Tradition:

Western

Source / Author:

Mesue

Preparation:

Melt the Wax in the Oil, then add the Resin and Pitch, stirring until cool.

Function:

Digests and concocts crude Humors, promotes Healing

Use:

1. Sore, Boils, Carbuncles, Furuncles
2. Tumors
3. Pain from an excess of crude Humors / Damp
4. Wounds
5. Basilicum is also very good for resolving all hardness including that which remains after Trauma, Bruising, resolution of Tumours

Dose:

Applied topically

Cautions:

None noted

Modifications:

1. Some versions replaced the Resin with Frankincense.
2. Later, the Pitch was omitted and the ointment was called The Yellow Ointment.
3. A Green Basilicum of the London Pharmacopoeia contained Verdigris.

Comment:

This was most commonly used by Apothecaries, the Greater Basilicum, also called Basilicum of the Chirurgians [Surgeons] was more commonly used by the Barber-Surgeons.

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