Indian Pills (Mesue)
| Pilulae Indie | |
| Indian Pills |
Tradition:
Western, Unani
Source / Author:
Mesue (out of Haly)
| Herb Name | Latin | Amount * |
|---|---|---|
| Black Myrobalan | Terminalia chebula (black) | 2 1⁄2 drams ea. |
| Black Hellebore, prepared | Helleborus niger | 3 drams ea. |
| Polypody | Polypodium vulgare | 2 drams ea. |
| Thyme | Thymus vulgaris | 1⁄2 dram |
| Dodder of Thyme | Cuscuta europea | 3⁄4 oz. |
| Stoechas | Lavendula stoechas | |
| Agaric | Fomitopsis officinalis | |
| Troches of Alhandal * | Citrullus colocynthus | |
| Rock Salt | Sal Gem | |
| Lapis lazuli prepared | Lapis Azureus | |
| Clove | Eugenia caryophyllus | |
| Hiera Picra of Galen | Hiera Picra Galenii |
* Prepared Colocynth
Preparation:
Beat them all finely, mix well, then with sufficient Celery juice, form into Pills.
Function:
Purges Melancholy
Use:
1. Chronic and obstinate Skin diseases including Eczema and Psoriasis
2. chronic Black, Foul abscesses, Sores and Swellings
3. Fibroid Tumors
4. Cancer
5. Leprosy
6. Syphilis
7. Foul and Chronic Ulcers
8. Melancholy, Sadness or Fear without cause
9. Mental illness
Dose:
1⁄2–1 dram, up to 2 drams
Cautions:
1. Avoid Overdose or Long-term use.
2. Not used during Pregnancy.
Modifications:
1. Wirtzung listed a simpler version:
Dodder of Thyme 1.5 oz.
Lapis Lazuli washed
Agaric 2 drams. ea.
Prepared Scammony 1 dram
Cloves 20
2. Indian Pills of Haly Abbas:
Black Myrobalan
Black Hellebore prepared
Polypody 5 drams ea.
Thyme
Dodde of Thyme
Stoechas 6 drams ea.
Agaric
Lapis Lazuli washed
Prepared Colocynth
Indian Salt 4 drams
Agrimony juice
Spikenard 2 drams
Clove 1 dram
Hiera Picra 12 drams
Form pills with celery juice.
3. For Fibroids Indian Pills. 2 scruples, Pills of Cochia 1 scruple, Black Hellebore extract 2 grains, form pills.
Similar Formulas:
“These Pills are good for all Melancholic accidents, for the Cancer, for the Leprosy, for all incurable black Impostumes [Abscesses], for all heaviness of mind, the Quartan Ague, Yellow Jaundice, Diseases of the Milt [Spleen], and such like”. (Wirtzung)
‘It is said that it has been many times found, that they which had this Melancholic passion, have only through this powder recovered health of body and mind’. (Wirtzung, in reference to the shorter version given above)
They clear “Evils of the mind coming of Melancholy, as Sadness, Fear”. (Culpeper)
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