Making your own version of Cayce's Ipsab, for gum health
Edgar Cayce's health readings used the technology of his day to maintain and restore human health. Many interventions called for herbs. Prickly Ash Bark was known by Native Americans as 'toothache bark' for its ability to help with pain in the teeth.
Edgar Cayce told us how to use this simple plant to keep our gums healthy, or to restore their health if they've started to recede. The readings gave a process for turning the bark into a liquid product that could be applied directly to the gums. The name Ipsab was coined for this product.
The founder of the Heritage Store, Tom Johnson, wrote this article about Ipsab in 1972: IPSAB - AN HERBAL REMEDY FOR GUM PROBLEMS
I've gotten two emails in recent weeks about sourcing this item. The Heritage Store's catalogue business was sold to a supplement company in Utah. It seems like the new owners probably don't appreciate many of the specific details of the products in their catalogue. The ARE's "official supplier" has two liquid prickly ash bark products. One is a straight prickly ash bark extract made with water, glycerin and alcohol. Their Ipsab-substitute has ethanol added (presumably as a preservative). Search for "prickly ash bark" on their website to find these products.
The 1800 series of readings provided instructions for making products recommended in the readings. Ipsab was covered in these readings: 1800-1, 1800-12, 1800-18, 1800-19, 1800-20, 1800-21, 1800-22, 1800-23, 1800-25, 1800-26, 1800-27, 1800-28, 1800-31, 1800-34
When trying to implement the Readings, the later readings on a subject contain Cayce's more refined directions. In the case of Ipsab, 1800-1 said to boil the toothache bark in rainwater, then to add iodized salt. At some point the instructions switched to use saltwater. From 1800-34 (1942):
7. As to the formula for Ipsab, - in the present we would prepare it in this manner. Remember, this should be labeled (and printed label), with the ingredients combined in the formula, and would be printed as from the Appliance Company through members only, see? This is the formula:
8. With the bark that has been indicated, - the Toothache Bark [Prickly Ash Bark -James], - use Sea Water. Boil these together until the solution tests hydrometer four (4), see?
9. Then to this, after it has been strained off and allowed to cool, add to each pint the following - and then reheat it, not to the boiling point but just until it begins to simmer; adding these in the order named:
Atomidine.....................1/4 ounce,
Salt............................2 ounces,
Calcium (ground, or in such nature as the crystal).......2 grains,
Essence of Peppermint.........1/2 ounce.10. This will keep, - it is a preservative, it is a cleanser.
11. As for other formulas, these may be given from time to time.
[1800-34]
If you don't already have a hydrometer, I think you can approximate "hydrometer 4" to reducing the amount of liquid in the solution to 1/2 of what was originally present (Chemists: please let me know what I should say here, thanks. :).
In 1800-21 Cayce provided the amount of Prickly Ash Bark to add to each gallon of seawater:
4. (Q) To each gallon of sea water how many ounces or pounds of Prickly Ash Bark should be added? (A) One pound, or sixteen ounces to each gallon.
I went to aquarium shop recently (looking for charcoal) and saw they had two ways for landlocked people to source "seawater":
For Ipsab, the main ingredient is in the Prickly Ash Bark. There are several retailers for this product online. (If any of you have a favorite online source for bulk herbs, could you let me know who you use? Thanks!)
I think the main thing in making your own version of Ipsab is boiling the Prickly Ash Bark (toothache bark) in saltwater. If you don't have any atomidine, Lugol's iodine might be an okay substitute. Or you can use iodized salt with rainwater (distilled water), as was instructed in 1800-1:
5. To six ounces toothache bark, or Prickly Ash Bark, add 16 ounces rain, or snow, water.
6. Reduce by simmering (not boiling too severely) to one-half the quantity. Then add iodized, or salt treated with iodine, to the amount of 8 ounces;
[1800-1]
I think the resulting liquid is as good a version of Ipsab as you'll find commercially in our modern times.
Do any of you make your own herbal tinctures? What's on your menu?
thanks,
James Knochel
P.S. Added a new version of the Grounding Coin with a hole to my online store: https://radialappliance.teslabox.com/product-category/cayce-grounding-coin/ or on my facebook store (3 pack only on FB).
This video on Facebook is about my choice of steel for my version of Cayce's Appliance and 'Cold' Grounding Coin.