Pills of Lapis Lazuli1 Mesue

Pilulae de Lapide Lazuli
Pills of Lapis Lazuli

Tradition:

Western, Unani

Source / Author:

Mesue

Herb Name Latin Amount *
Lapis lazuli prepared * Lapis Azureus 5 drams
Dodder Cuscuta europea 1 ounce ea.
Polypody Polypodium vulgare 2 1⁄2 drams ea.
Agaric Fomitopsis officinalis 1⁄2 ounce ea.
Scammony prepared Convovulus scammonia 15 drams
Black Hellebore prepared Helleborus niger
Rock salt Sal Gem
Clove Eugenia caryophyllus
Aniseed Pimpinella anisum
Hiera Picra powder Hiera Picra

* Lapis Lazuli is preprared by washing a number of times, then levigating with Rose water.
A contemporary version used in Unani Medicine:

Herb Name Latin Amount *
Lapis lazuli prepared * Lapis Azureus 10 grams
Dodder Cuscuta europea 15 grams
Polypody Polypodium vulgare 3 grams
Agaric Fomitopsis officinalis 20 grams
Clove Eugenia caryophyllus
Aniseed Pimpinella anisum
Scammony prepared Convovulus scammonia
Hiera Picra powder Hiera Picra

Preparation:

Form Pills with Celery juice (sometimes juice of Fumitory or Chicory was used)

Function:

Purges Melancholy and Black Bile

Use:

1. Melancholy,
2. Madness, Insanity, Fear, Sadness and Worry without real cause;
3. Black Jaundice
4. Eczema
5. Leprosy
6. Fibroids and Cancer.

Dose:

1⁄2–1 dram; it was often taken once or twice weekly in the long-term managements of obstinate cases. The Unani version is typically given in doses of 2–3 grams

Cautions:

1. Should not be used daily on a long-term basis,
2. Not used during Pregnancy

Modifications:

1. To purge more strongly, they were taken with an equal amount of Aggregative Pills.
2. Fibroids, Pills of Lapis Lazuli, Pills of Fumitory. 0.5 dram ea., extract of Black Hellebore 4 grains, oil of Marjoram 2 drops; form a pill mass with Syrup of Rose Solutive.

Similar Formulas:

Pills of Lapis Lazuli
Pills of Lapis Lazuli
Indian Pills
Pills of Azurite

“These Pills were invented to evacuate Black Choler and Melancholy: they take away hardness, and open Obstructions of the Spleen, cure the Jaundice, Elephantiasis, Leprosy, Mange, Cancers, Tetters, Ringworms, and all diseases arising from Atrabilis [Black Bile]. They are powerful against Frenzy, Madness and Hypochondriac Melancholy”. (Renodeus)

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