Tradition:

Western, Unani

Source / Author:

Mesue

Herb Name	Latin	Amount *
Date Pulp	Carnum Dacti	1 lb.
Sweet Almonds, blanched	Prunus amygdalus dulcis	3 oz.
Clarified Honey	Mel	1 lb.

The Dates are stoned, steeped in vinegar 24 hours, pushed through a sieve and evaporated to a thickness. The beaten Almonds are mixed in along with the Honey. Boil a little to “exhale the vinegar”. Then add the following in Fine powder:

Herb Name	Latin	Amount *
Turbith	Operculine turpethum	4 oz.
Scammony prepared	Convolvulus scammonia	1 ½ oz.
Ginger	Zingiber officinale
Galangal	Alpina officinale
Aloeswood	Aquillaria agallocha
Cinnamon	Cinnamonum zeylanicum
Mace	Myristica fragrans
Rue	Ruta graveolens
Long Pepper	Piper longum
Fennel seed	Foeniculum vulgare
Carrot seed	Dacus carota	2 drams ea.

A more simple version from Pharmacopoeia Persica (1681):

Herb Name	Latin	Amount *
Date Pulp	Carnum Dacti
Sweet Almonds, blanched	Prunus amygdalus dulcis
Rue	Ruta graveolens	60 drams ea.
Ginger	Zingiber officinalis
White Pepper	Piper album	20 drams ea.
Scammony prepared	Convolvulus scammonia	10 drams

Preparation:

The Dates are steeped in Vinegar then pulped (as above), add Honey, then add the Powder and form an Electuary.
Renodeus said that various authors used Hydromel or Wine to wash the Dates, but that those prepared with Vinegar are better to purge phlegm, and are therefore more fitting to the intended purpose. However, either of the former menstruums can be used according to each individuals preference, as Wine will more easily carry the medicaments into the Blood, while Hydromel purges noxious Humors and phlegm.

Function:

Purges Phlegm and Bile, Strengthens the Stomach

Use:

1. Stomach Pain
2. Abdominal fullness and pain
3. Obstinate Colic
4. “Illiac Passion” (Intestinal obstruction)
5. Nausea and Vomiting from Foul Humors (Food Stagnation)
6. Chronic diseases associated with Bile and Phlegm including Gastric and Urinary diseases
7. A purge in excess cases of Infertility etc.

Dose:

3–4 drams (of either)

Comment:

“It is meetly strong for to purge therewith in the Quotidian [Daily] and Tertian [3 day] Agues [Fever]. It purges Phlegm and Choler. It has a marvelous efficacy against all pain of the Stomach, and other like pains of the guts, which are caused through any rough slimy humour”. (Wirtzung)

Cautions:

1. Avoid in Yin deficiency
2. Not suitable for long-term use.

Modifications:

1. The Scammony could be replaced with Senna, Rhubarb or Aloe.
2. The formula from the London Pharmacopeia, 1650, was different in the following ways: the pulp of Dates was boiled in Hydromel, strained, and added an equal amount of Sugar Penids, beaten, then add the Almonds and beat well. It did not contain Galangal or Aloeswood.

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