Philonium Persicum
Philon’s Persian Antidote

Tradition:

Western, Unani

Source / Author:

Mesue

Herb Name	Latin	Amount *
White Henbane seed	Hyoscyamus alba
White Pepper	Piper album	2 drams ea.
Opium	Opium
Lemnian Earth	Terra Lemnia	10 drams ea.
Hematite	Haematitum
Saff ron	Crocus sativus	5 drams ea.
Pellitory	Anacyclus pyrethrum
Indian Spikenard	Nardostachys jatamansi
Castoreum	Castoreum
Pearl	Margarita
Amber	Succinum
Zedoary	Curcuma zedoaria
Elecampane	Inula helenium
Troches of Ramich	Troschisci Ramic	1 dram ea.
Camphor	Camphora	1 scruple

Preparation:

With three times their weight of clarified Honey, form an Electuary

Function:

Clears Heat, stops Bleeding

Use:

1. Excess Menstruation
2. Spitting or Vomiting Blood
3. Bleeding Hemorrhoids
4. Diarrhea or Dysentery with Blood
5. Good for Bleeding during Pregnancy and Threatened Miscarriage
6. Vomiting
7. It was also used by some for the Plague
8. It was listed for listlessness and to sharpen the Wit.

Dose:

1⁄2–1 scruple, usually taken with Conserve of Rose or Diaphoenicum.

Comment:

The Philonium formulas are very powerful medicines and were important and highly regarded formulas in the past, being an early form of Opiate. It was advised to get the ‘counsel of a learned Physician’ before using this type of medicine.

They are largely obsolete today due to their heavy reliance on Henbane seed and Opium. Some of the Triphera formula are used similarly, but are far safer.

The Small Dispensatory of Sabur ibn Sahl (approx. 869 CE) said it is “useful against Colic, excessive menstrual bleeding, menstrual pain, premature delivery [miscarriage], it tightens the womb and strengthens it, regurgitation, vomiting, phlegm, listlessness, it sharpens the wit and mends the body”.

‘It is also exceedingly good for women which have first conceived, for to preserve and keep the fruit’. (Wirtzung, 1598)

Cautions:

Not to be used by the inexperienced, it is basically an early form of Opiate.

Modifications:

1. If this were to be recreated, Poppy seed could be used to substitute both Henbane seed and Opium.
2. The Pharmacopoeia Augustana said Armenian Earth could be used instead of Sealed Earth.
2. There were many versions of Philonium; later, Earth of Lemnos, Pearl and Amber were omitted; some versions did not contain Camphor or Troches of Ramich, neither the Zedoary or Elecampane.
3. Some added Euphorbium (1 dram)
4. For Plague, add Rhubarb and Agaric
5. Another for the Plague, combine with Confectio Hamech