Syrupus de Fumaria major
Syrup of Fumitory Greater

Tradition:

Western, Unani

Source / Author:

Mesue

Herb NameLatinAmount *
Yellow MyrobalanTerminalia chebula (yellow)
Chebulic MyrobalanTerminalia chebula2 1โ„2 oz. ea.
Bugloss flowersAnchusa officinalis
Borage flowersBorago officinalis
Violet flowersViola odorata
WormwoodArtemisia absinthum
DodderCuscuta europea1 oz. ea.
LicoriceGlycyrrhiza glabra
RoseRosa gallica1โ„2 oz. ea.
Mother of ThymeThymus serpillum
Polypody rootPolypodium vulgare7 drams ea
PrunePrunus domestica100
RaisinsVitis vinifera1โ„2 lb.
TamarindTamarindus indica
Cassia pulpCassia fistula2 oz. ea.

Preparation:

Boil the Polypody in 10 lbs. of water down to 5 lbs.; then add Wormwood, Prunes, Raisins, Mother of Thyme, Rose and Licorice and boil down to 3 lbs., adding the flowers towards the end. To the strained decoction, add 3 lbs. each of clarified Fumitory juice and white Sugar, and form a Syrup SA. Then add the Cassia, Tamarinds and the Myrobalans. Some decocted the Myrobalan fruits with the other medicines.

Function:

Clears Heat, drains Damp, opens Obstructions, resolves Melancholy

Use:

Removes all obstructions of the Liver, Spleen, Stomach and Bowels, and is good to clear Salt and Melancholic Humours.
1. Herpes
2. Acne
3. Eczema
4. Psoriasis

5. Swollen Nodes, Lympdadenitis
6. Fibroids
7. Cancer
8. A good internal medicine to take for External Ulcers

Dose:

1โ€“2, or 3 oz.

Comment:

Renodeus said the Compound Syrup of Fumitory was difficult to make, and for that reason was often used as a test for young Apothecaries in Paris to prove their skill

Cautions:

None noted

Modifications:

A version from the Dutch Pharmacopoeia (1650โ€™s):
  Polypody root     2 oz.
  Mother of Thyme     1.5 oz.
  Roman Wormwood
  Dodder
  Endive
  Hartโ€™s Tongue
  Hops  1 handful ea.
Boil in sufficient water until half is consumed. To the strained decoction add 1.5 lbs. of Fumitory juice, and half a pound each of the juices of Borage and Bugloss, and boil gently to a syrup.

Picture

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