Tradition:

Western, Unani

Source / Author:

Mesue, Luminare Majus (1551)

Herb Name	Latin	Amount *
White Poppy seed	Papaver somniferum	25 drams
Sweet Almonds blanched	Prunus amygdalus dulcis
Pine nut	Nux Pinea
Gum Arabic	Acacia arabica
Tragacanth	Astragalus tragacanth	10 drams ea.
Licorice juice	Succus Glycyrrhiza	1 oz.
Starch	Amylum	3 drams
Lettuce seed	Lactuosa sativa
Purslane seed	Portulaceae oleracea
Quince seed	Cydonia oblonga	1⁄2 oz. ea.
Saffron	Crocus sativus	1 dram
Sugar Penids		4 oz.
Syrup of Meconium (Poppy)		3 lbs.

Preparation:

Boil the Seeds and Nuts in sufficient water down to half, strain, add the Gums, Sugar and Starch, mixing them in well in the heat of a B.M., then add the Syrup and Saffron in powder, and heat them while stirring, then remove from the heat, and keep for use.

Function:

Clears Hot Phlegm, Benefits Yin, Stops Cough

Use:

1. Cough from Heat
2. Dry Cough
3. Cough from thin Hot Phlegm
4. Chronic Cough
5. Cough from Yin deficiency
6. ‘It is excellent for such as are troubled with Pleurises to take now and then a little of it’. (Culpeper)
7. Hectic Fever
8. Chronic Illness with Heat and Yin deficiency
9. Convalescence, especially after Fever.

Dose:

1⁄2–1 dram

Cautions:

None noted

Modifications:

Some versions listed 4 drams of Poppy seed. Luminare Majus (1551) listed 25 drams

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