Tradition:

Western, Unani

Source / Author:

Nicholas

Herb Name	Latin	Amount *
Red rose	Rosa gallica
Licorice	Glycyrrhiza glabra	2 drams, 5 gr. ea.
Gum Arabic	Acacia arabica
Tragacanth	Astragalus tragacanth	2 drams, 2 scr. ea.
Red Sandalwood	Pterocarpus santalinus
White Sandalwood	Santalum album	4 scruples ea.
Licorice juice	Succus Glycyrrhiza
White Starch	Amylum
White Poppy seed	Papaver somniferum
Purslane seed	Portulaceae oleracea
Lettuce seed	Lactuosa sativa
Endive seed	Chicorium endiva	3 drams ea.
Melon seed	Citrullus vulgaris
Gourd seed	Cucurbita spp.
Pumpkin seed	Cucurbita pepo
Cucumber seed	Cucumis sativus
Quince seed	Cydonia oblonga
Mallow seed	Malva sylvestris
Cotton seed	Gossypium herbaceum
Violet	Viola odorata
Pine nuts	Nux Pinea
Pistachio	Pistachio verum
Sweet Almonds	Prunus amygdalus dulcis
Pulp of Sebestens	Cordia spp	2 drams ea.
Cloves	Eugenia caryophyllus
Tabasheer	Bambusae silicae
Cinnamon	Cinnamonum zeylanicum	1 dram
Saffron	Crocus sativus	5 grains
Sugar Penids	Saccharum Penidum	1⁄2 oz.

Preparation:

Powder what is to be powdered, then make a soft Electuary with 3 times their weight of Syrup of Violets.

Function:

Strengthens Qi, nourishes Yin, clears Heat

Use:

1. Restorative in Consumption, Phthisis, Hectic Fever
2. Strengthens in chronic Illness, chronic weakness, old age and convalescence
3. clears Heat in chronic Fever, Fever associated with deficiency and Hectic Fevers
4. used for chronic Cough with Lung Yin deficiency
5. Quenches Thirst in Fever, Yin deficiency etc.

Dose:

1–2 drams, up to 1 oz. daily

Comment:

“It restores lost Strength, hinders Swoonings and Syncope, resarciates the habit of the body, extenuated by Long Fluxes, or other Immoderate Vacuations. It helps and benefits the macilent [emaciated] and consumed, by humectating [moistening], nourishing, and roborating [strengthening] them”. (Renodeus)
“It strengthens Radical Moisture [Yin] softens, moistens, is nutritive, and comforts. It opens the pores, lessens Choler, resists Fever, Cough and Thirst. It restores lost strength and pristine Health, and treats Consumption and Hectics’. (Val Cordi Dispensatorium, 1622)
Salmon mocked the usefulness of such a small amount of Saffron, it being but 1 part in 2400, and suggested a larger proportion.

Cautions:

None noted

Modifications:

This long and tedious formula may be condensed without any great loss. A smaller number of seeds may be used in greater dosage, in which case, this formula can be recreated in an abbreviated form.
1. Fernel had a revised version which omitted Ginger, Storax, Water Lily seed and Barberry, and added Fistic nuts, and was more commonly used from the 17th century.

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