Confectio Hamech
Arabian Confect Purging Melancholy

Tradition:

Western, Unani

Source / Author:

Mesue, Fernelius

Herb Name	Latin	Amount
Yellow Myrobalan	Terminalia chebula (yellow)	2 oz. ea.
Chebulic Myrobalan	Terminalia chebula
Black Myrobalan	Terminalia chebula (black)
Violet	Viola odorata
Colocynth pulp	Citrullus colocynthus
Polypody	Polypodium vulgare	1 1⁄2 oz. ea.
Wormwood	Artemisia absinthum
Thyme	Thymus vulgaris
Senna	Cassia angustifolia	1⁄2 oz. ea.
Aniseed	Pimpinella anisum
Fennel seed	Foeniculum vulgare
Rose	Rosa gallica	3 drams ea.

Bruise and digest in 6 lbs. of Whey for 24 hours, then boil to half. Press, strain and add:

Herb Name	Latin	Amount *
Fumitory juice	Fumaria officinalis
Prune pulp	Prunus domestica
Raisin pulp	Vitis vinifera	1⁄2 lb. ea.

With 1 lb. each of Sugar and clarified Honey, boil to the thickness of Honey, adding towards the end the following in fine powder:

Herb Name	Latin	Amount *
Troches of Agaric	Fomitopsis officinalis	2 oz.
Rhubarb	Rheum palmatum	1 1⁄2 oz.
Scammony prepared	Convovulus scammonia	6 drams
Cinnamon	Cinnamonum zeylanicum	1⁄2 oz.
Ginger	Zingiber officinalis	2 drams
Indian Spikenard	Nardostachys jatamansi
Fumitory seed	Fumaria officinalis
Aniseed	Pimpinella anisum	1 dram ea.

Preparation:

Follow the above direction to form an Electuary.

Function:

Purges Melancholy

Use:

1. Chronic Skin diseases: Eczema, Leprosy
2. Leprosy
3. Syphilis, Gonorrhea
4. Fibroids
5. Cancer
6. Ravings, Frenzy, Madness, Mental Illness
7. Melancholy
8. Chronic Headache, Migraine
9. Vertigo
10. Lethargy
11. Hypochondriac Melancholy
12. Forgetfulness, Amnesia
13. Sciatica, Gout, Rheumatism associated with Damp

Dose:

3–6 drams in Wine, once or twice weekly in long-term use or chronic disease, or daily for 5–7 days

Comment:

It “is very common at all Apothecaries: wherewith the Humors of the Gall, especially the Salt Humors which cause Scabbiness, the Leprosy, the Cancer, and all other diseases which excoriate and inflame the skin by their sharpness, are helped”. (Wirtzung)
“This confection purges both Biles, and salt Phlegm; and thence conduces to the Cancer, Leprosy, Raving, Melancholy, Tetter, Itch, Scab, and such cutaneous affections”. (Renodeus)
Renodeus said “Barber-Chirurgeons use this, to purge all such as are infected with the French disease [Syphilis]; as though all had one temper, and but one Humor peccant in all men. But such of them as boast more gloriously, and are by conference with Medicks something more prudent, acknowledge the matter peccant in this disease, to be various, according to the various natures of the diseased”.

The original was larger, and was first invented by Mesue. Fernelius modified and simplified it to its above form as the original was more complicated and less well prepared. For example Mesue decocted Myrobalans twice, decocted Rhubarb (which destroys its purgative virtues but keeps its alterative nature); decocted Tamarind, Manna and Cassia pulp (which corrupt if decocted); and also decocted Diagrydium whose virtues are likewise lost by decoction. This modified version of Fernelius was fairly closely adhered to by most Apothecaries, and so it bears his name.

Cautions:

None noted

Modifications:

1. For Fibroids or Cancer, take with Decoction of Dodder of Thyme
2. For Fibroids, decoct half handful Agrimony, Veronica, Scabious, Fumitory, Dodder with 2 drams each of Senna and Aniseed down to 6 oz.; add 3 drams Confectio Hamech
3. For Melancholy diseases or Leprosy, take with Diasenna
4. Virulent Gonorrhea: Confectio Hamech 6 drams, Sarsaparilla 1 dram, Turpentine 2 drams, Calomel 1⁄2 scruple; form a bolus. (Cooke)
5. To strengthen it in more obstinate cases, to 3 drams of Confectio Hamech, add Extract of Black Hellebore 6 grains.

Extra Info
History
Research
Comment

“Fernelius has well castigated and changed this Electuary, preserving its vertue entire, and reducing its description into an easier form; for as Plantius says, Myrobalans twice decocted, and then brayed and imposed, are frustraneous. Rhubarbs faculty perishes by coction; Cassia, Manna and Tamarinds, by coction corrupt; Diagridium also, when cocted, is without vertue, nor easily commiscible: and yet by Mesue’s ancient description, these were all thus prepared, and confusedly mixed, without art or order. Wherefore we have extracted this description from Fernelius, as being much better when made, and much easier to make, without which, no Pharmacopoly should be once found: And not withstanding this same Rhythmical admonition of a certain Versificator:

Non eris illusus, teneas si quod tenet usus
[You will not be deceived, if you hold on to what you have, use it.]

When the ues is prave, it must be changed; and that mutation is good, which is from good to better,

Mesue requires to this confection, the Whey of Goats-milk, but defines not how much: yet we may assume the Whey of Asses milk in its stead; and if that be wanting, of Cows-milk; in two pounds whereof, the Simples must be macerated and cocted, and they will depose their faculties therein. The pulps of Raisins and must be dissolved in the colature; the Honey, Sugar and succus [juice] of Fumitory, must be all cocted therein, above the consistence of a syrup: the rest must be added as the description shows; it is easy enough.

This confection purges both the Biles [Bile and Melancholy], and Salt Phlegm; and thence conduces to the Cancer, Leprosy, Raving, Melancholy, Tetter, Itch, Scab, and such cutaneous affections.

Barber-Chirurgeons use this to purge all such as are infected with the French disease [Syphilis]; as though all had one temper, and but one humour peccant in all men. But such of them as boast more gloriously, and are by conference with Medicks somerhing more prudent, acknowledge the matter peccant in this disease, to be various, according to the various natures of the diseased”. (A Medicinal Dispensatory, Renou, 1657)

Back To ELECTUARIES
Back to FORMULAS
How to Modify a Formula
Substitutes
Weights & Measures

Confectio HamechArabian Confect Purging Melancholy