Warming Powder of Gems (Mesue)

Species de Gemmis Calidii
Warming Powder of Gems

Tradition:

Western, Unani

Source / Author:

Mesue

Herb Name	Latin	Amount *
Troches Diarrhodon	a compound	5 drams ea.
Troches of Aloeswood	a compound	3 drams
Pearl	Margarita	2 drams ea.
Zedoary	Curcuma zedoaria	1 1⁄2 drams ea.
Doronicum	Doronicum hookeri	1 dram ea.
Citron peel	Citrus medica	2 scruples ea.
Mace	Myristica fragrans	1⁄2 dram
Basil seed	Ocinum basilicum
Sapphire	Sapphirus
Jacinth	Hyacinthus
Sardonyx	Sardinus
Garnet	Granatum
Emerald	Smaragdus
Cinnamon	Cinnamonum zeylanicum
Galangal	Alpina officinarum
Red Behen	Salvia hemotodes
White Behen	Centaurea behen
Clove	Eugenia caryophyllus
Ginger	Zingiber officinalis
Long Pepper	Piper longum
Indian Spikenard	Nardostachys jatamansi
Indian leaf	Cinnamonum tamala
Sa ffron	Crocus sativus
Cardamon	Elettaria cardamomum
Amber	Succinum
Red Coral	Corallum rubrum
Ivory	Eboris
Gold leaf	Aurum
Silver leaf	Argentum
Musk	Moschus

Preparation:

Powder
The stones must be properly levigated, then mixed well with the herbal powders. It may be prepared into a confection or soft Electuary

Function:

Warms the Heart, Head, Stomach, Liver and Uterus, Settles and Invigorates the Mind and Spirit

Use:

1. Cold, Moist and Weakness of the Heart, Head, Stomach, Liver or Uterus
2. Melancholy, Sadness, Fearful
3. Palpitations, Arrhythmias
4. Fainting
5. Digestive weakness

Dose:

1⁄2 scruple–1⁄2 dram; 1 dram of the Electuary

Cautions:

None noted

Modifications:

1. Some versions ommitted the Troches.
2. Some versions used half an ounce of Amber.
3. The Behens were often substituted with Tormentil, Avens or Elecampane
4. Cassia wood can replce Indian Leaf
5. Musk can be omitted, or replaced with a substitute.

Renodeus said ‘This Electuary of Gems is most efficacious for the cold affections of the Brain, Heart, Ventricle, Liver, and Uterus, according to Mesue: for it helps the Melancholic, Sad, Solitary, and Fearful: it cures the Palpitation of the Heart, hinders Swooning, roborates the languid Ventricle, and recreates the Entrails: but Apothecaries seldom make it, because of the rarity and dearness of the simples’.

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