharges.

Preparation

Grate, or grind with a mortar and pestle, either such healing herbs as comfrey root or leaf, or marshmallow root, or such astringent herbs as witch hazel, or yellow dock or bayberry. Drops of the tincture or extracts of these herbs may also be used. My grandmother used about ten drops of the tincture or extract, or a teaspoon of the herb for every tablespoon of the cocoa butter (two tablespoons for every ounce). These are melted together in the top of a double boiler.

Making a Mold Before melting the powdered herb and cocoa butter cylinders, prepare a disposable aluminum foil mold. Indent a heavy duty aluminum wrap into 2 to 21/2 inch long and 3/4 of an inch wide sections. Immediately before the melting process place this improvised mold in the refrigerator. Melt the cocoa butter and the previously selected herb or herbs. Take the mold out of the refrigerator and either dust it with lycopodiurn powder or brush it with a light coating of olive oil. Pour the melted substance into the mold. The cold will immediately chill the melted material; the powder or olive oil will prevent sticking.

Shape the material, as soon as possible after it hardens, into pencil shapes; wider at the bottom for rectal insertion; or a 3/4inch base and tapering shape for vaginal insertion. Store the medicinal suppositories, or pessaries, in an opaque, labeled container.

Suppository

3-ounces cocoa butter
1-ounce powdered herb (witch hazel, bayberry, or yellow dock)

Simmer the herb and cocoa butter in the top of a double boiler. Stir and watch until the preparation seems pliable and almost firm. Pour out into foil mold. Roll into 2 to 21/2 inch cylinder shape with center tapering slightly outward.

Hemorrhoids

Insert suppository in rectum after each bowel movement.

White Vaginal Discharge

Insert suppository every other day. Use sanitary napkin to catch any leakage. On between days, douche with diluted apple cider vinegar, diluted acidophilus and water, or diluted yellow dock tea. Note other comments on vaginal discharges in the book.

Internal Cleansing Program

sert suppository in vagina for two days at a time. Use sanitary napkin to catch excess leakage. Every third day, douche with lukewarm yellow dock tea. Continue program for about a week. Acid wastes will be flushed out through vagina and rectum.