Powder of Three Sandalwoods (Diatrisantalum) (Mesue)

Pulvis Triasantalum,
or Pulvis Diatrion Santalon,
or Diatrisantalum
Powder of Three Sandalwoods

Tradition:

Western, Unani

Source / Author:

Nicholas Praepositus

Herb Name	Latin	Amount *
3 Sandalwoods prepared *	Santalum & Pterocarpus spp.	3 ounces ea.
Red Roses	Rosa gallica	2 dr., 15 gr. ea.
Sugar Candy	Saccharum	1 1⁄2 drams ea.
Rhubarb	Rheum palmatum	1 scruple
Tabasheer	Bambusae silicae
Licorice juice	Succus Glycyrrhiza
Purslane seeds	Portulaceae oleracea
White starch	Amylum
Gum Arabic	Acacia arabica
Tragacanth	Astragalus tragacanth
Melon seed	Citrullus vulgaris
Cucumber seed	Cucumis sativus
Pumpkin seed	Cucurbita pepo
Gourd seed	Cucurbitas spp.
Endive	Chicorium endiva
Camphor	Camphora

* The Three Sandalwoods are prepared by sprinkling with Rose Water when beaten, then drying.

Preparation:

Function:

Use:

1. Liver Obstructions
2. Jaundice
3. excess Appetite
4. heat-type Diarrhea and Dysentery
5. Consumption of the Lungs
6. Spitting of Blood
7. Palpitations
8. Restlessness
9. Edema
10. As an aid in Rheumatism.
11. Used for various diseases associated with weakness

Dose:

1–2 drams

Cautions:

None noted

Modifications:

1. Some versions used 3 drams of Violet seed and omitted the 4 Cold seeds.
2. Some versions did not use Camphor.
3. For Rheumatism, take with Conserve of Rosehips
4. Another for Rheumatism, Riverius used Triasantalum with a fourfold quantity of Rhubarb, in doses of 2 drams, while taking Tincture of Coral (to 2 drams), Conserve of Rosehips (to 4 drams) and a Tincture of Rose juice (up to 6 oz.). Continue over a prolonged period after due purging.
5. For Excess Menstruation, take with Diarrhodon Abbatis
6. For Spitting Blood and Consumption, take with Conserve of Rose
7. For Erysipelas, it is taken with Syrups of Violets, Borage and Endive.
8. For the Plague or other serious Infection: Rose Conserve 4 oz., Bugloss Conserve 2 oz., Triasantalum 1.5 oz., burnt Ivory, Sorrel, and the 5 Greater Cold seeds, of each 1.5 oz., Sugar 1 oz., Pearl 4 scruples, Gold leaf 6. Mix. (Wirtzung)

Similar Formulas:

Abbot’s Confect of Roses (Diarrhodon Abbatis)

‘It miraculously conduces to the freeing the Liver from obstructions; it helps such as have the Jaundice, or are Tabid, or troubled with immoderate Heat in their Bowels; it allays also the Heat of the Ventricle, frees the first region of the body’. (Renodeus)

‘It is very profitable against the heat of the Stomach and Liver, besides it wonder-fully helps such as have the Yellow Jaundice, and Consumptions of the Lungs’. (Culpeper)
Renodeus noted ‘Amongst 20 descriptions of this composition, I have not found two alike’.

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