Pills of Agaric (Avicenna)

Pilulae de Agarico
Pills of Agaric

Tradition:

Western, Unani

Source / Author:

Avicenna

Herb Name	Latin	Amount *
Agaric	Fomitopsis officinalis	3 drams ea.
Mastic	Pistacia lentiscus	5 drams
Turbith	Operculina turpethum	4 drams
Hiera Picra of Galen	Hiera Picra Galenii	2 drams ea.
Colocynth	Citrullus colocynthus	1 dram ea.
Sarcocolla	Astragalus sarcocolla
Blue Flower-de-luce	Iris pseudoacorus
Horehound	Marrubium vulgare
Sa ffron	Crocus sativus

Preparation:

Powder and form pills with Wine.

Function:

Purges Phlegm and Damp, stops Cough and Wheezing

Use:

1. Cough with excess Phlegm
2. Asthma
3. Wheezing
4. Catarrh
5. Arthritis
6. Edema
7. Vertigo
8. Lethargy and Sleepy diseases

Dose:

1⁄2–1 dram

Cautions:

Very drying; only for cases with excess Phlegm or Damp.

Modifications:

1. Later authors used Troches of Agaric and Troches of Alhandal rather than pure Agaric and Colocynth, these being better corrected and more gentle.
2. For Arthritic disorders, combine with Pills of Colchicum.

This formula was listed by Avicenna in Book 3, and by Mesue in his chapter on Asthma

See Pills to Cleanse the Chest which is a variation of Pills of Agaric. However, Pills of Agaric were far more commonly used. See also Pills of Agaric of Mesue

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