Tradition:

Western

Source / Author:

Nicholas Praepositus

Herb Name	Latin	Amount *
Yellow Myrobalan	Terminalia chebula (yellow)
Chebulic Myrobalan	Terminalia chebula
Belleric Myrobalan	Terminalia bellerica	2 1⁄2 drams ea.
Emblic Myrobalan	Emblica officinalis
Black Myrobalan	Terminalia chebula (black)	2 drams ea.
Cress seed  *	Nasturtium officinale
Caraway	Carum carvi
Aniseed	Pimpinella anisum
Cumin	Cuminum cyminum
Fennel seed	Foeniculum vulgare
Bishop’s weed seed	Ammi majus	1 1⁄2 drams ea.
Tabasheer (Spodium)	Bambusae silicae
Pomegranate flowers	Punica granatum
Mastic	Pistacia lentiscus
Gum Arabic	Acacia arabica	1 dram, 15 grains

* Cress seed is listed, this potentially being any one of a number of plants as there were a number of varieties of Cress.

Preparation:

Remove the seeds of the Myrobalans, then parch them. The seeds are prepared by sprinkling with Vinegar, then drying; once dried, they are toasted. Then the Myrobalans and Seeds are powdered together with the remaining medicines. Beat them with Rose oil, then mix with 3 times their weight of Syrup of Myrtle, form an Electuary, and keep for use. Honey may be used in place of Syrup of Myrtle.

Function:

Astringent

Use:

1. Diarrhea
2. Dysentery
3. Chronic Intestinal Irritation or Inflammations
4. May be useful for some cases of Irritable Bowel, Crohn’s Diseases etc.
5. Hemorrhoids
6. Leukorrhea
7. Spermatorrhea
8. Chronic Gonorrhea
9. Bleeding from the Stomach or Bowels.
10. Excessive Menstrual Bleeding

Dose:

1⁄2–2 drams taken with red wine, or some astringent vehicle. It was added to enemas in doses of 1⁄2–1 oz.

Cautions:

None noted

Modifications:

Another version used 5 drams each of the Myrobalans, 3 drams each of the seeds, and 2 1⁄2 drams of the remaining medicines.

Back To ELECTUARIES
Back to FORMULAS
How to Modify a Formula
Substitutes
Weights & Measures