Jaundice, Bile Obstruction

‘When the Gall [Bile] is obstructed it causes the Yellow Jaundice,
when the Spleen, the Black Jaundice’. (Salmon, Synopsis Medicinae, 1681)
Jaundice has been divided into ‘Yellow’ and ‘Black’ in the Western tradition, and into ‘Yin’ and ‘Yang’ in TCM. These two differentiations are fairly similar. The Yellow or Yang type Jaundice is associated with Damp-Heat obstruction of the Liver and Gall Bladder, and is most typically seen. The skin and eyes and yellow, there is a red tongue with yellow coat and other signs of heat obstructing. General treatment involves clear Bile or Damp-Heat with Bitter medicines.
The Black or Yin type manifests with a darker complexion of a dusky yellowish complexion, no signs of Heat, loss of appetite and a heavy and melancholic nature, and is associated with Damp or Melancholy obstruction. In the Black Jaundice, the person gradually wastes as in a consumption. Avicenna said Black Jaundice can be caused by obstruction of weakness of the Spleen, excess Liver heat burning the Blood humor, or excessive coldness of the Liver. Primary treatment is to open the Spleen and purge Damp and Melancholy. Black Jaundice can follow Yellow Jaundice if it becomes chronic.
Diet
If there is heat and inflammation, stewed Chicory, Spinach, Sorrel, Pumpkin etc.
If there is no Fever but Hardness and Obstruction, Bitter opening medicines such as Wormwood are given.
If coming from an abscess in the Liver, take Oxymel with Barley water

Infusion of Gentian Compound

Infusion for Jaundice (Riverius)
Decoction for Jaundice
Decoction for the Gall Bladder
Decoction of Parsley Compound
Decoction of Barberry
Decoction of Fumitory (Mesue)
Opening Hepatic Decoction
Syrup of Hops
Syrup of Wormwood
Syrup of Two Opening Roots
Syrup of Five Opening Roots
Decoction for Jaundice
Abbots Confect of Rose (Diarrhodon Abbatis) (Nicholas)
Powder of Three Sandalwoods (Diatrisantalum)
Powder for the Liver (Unani)
Powder of Gum Lacca Lesser (Dialacca Minor) (Mesue)
Powder of Gum Lacca Greater (Dialacca Major) (Mesue)
Troches for the Liver and Jaundice (Nicholas)
Troches of Camphor (Nicholas)
Troches of Rose and Agrimony (Mesue)
Troches of Rhubarb
Troches of Barberries (Trochisci de Berberis) (Mesue)
Troches of Wormwood Lesser (Mesue)
Troches of Wormwood Greater (Mesue)
Triphera Persica
Electuary for Jaundice in Children
Pills of Agrimony Lesser (Mesue)
Pills of Agrimony Major (Mesue)
Tincture of Wormwood
Wormwood Wine
To Purge in Jaundice
Holy Bitters (Hiera Picra)
Electuary of Dates (Diaphoenicum) (Mesue)
Electuary of the Juice of Roses (Mesue)
Electuary of Prunes (Diaprunis lenitiva) (Nicholas)
Pills to Aggregate (Pilulae Aggregative)
Pills of Rhubarb (Mesue)
Pills of Agrimony Lesser (Mesue)
Aloephangine Pills (Mesue)
Golden Pills (Nicholas)
Strengthen after
Abbots Confection of Roses (Diarrhodon Abbatis)
Powder of Calamint Compound (Diacalamint) (Nicholas)
Powder of Three Sandalwood (Ditrionsantalum)
Powder of Gum Lacca Greater (Dialacca) (Mesue)
Troches of Agrimony
Troches of Rhubarb (Mesue)
Electuary of Saffron Lesser (Diacrocon Min.) (Mesue)
Black Jaundice
1. Broom powder taken continually was credited with curing Black Jaundice.
2. Powder of Snails was highly regarded.
Bitter Decoction
Syrup of Apples Purgative
Decoction of Fumitory of Mesue
Pills of Azurite (Mesue)
Pills of Lapis Lazuli
Indian Pills

TCM Classification

Special Medicines
Artemisia Scoparia, Yin Chen Hao

Damp-Heat Obstruction
Xiao Chai Hu Tang
Huang Lian Jie Du Tang
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang
Yin Chen Hao Tang
Comment: often Artemisia Yin Chen Hao and/or Rhubarb root are added to any of the first three formulas in Jaundice.

Special Formulas